Applying for SGIP (SoCal Edison)?

[skepticcyclist]

I am trying to figure out how to see if I qualify and then apply for SGIP. I have SoCal Edison as my utility.

I contacted my installer and they told me that now that I own the equipment I would have to apply myself. I emailed Edison SGIP and they just gave me a link to the same website where I got the email address. I cannot find any clear directions or application. Can anyone here help me?

 

[skepticcyclist]

This is not a tax credit question. I already got my federal tax rebate. This is a state level rebate through the utility company. There website only helps you purchase batteries and find venders. It does not give me info on how I myself would apply

Home Energy Storage Solutions

To take advantage of the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) it’s important to know how much funding is available. Discover your potential today.

www.sce.com

 

[jjrandorin]

You (the individual home owner) does not apply for this, which is why you are not finding information on how to apply. You can search the SGIP website, and you will find that you need a developer key, and you could attempt to go through the rigamarole of trying to get a developer key, but that will not assist you in applying yourself.

The short answer is, you dont

 

[skepticcyclist]

You (the individual home owner) does not apply for this, which is why you are not finding information on how to apply. You can search the SGIP website, and you will find that you need a developer key, and you could attempt to go through the rigamarole of trying to get a developer key, but that will not assist you in applying yourself.

The short answer is, you dont

Thank you. So it appears my installer is giving me the runaround? They will not apply for me and told me I must do it myself because I now own the equipment

 

[jjrandorin]

Thank you. So it appears my installer is giving me the runaround? They will not apply for me and told me I must do it myself because I now own the equipment

its likely slightly more convoluted than that, but if you purchased less than 12 months ago they "might" be able to apply for you, assuming they had developer cap left to do so. If you got 1 or 2 powerwalls, and tesla was your installer, its not going to happen, period, stop, end of sentence. If you got a third party installer and there was no discussion of SGIP when you were going through the process, they may not have any developer cap available to do so.

 

[holeydonut]

I think it'll help to understand which incentive you think you qualify for to see if the rebate is even still in play. In the last year, the SGIP has undergone a rapid shift to helping people get resiliency from the wild fires. And a lot of funds were shifted to low-income buckets as well.

If you installed 1 or 2 Powerwalls but are not in a fire zone and not on well water, you're basically SOL unless you're low income. Those residential incentives are long exhausted.

If you believe you qualify for the resiliency program and have well water, you can probably submit your own 2-step SGIP program once you get a developer key. Lucky you're in SoCal because NorCal is out of funds.

If you installed 3 or more but are not in a fire zone and not on well water, you can try to submit your own 3-step SGIP application under your own developer key... but you better go fast because the funds will run out soon.

 

[skepticcyclist]

its likely slightly more convoluted than that, but if you purchased less than 12 months ago they "might" be able to apply for you, assuming they had developer cap left to do so. If you got 1 or 2 powerwalls, and tesla was your installer, its not going to happen, period, stop, end of sentence. If you got a third party installer and there was no discussion of SGIP when you were going through the process, they may not have any developer cap available to do so.

It was single PowerWall installed by Sunrun less than 12 months ago. At the time they said there was no more money for SGIP for the 2020 year. I contacted them again this year 2021 and they said they would look into it. They got back to me and told me I would have to apply myself since I now own the equipment.

 

[jjrandorin]

It was single PowerWall installed by Sunrun less than 12 months ago. At the time they said there was no more money for SGIP for the 2020 year. I contacted them again this year 2021 and they said they would look into it. They got back to me and told me I would have to apply myself since I now own the equipment.

You are not going to get any SGIP funds for 1-2 powerwalls, that money is basically gone. Sunrun probably exhausted their 1-2 powerwall developer key allotment, and likely has a boilerplate response to tell customers to "do it yourself" because they dont want to tell you "you are not going to get it".

