Ways to Save: Rebates Grants Tax Credits Assistance

Know any incentives or assistance not listed here? Email newseditor@cooldavis.org with links!

Utility Bill Assistance Programs

Updated Nov 2022

CARE and FERA are discount programs that help eligible customers pay their energy bills. Over 1.4 million customers receive a bill discount through these two programs. Complete an online CARE/FERA enrollment form on the PG&E website to start the process and determine if you’re eligible.

  •  Avoid service disconnections for nonpayment during the COVID-19 pandemic through the end of June with flexible payment plans.
  • Understand your bill and look at ways to reduce your energy use: PG&E CARES – Sample Bill and FAQS
  • California Alternate Rates for Energy Program (CARE). A monthly discount of 20% or more on gas and electricity. Participants qualify through income guidelines or if enrolled in certain public assistance programs.
  • Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA). A monthly discount of 18% on electricity only. Must be a household with three or more people. Participants qualify through income guidelines.

GRID Alternatives NO COST Solar for Families and Job Training Program

Updated Jan 2021

GRID Alternative’s Energy for All Program provides NO-COST solar for families with low to moderate incomes. You can save up to 90% on your electricity bills!

Solar installation job training opportunities: GRID Alternatives’s Installation Basics Training (IBT) program is a competency-based certificate program designed to develop the skills that are most relevant to entry-level solar installation jobs and related construction employment fields. IBT focuses on individual certificates in industry-recognized skills, providing trainees with valuable hands-on training and access to potential employment opportunities.


Electric Vehicle Tax Credits and Rebates for NEW and USED Vehicles

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Updated Sept 2023  (Inflation Reduction Act funds are here!)

  • Valley Clean Energy customer electric vehicle rebate funds are currently exhausted but more funding may be available soon. Applicants must be approved by the CVRP to qualify for VCE rebates. Check the VCE website for updates.
  • California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) funds are nearly exhausted. Applicants are currently being placed on a standby list. Applicants are not eligible for CVRP rebates if their gross annual incomes are above  $135K for single filers, $175K for head-of-household filers, or $200K for joint filers. Check website for updates.
  • Federal tax credit for NEW vehicles purchased in 2023 or after up to $7,500 for buyers of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, depending on the country of origin and processing locations for battery components and minerals, including vehicle price and income caps  (IRS form 8936).
  • Federal tax credit for NEW vehicles purchased in 2022 or before up to $7,500 for buyers of electric vehicles (IRS form 8936).
  • Federal tax credit for USED clean vehicles purchased in 2023 or after equal to the lesser of $4,000 or 30% of vehicle cost with price and income caps (IRS form 8936).
  • The list of federal-tax-credit-eligible new vehicles (purchased after April of 2023) includes manufacturers like Cadillac, Chevy, Chrysler, Ford, Jeep, Lincoln, Rivian, Tesla, and Volkswagen. The list of eligible used vehicles is much longer. To check if your car is eligible, visit https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax2023.shtml. You must know the model year and date the vehicle was placed into service.
  • Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) stickers $22 for 4 years of access to carpool lanes after purchase of new vehicle. Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) stickers for used vehicles for income eligible also.
  • Rebates for UC Davis affiliates (currently BMW or MINI vehicles)

NOT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS (BELOW)

  • Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) Residents of Yolo county (and others) and certain California Native American tribes can get help buying or leasing a new or used electric or hybrid vehicle, including up to $5,000 off, a loan with affordable interest rates, and money for home or public charging. NOTICE: Effective 9/13/22 the Driving Clean Assistance Program will no longer accept new applications. Funds have been exhausted. There is no timeline for more funding at this time.
  • California Clean Fuel Reward (CCFR) $750 off sales price for buyers and lease holders. TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE (UPDATED 9/22).

Find all your relevant incentives on the CA Air Resources Board site Drive Clean 


Clean Vehicle Assistance Program Grants for USED Vehicles – Reservation List Full

Updated Sept 2022 – The reservation list is now full 

California residents qualify for generous grants to purchase used clean vehicles. For example, a family of 3 with an income of less than $83,000 currently qualifies for the following grants if the vehicle is no more than 8 years old and has less than 75,000 miles (updated June 2022).

The program has received funding from the state of California to begin serving the current reservation list! There is limited funding to serve the reservation list. This does not guarantee you will receive a grant, once the funding runs out the reservation list will closeParticipants who were not served a grant this phase may re-apply when the program re-opens and applications are made available again.

$5,000 Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)
$4,500 grant for a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
$1,500 grant for a Hybrid (HEV)

PLUS: $2,000 grant for home charger or $1,000 gift card for public chargers

Visit the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program (CVAP) to apply.

Look for Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) stickers for used vehicles based on income.


Home Energy Efficiency Incentives – IRA Funding Has Arrived!

