This public benefit program offers rebates to residential electric customers who purchase and install a qualifying energy storage system for their home.
Eligible systems currently include:
- • Battery energy storage systems
- • Thermal energy storage systems used for air cooling
Additional energy storage technologies may become eligible in the future.
To qualify, systems must be able to store energy during off-peak periods and discharge energy during peak periods.
Rebates are available for qualifying systems purchased on or after July 1, 2026.
Rebate Information
Residential Customers
$500 per kWh, up to $10,000
The rebate amount cannot exceed the total project cost (i.e., equipment and associated installation costs) and is limited to one rebate per year per customer’s service address.
Qualified Low-Income Residential SHARE Customers
$850 per kWh, up to $17,000
The rebate amount cannot exceed the total project cost (i.e., equipment and associated installation costs) and is limited to one rebate per year per customer’s service address.
Rebate Eligibility
Rebate eligibility is available for:
- • Existing solar customers
- • New solar customers
- • Standalone energy storage installations
There are no restrictions on the kWh capacity of the equipment installed or the brand/type of energy storage system.
Time-of-Use Rate Requirement
Customers are required to be on or transfer to the current applicable domestic Time-of-Use rate:
- • Self-Gen Domestic Time-of-Use Service (SG D-TOU) and Avoided Cost of Energy Rate ; or
- • Domestic Time-of-Use Service (D-TOU) ; or
- • The applicable domestic Time-of-Use Service rate available at the time the rebate is approved.
Customers also installing new solar or adding solar to an existing solar system can refer to All About Solar | Riverside Public Utilities for more information.
Permits
For more information about permitting requirements, call (951) 826-5800 or visit the Public Permit Portal.
Required Documents for Eligibility
- • Proof of purchase showing ownership with dated sales receipt and associated dated installation receipts with new installation at customer’s service address as identified on the customer account.
- • Copy of all applicable completed permits with final inspection approval.
- • Photo of the newly installed energy storage system.
- • Photo of serial number on new energy storage system matching invoice.
- • Copy of technical specifications showing the kWh nameplate/nominal capacity from the manufacturer.
- • Customer Acknowledgement and Authorization Letter of requirement to be on applicable domestic time-of-use rate.
Apply for the Rebate
Supporting documentation is also required, including documentation showing that the energy storage system installation has been permitted.
Submit your completed application and supporting documentation within 180 days of the energy storage system purchase date.
Riverside Public Utilities
3025 Madison Street
Riverside, CA 92504
Qualifying Products
- 1. No restrictions on brand or type of energy storage system (subject to meeting program requirements and guidelines).
- 2. No restrictions on kWh capacity of equipment installed.
- 3.Energy storage systems must have the ability to store energy during non-peak periods and discharge during peak periods.
- 4. Currently available residential technologies include battery energy storage systems and thermal energy storage systems (related to air cooling systems). There is the potential for other emerging technologies to qualify as an allowable energy storage system technology in the future.
- 5. Customers installing thermal energy storage systems must have a compatible air conditioning unit and must show the equivalent rating in kWh nameplate/nominal capacity from the manufacturer.
- 6. All systems must be owned by the customer and not leased or owned by a third party. .
- 7. Energy storage systems must be new equipment.
Program Guidelines
- 1. Energy storage systems must have the ability to store energy during non-peak periods and discharge during peak periods.
- 2. Customers installing thermal energy storage systems must have a compatible air conditioning unit and must show the equivalent rating in kWh nameplate/nominal capacity from the manufacturer.
- 3. All systems must be owned by the customer and not leased or owned by a third party.
- 4. No restrictions on brand or type of energy storage system (subject to meeting program requirements and guidelines).
- 5. No restrictions on kWh capacity of equipment installed.
- 6. Energy storage systems must be new equipment and for a new installation.
- 7. Customers may apply for one rebate per year per customer’s service address for an installed energy storage system. Subject to verification.
- 8. Customers may reapply if they move to a new location and install a new energy storage system that meets the program requirements.
- 9. Eligibility can be for existing solar customers, new solar customers, or standalone energy storage system installations.
- 10.
Customers are required to remain on or transfer to the applicable Time-of-Use Service Rate as follows:
- a. Self-Gen Domestic Time-of-Use Service (SG D-TOU) and Avoided Cost of Energy Rate ; or
- b. Domestic Time-of-Use Service (D-TOU) ; or
- c. Applicable domestic Time-of-Use (TOU) Service Rate available at the time the rebate is approved.