 

[h2ofun]

You are not going to get any SGIP funds for 1-2 powerwalls, that money is basically gone. Sunrun probably exhausted their 1-2 powerwall developer key allotment, and likely has a boilerplate response to tell customers to "do it yourself" because they dont want to tell you "you are not going to get it".

One really needed to get money BEFORE anything happened. Thats what I did. Basically, all the money is gone

 

[skepticcyclist]

I think it'll help to understand which incentive you think you qualify for to see if the rebate is even still in play. In the last year, the SGIP has undergone a rapid shift to helping people get resiliency from the wild fires. And a lot of funds were shifted to low-income buckets as well.

If you installed 1 or 2 Powerwalls but are not in a fire zone and not on well water, you're basically SOL unless you're low income. Those residential incentives are long exhausted.

If you believe you qualify for the resiliency program and have well water, you can probably submit your own 2-step SGIP program once you get a developer key. Lucky you're in SoCal because NorCal is out of funds.

If you installed 3 or more but are not in a fire zone and not on well water, you can try to submit your own 3-step SGIP application under your own developer key... but you better go fast because the funds will run out soon.

I'm in a grey area when it comes to fire threats. I am right up against a hill but all of our powerlines are underground. I get threats of Power shutoff during Red Flags, but am in one of the lower danger areas (never had it shut off). The northern part of my city (up against the foothills of the mountains) is in the high risk zone and does get shut off frequently. Income wise I will not qualify. When I contacted Edison they said I "may" qualify based on my location but it is not definitive. Then they just gave me the link to the website (which doesn't help at all) and told me to contact my installer.

I have my installer telling me I have to apply myself at this point. And Edison telling me my installer has to apply

 

[skepticcyclist]

You are not going to get any SGIP funds for 1-2 powerwalls, that money is basically gone. Sunrun probably exhausted their 1-2 powerwall developer key allotment, and likely has a boilerplate response to tell customers to "do it yourself" because they dont want to tell you "you are not going to get it".

That's what I believe to be the case.

 

[h2ofun]

I'm in a grey area when it comes to fire threats. I am right up against a hill but all of our powerlines are underground. I get threats of Power shutoff during Red Flags, but am in one of the lower danger areas (never had it shut off). The northern part of my city (up against the foothills of the mountains) is in the high risk zone and does get shut off frequently. Income wise I will not qualify. When I contacted Edison they said I "may" qualify based on my location but it is not definitive. Then they just gave me the link to the website (which doesn't help at all) and told me to contact my installer.

I have my installer telling me I have to apply myself at this point. And Edison telling me my installer has to apply

I think they are all being nice on trying to give the message, money all gone

 

[skepticcyclist]

Thank you all for you responses.

 

[jjrandorin]

Thank you all for you responses.

Sure, NP! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

BTW, welcome to the Tesla Energy section of TMC, hope you choose to stay around a while.

 

[skepticcyclist]

Sure, NP! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

BTW, welcome to the Tesla Energy section of TMC, hope you choose to stay around a while.

Thank you. I came from the Tesla Forum's which was just shut down (turned to read only). Was recommended this from someone on Reddit as an even better place.

 

[holeydonut]

It was single PowerWall installed by Sunrun less than 12 months ago. At the time they said there was no more money for SGIP for the 2020 year. I contacted them again this year 2021 and they said they would look into it. They got back to me and told me I would have to apply myself since I now own the equipment.

Yeah, I'm afraid there is no money for you unless you're in a "tier-2 or tier-3" fire zone and in the SCE area. Like you have to see where your address is and see if it's shaded in the regions on this map:

CPUC FireMap

This is a very specific requirement. I don't mean to Doxx anyone; I'm just pulling random addresses for an example.

5921 Johnston Dr, Piedmont, CA is outside of the Tier 2 zone.
6016 Johnston Dr, Piedmont CA is in the Tier 2 zone.

These houses are literally like 100 yards apart. If both houses were only on well-water (unlikely since this is Piedmont; but you get the idea), then only 6016 would qualify for the resiliency SGIP in the PG&E area. Unfortunately at this time only low-income people still have funds available, so 6016 would also have to prove a low income level to even dream of accessing funds.