Updated July 2023

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Action of 2022, new tax credits and rebates are available from the federal government and other sources covering appliances and upgrades we recommend like these:

  • Ground and air source heat pumps, single package and splits (HVAC)
  • Heat pump water heaters
  • Solar thermal water heaters
  • Sealing and insulation
  • Windows, doors, and skylights

ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder helps you find rebates and special offers near you on ENERGY STAR certified products. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. EPA helping you save energy and money while protecting the environment. The federal government is offering a 30% tax credit with upper limits on the systems listed above and more. 

Golden State Rebates is offering $500 rebates on heat pump water heaters.

PG&E is offering instant retail rebates off certain residental and commerical appliances that are ENERGY STAR labelled.

Additional incentives can be found on the Energy Star website for the services and systems below.

  • Home energy audits
  • Electric panel upgrades
  • Solar panels, including battery storage

Rewiring America incentives calculator lists information on federal rebates for residents that fall below 150 percent of an area’s median income of up to $14,000 per household including $8,000 for heat pumps, $1,750 for heat pump water heaters, and $840 for electric stoves. The rebates should start to become available by the end of 2023 depend on how the state rolls out its incentive program.

TECH Clean California

TECH Clean California incentives for individual homeowners and multi-family units are temporarily suspended due to higher-than-anticipated response.

In Yolo County, the new TECH Clean California program allows participating contractors to earn between $3000 to $4800 in rebates for space conditioning heat pumps, depending on the fuels and efficiency of existing systems, plus additional rebates if duct sealing and detailed sizing calculations are performed. Also available are heat pump water heater rebates up to $3800, which can be installed by plumbers, as well as an additional $2800 if electrical panel upgrades are needed. Similar rebates are provided for multifamily apartments.

New TECH program incentives are designed to dovetail with the existing Comfortable Home Rebate program through PG&E whose website shows both rebates side by side (www.comfortablehomerebates.com).

With the TECH program, contractors are paid directly and they pass the savings on to their customers through lower project costs. With PG&E’s Comfortable Home Program, the homeowner receives the rebate directly. Both programs task contractors with recommending and reporting an appropriate bundle of services for your home and associated rebate eligibility. This is a performance based program.

State licensed contractors in good standing must submit a participation agreement and attend a brief training. These trainings — tailored for contractors, installers, engineers, building owners, property managers, and sales, service, and maintenance staff — are available for free. The enrollment link is at the bottom of the TECH program incentives page: https://energy-solution.com/tech-incentives/. For PG&E’s Comfortable Home Program, contractors must submit an application to participate, which is available at https://comfortablehomerebates.com/pge-contractors/apply-to-participate/.

The first step is to contact a registered contractor in our region. Look for participating contractors on the TECH program website. 

TECH Clean California https://energy-solution.com/tech/

Email TECH.contractor@energy-solution.com for more information

Comfortable Home Program https://comfortablehomerebates.com

Similar incentives are available from the TECH program for multi-family properties (5 or more units). The program is also currently offering additional planning and technical support for multi-family sites. For more information, visit https://energy-solution.com/tech-incentives/multifamily/. Email TECHMF@aea.us.org for more information.


Renewable Energy Federal Tax Credit

Updated Nov 2022

Taxpayers may claim a credit of qualified expenditures for a system that serves a dwelling unit located in the United States that is owned and used as a residence by the taxpayer. Expenditures with respect to the equipment are treated as made when the installation is completed. If the installation is at a new home, the “placed in service” date is the date of occupancy by the homeowner. Expenditures include labor costs for on-site preparation, assembly or original system installation, and for piping or wiring to interconnect a system to the home. If the federal tax credit exceeds tax liability, the excess amount may be carried forward to the succeeding taxable year. The maximum allowable credit, equipment requirements and other details vary by technology, as outlined below.

Solar photovoltaics

  • 30% for systems placed in service Jan 2022 through December 2032 (due to Inflation Reduction Act 2022)
  • 26% for systems placed in service in 2033 (due to Inflation Reduction Act 2022)
  • 22% for systems placed in service in 2034 (due to Inflation Reduction Act 2022)
  • Battery storage equipment expenses expanded to devices with a capacity rating of 3 kilowatt hours or greater
  • Includes stand-alone storage, but here’s why you should pair it with solar
  • The solar PV system must be located at the taxpayer’s residence in the United States
  • The taxpayer must own the solar PV system (not on a lease)
  • There is no maximum amount that can be claimed

Solar water heating

    • 30% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033
    • 26% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2032 and before 01/01/2034
    • 22% for systems placed in service after 12/31/2033 and before 01/01/2035
    • There is no maximum credit for systems placed in service after 2008.
    • Systems must be placed in service on or after January 1, 2006, and on or before December 31, 2034.
    • Equipment must be certified for performance by the Solar Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable entity endorsed by the government of the state in which the property is installed.
    • At least half the energy used to heat the dwelling’s water must be from solar in order for the solar water-heating property expenditures to be eligible.
    • The tax credit does not apply to solar water-heating property for swimming pools or hot tubs.
    • The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.

