CountyofSantaBarbara
Program Gives 3CE Customers the Power to Save Money and Control Energy Usage While Contributing to Grid Resilience
Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) announced the launch of its Residential Battery Rebate Program, which provides residential 3CE customers with rebates for the purchase and installation of an eligible battery energy storage system.
“Batteries are an important part of the transition to renewable energy because wind and solar power only produce energy when nature cooperates. Batteries can capture energy during the day when solar power is abundant, and release it at night when solar power goes offline, and demand for electricity is highest,” said 3CE Policy Board Chair Das Williams.
“Our battery storage program will empower individual consumers with more control over their energy costs and provide another way to use more clean renewable energy,” said Chris Cook, 3CE’s Director of Energy Programs. “These rebates will help bridge the gap, making battery storage systems accessible to more homes in our community.”
3CE’s Residential Battery Rebate Program will provide a standard rebate of $300 per kilowatt hour(kWh) of storage capacity. For example, a 13kWh battery will earn 3CE customers $3,900 toward the purchase and installation of a home battery. Additional rebates are also available from the California Public Utility Commission’s SGIP incentive, PG&E, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
In addition, participating customers will see cost savings on their electric bills, averaging $3,000 for non-solar customers and $9,000 for solar customers over the lifespan of the battery.
To prioritize low-income customers and those with an increased reliance on electricity, CARE, FERA, and Medical Baseline customers will receive a higher rebate of $500 per kilowatt hour, or $6,500 for a 13 kWh battery. When combined with the other available incentives, the total funding may cover close to 100% of the costs to purchase and install a home battery for 3CE households that are enrolled in utility discount programs.
Initially, the program is anticipated to allow for the deployment of 400 battery systems per fiscal year. The rebates will be available to residential 3CE customers, regardless of whether they have a solar system or not.
In addition to the Residential Battery Rebate Program, 3CE offers financial incentives for personal electric vehicles, heat pumps, and all-electric residential construction.
Customers can learn more and apply for the Residential Battery Rebate Program by visiting 3CEnergy.org/rebates.
About Central Coast Community Energy
Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) is a public agency that sources competitively priced electricity from clean and renewable energy resources. 3CE is locally controlled and governed by board members who represent each community served by the agency. Revenue generated by 3CE stays local and helps keep electricity rates affordable for customers, while also funding innovative energy programs designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions and stimulate economic development. 3CE provides service to approximately 450,000 customer meters, or more than 1.1 million people throughout the Central Coast, including residential, commercial, and agricultural customers in communities located within Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties. Learn more at 3CEnergy.org and on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
