California: Self-Generation Incentive Program

This program is currently closed. The 2012 Program Year will open and applications will be accepted once the 2012 SGIP Handbook and Forms are approved. This is expected to be in late-January. For the most current information, please refer to the websites of the program administrators listed below. 

Initiated in 2001, the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) offers incentives to customers who produce electricity with wind turbines, fuel cells, various forms of combined heat and power (CHP) and advanced energy storage. The incentive payments range from $0.50/W - $2.25/W for renewable energy systems depending on the type of system. Retail electric and gas customers of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) or Southern California Gas (SoCal Gas) are eligible for SGIP. Originally set to expire at the end of 2011, SB 412 of 2009 amended the Public Utilities Code to allow incentives to be available through January 1, 2016. Any program funding remaining after January 1, 2016 must be returned to the utilities to reduce ratepayer costs.

Beginning January 1, 2007, the SGIP no longer provides rebates for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. The incentive program for installing PV systems on non-residential buildings and existing homes is administered by the California Public Utilities Commission as part of the California Solar Initiative (CSI). Funding for integrating solar in new home construction is administered by the California Energy Commission. Click here for more information about CSI incentives.

Systems less than 30 kW will receive their full incentive upfront. Systems with a capacity of 30 kilowatts (kW) or greater will receive half the incentive upfront, and the the other half will be paid over the following five years based on the actual performance. The following technologies will receive the corresponding upfront incentive (or half of this figure if the system is 30 kW or larger): 
Renewable and Waste Heat Capture:

• Wind turbines - $1.25/W
• Bottoming Cycle CHP - $1.25/W
• Pressure Reduction Turbine - $1.25/W

Conventional CHP:

• Internal Combustion Engine (CHP) - $0.50/W
• Microturbine (CHP) - $0.50/W
• Gas Turbine (CHP) - $0.50/W

Emerging Technologies

• Advanced Energy Storage - $2.00/W
• Biogas - $2.00/W
• Fuel Cell - CHP or Electric Only - $2.25/W

There is no minimum or maximum eligible system size, although the incentive payment is capped at 3 MW. Further, the first megawatt (MW) in capacity will receive 100% of the calculated incentive, the second MW will receive 50% of the calculated incentive, and the third MW will receive 25% of the calculated amount. 

PG&E, SCE, and SoCal Gas administer the SGIP program in their service territories, and the California Center for Sustainable Energy administers the program in SDG&E's territory. Customers of PG&E, SDG&E, SCE and SoCal Gas should contact their program administrator for an application, program handbook and additional eligibility information.

Program Administrator Contact Information:

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Web: http://www.pge.com/mybusiness/energysavingsrebates/selfgenerationincentive/index.shtml
Phone: 415-973-6436
Email: selfgen@pge.com
Fax: (415) 973-2510
Mailing Address: Self-Generation Incentive Program
P.O. Box 770000
Mail Code B27P
San Francisco, CA 94177-001

California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE)
Web: http://energycenter.org/sgip
Phone: (858) 244-1177
Fax: (858) 244-1178
Email: sgip@energycenter.org
Address: California Center for Sustainable Energy
Attn: SELFGEN Program
8690 Balboa Ave, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92123

Southern California Edison (SCE)
Web: http://www.sce.com/b-rs/sgip/self-generation-incentive-program.htm
Phone: 1-866-584-7436
Fax: (626) 633-3402
Email: CSIGroup@sce.com
Address: Program Manager Self-Generation Incentive Program
Southern California Edison
2131 Walnut Grove Avenue, 3rd Floor, B 10
Rosemead, California 91770

Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)
Web: http://www.socalgas.com/innovation/self-generation/
Phone: 1-866-347-3228
Email: selfgeneration@socalgas.com
Fax: (213) 244-8222
Address: Self-Generation Incentive Program Administrator
Southern California Gas Company
555 West Fifth Street, GT22H4
Los Angeles, CA 90013-1011