More qualifying renewable energy sources:

  • Small wind-energy property
  • Geothermal heat pumps
  • Small wind-energy property
  • Battery storage systems (standalone)

BEST SINGLE SOURCE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX CREDITS: DSIRE

IRS Form 5695 https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf


PG&E Smart Thermostat $120

Updated April 2021

Save up to $390 on cooling and heating costs¹ and increase comfort by replacing your manual or programmable thermostat with a new ENERGY STAR® smart thermostat. For a limited time, receive a rebate of up to $120 when you purchase an eligible model and sign up for a Time-of-Use rate plan.²

For more details click here

Other PG&E Incentives (may be redudant with other programs)

Residential Rebates

Business Rebates


 

 

Use up to 30% less energy in your home by outfitting it with ENERGY STAR certified products, available across more than 75 categories. ENERGY STAR certified products are independently certified save energy, save money and protect the environment.

 

 

 


Updated May 2022

Woodsmoke Reduction Program

The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District offers an incentive program to residents that live within the District to replace their old, non-EPA certified wood stove, fireplace insert, or open-hearth fireplace with a newer, cleaner burning device, such as an EPA certified wood stove/insert or a natural gas, propane, or electric heating device.

The District is currently accepting applications for the program. Funding is provided through the US EPA’s Targeted Airshed Grant Program. Check the YSAQMD website for updates.

To participate, applicants must:

  • Live within the Sacramento Federal PM2.5 Nonattainment Area (NAA)
    Look up address here
  • If applying for low-income ($3500) voucher, you must provide proof of income (see Voucher Program document)
  • Not remove existing appliance or purchase a new device prior to Voucher approval.

Voucher Application

Why Reduce Wood Smoke?

There are approximately 10 million wood stoves currently in use in the United States, and 65 percent of them are older, inefficient, conventional stoves. Swapping out one old, inefficient wood stove is similar to taking 5 dirty, old diesel trucks off the road. Wood smoke is not only bad for the environment but can also affect your health. Wood smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases, like carbon dioxide, methane and air toxics, and fine, microscopic particles, called PM2.5. PM2.5 is so small, it can easily bypass the human body’s natural defenses, causing short term health effects, like coughing and sneezing, and worsening existing conditions, such as asthma and heart disease.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please call the District office at (530) 757 – 3650 or email: woodstove@ysaqmd.org and ask about the Wood Smoke Reduction Program. If you live in Solano County but outside Dixon, Rio Vista, and Vacaville, contact the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to ask about their wood smoke reduction program by clicking here.


Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing Programs

Davis property owners are eligible to participate in three Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing Programs within Yolo County. The programs include energy and water use efficiency financing options including solar panels, lighting, and indoor and outdoor water use efficiency projects. PACE is a financing tool offered by a third party vendor that property owners can use to make energy and/or water efficiency upgrades to their home or business.

The three vendors authorized to provide PACE Programs in Yolo County are CaliforniaFirst/RenewFinancial, HERO, and Ygrene. PACE financing programs are offered in many parts of the state through both public agencies (Sonoma County Water District, Placer County) and public/private and public/non-profit partnerships (California First, Ygrene, HERO, Fig Tree, etc.).

Cool Davis highlights PACE programs as a service to Davis property owners but does not necessarily endorse any individual providers.


Turf Replacement Rebate

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FUNDS NO LONGER AVAILABLE: A new statewide rebate program is now available to help residential customers replace thirsty lawn with beautiful low-water use plants. The Save Our Water California program will be run entirely through the State, not individual cities.

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is offering residential customers $2 per square foot (up to $2,000 total) for removing their lawn and replacing it with drought-tolerant plants, mulch, permeable pavers and efficient drip irrigation. Artificial turf is not eligible for the rebate, and projects must be completed within 90 days.

About $12 million in rebates is available statewide, including for the Sacramento region, while $10 million is reserved for disadvantaged and drought-impacted communities, primarily located in the San Joaquin Valley.

Statewide rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are expected to go fast. The program implements Governor Brown’s Executive Order issued in April directing DWR and local water agencies to replace 50 million square feet of turf statewide with drought-tolerant landscapes.

Most household water is used for landscape watering, with lawn typically one of the thirstiest plants in a garden. Reducing or eliminating lawn can make a significant impact on the state’s water use.

Details, eligibility guidelines and an application are available at www.SaveOurWaterRebates.com.


Toilet Rebate

FUNDS NO LONGER AVAILABLE: The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is offering a rebate program for replacing toilets at California single-family residences to support the State’s drought response. Up to $100 will be rebated for purchase and installation of one qualified high-efficiency toilet (1.28 gallons per flush or less) per household for replacement of a less-efficient toilet (using more than 1.6 gallons per flush).

The $6 million toilet rebate program, also funded through Proposition 1, will help Californians replace approximately 60,000 old, inefficient toilets.

Details, eligibility guidelines and an application are available at www.SaveOurWaterRebates.com.