BTW, I purchased from Sunrun, and I'm aware they stopped telling non-equity customers about the SGIP in early 2020 since the funds were gone. It's basically been a zero chance of getting the older SGIP (without needing to be in low-income or resiliency).

I'd be surprised if you're low income and they aren't helping you get the SGIP. But now a ton of people at Sunrun know me on a first name basis. So if you're low income and need help getting your SGIP submitted, shoot me a PM and I'll get you routed to the folks that can get this sorted out.

 

[Merrill]

The Resilience SGIP money is gone, I worked on trying to get Powerwalls for close to 2 years and at the start it was just to expensive. In 2019 the CPUC came out with the equity and resilience incentive but to qualify you had to be in a wildfire area 2 or 3, have at least 2 PSPS and on a well. I was lucky to get in early and had an installer who could file for the incentive for me. It was not the easiest program to maneuver thru but was able to secure the incentive before work started.

 

[holeydonut]

The Resilience SGIP money is gone, I worked on trying to get Powerwalls for close to 2 years and at the start it was just to expensive. In 2019 the CPUC came out with the equity and resilience incentive but to qualify you had to be in a wildfire area 2 or 3, have at least 2 PSPS and on a well. I was lucky to get in early and had an installer who could file for the incentive for me. It was not the easiest program to maneuver thru but was able to secure the incentive before work started.

Just to nit-pick your comment a bit... the Resilience (regular income level) program is only waitlisted (no funds left at this time) in the PG&E area and CSE. The SCE and SCG funds for resiliency are still available as of March 26, 2021.

I guess there are some groups pushing California to add funds to SGIP in general. It never hurts to write your local congress-person to tell them that allowing homeowners some form of energy resilience/independence from the PoCos is a good thing.

 

[Merrill]

Just to nit-pick your comment a bit... the Resilience (regular income level) program is only waitlisted (no funds left at this time) in the PG&E area and CSE. The SCE and SCG funds for resiliency are still available as of March 26, 2021.

I guess there are some groups pushing California to add funds to SGIP in general. It never hurts to write your local congress-person to tell them that allowing homeowners some form of energy resilience/independence from the PoCos is a good thing.

Will 2 people I know were told recently there was no money left, I do hope they will continue to fund this incentive.

 

[skepticcyclist]

Yeah, I'm afraid there is no money for you unless you're in a "tier-2 or tier-3" fire zone and in the SCE area. Like you have to see where your address is and see if it's shaded in the regions on this map:

CPUC FireMap

This is a very specific requirement. I don't mean to Doxx anyone; I'm just pulling random addresses for an example.

5921 Johnston Dr, Piedmont, CA is outside of the Tier 2 zone.
6016 Johnston Dr, Piedmont CA is in the Tier 2 zone.

These houses are literally like 100 yards apart. If both houses were only on well-water (unlikely since this is Piedmont; but you get the idea), then only 6016 would qualify for the resiliency SGIP in the PG&E area. Unfortunately at this time only low-income people still have funds available, so 6016 would also have to prove a low income level to even dream of accessing funds.

BTW, I purchased from Sunrun, and I'm aware they stopped telling non-equity customers about the SGIP in early 2020 since the funds were gone. It's basically been a zero chance of getting the older SGIP (without needing to be in low-income or resiliency).

I'd be surprised if you're low income and they aren't helping you get the SGIP. But now a ton of people at Sunrun know me on a first name basis. So if you're low income and need help getting your SGIP submitted, shoot me a PM and I'll get you routed to the folks that can get this sorted out.

Thank you for this. I am not low income. But I appreciate the offer.

I don't want to give my exact location, but I will say that my city is in all three zones and my neighborhood happens to be in tier 1. So it looks like I will not qualify anyway