- 11. Customers must remain on the designated Time-of-Use Service rate for the life of the energy storage system (i.e., system has reached end of service life when storage is below 60% of original capacity). Once the energy storage system has reached its end of service life or is removed, you may request a review by RPU to determine eligibility for placement on the applicable available electric rate.
- 12. A copy of the dated sales receipt and associated installation receipts must be provided and is subject to verification.
- 13. Documentation required for program eligibility:
- a. Proof of purchase showing ownership with dated sales receipt and associated dated installation receipts with new installation at customer’s service address as identified on the customer account.
- b. Copy of all applicable completed permits with final inspection approval.
- c. Photo of the newly installed energy storage system.
- d. Photo of serial number on new energy storage system matching invoice.
- e. Copy of technical specifications showing the kWh nameplate/nominal capacity from the manufacturer.
- f.Customer Acknowledgement and Authorization Letter of requirement to be on applicable domestic time-of-use rate.
- 14. Following installation of the new energy storage system, complete and return the application to Riverside Public Utilities. A copy of the dated sales receipt and associated installation receipts must be attached to the application. Sales receipt is subject to verification. Please include all applicable receipts and the Customer Acknowledgement and Authorization Letter with your application.
- 15. Program is subject to fund availability and may be cancelled, modified or reduced at any time.
- 16. Customers must fulfill all program guidelines, program specific requirements and general RPU program guidelines to be eligible for incentives.
- 17. All General Program Guidelines apply.
FAQ
All participants would be required to participate in the applicable Time-of-Use Service Rate as follows: 1) Self-Gen Domestic Time-of-Use Service (SG D-TOU) rate; 2) Domestic Time-of-Use Service (D-TOU) rate; or 3) the applicable domestic Time-of-Use (TOU) Service rate available at the time the rebate is approved.
An existing customer would need to remain on or transfer to one of the above domestic electric TOU Service rates, if adding an energy storage system to qualify for the rebate in the following situations:
- 1. Existing residential customer participating in the self-generation domestic TOU rate (SG D-TOU) will have no changes.
- 2. Existing residential customer on the net energy metering (NEM) Schedule D or on the NEM Schedule D-TOU rate are required to transfer to the Self-Gen Domestic TOU rate.
- 3. Existing residential customer who installs a standalone energy storage system are required to transfer to the Domestic Time-of-Use (D-TOU) rate (future addition of solar facilities will require transfer to the Self-Gen Domestic TOU rate).
- 4. Existing residential customer who installs both a solar system and energy storage system simultaneously will be placed on the Self-Gen Domestic TOU rate.
As part of the application process, you will be required to sign a "Customer Acknowledgment and Authorization Letter" to this effect.
Yes. If you are already on the Self-Gen Domestic TOU rate or any other TOU rate, you must still sign the “Customer Acknowledgement and Authorization Letter” as part of the application process.
You may apply for one rebate per year per customer’s service address for an installed energy storage system. Subject to funding availability and program changes.
Customers may reapply if they move to a new location and install a new energy storage system that meets the program requirements.
Energy storage systems must have a purchase date of July 1, 2026 or later.
Within 180 days of purchase date of new energy storage system. Applications submitted with a purchase date prior to July 1, 2026 will not be accepted.
Please call 951-826-5800 or visit Public Permit Portal | CEDD for more information.
You will only qualify for one rebate per year for a newly installed energy storage system per customer’s service address.
As long as the energy storage system meets the program requirements, there are no restrictions on the brand or type of energy storage system. Currently available residential technologies include battery energy storage systems and thermal energy storage systems (related to air cooling systems). There is the potential for other emerging technologies to qualify as an allowable energy storage system technology in the future. Energy storage systems must have the ability to store energy during non-peak periods and discharge during peak periods.
The applicable TOU rate will be effective in the next billing cycle upon approval of your rebate.
Customers must remain on the designated Time-of-Use (TOU) Service rate for the life of the energy storage system (i.e., system has reached end of service life when storage is below 60% of original capacity). Once the storage system has reached the end of its service life or is removed, you may request a review by RPU to determine eligibility for placement on the applicable available electric rate.