Eligible homeowners can now receive a no-cost battery storage system through our Battery Bonus Connect program! This limited-time opportunity, funded by California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), is available for up to 300 income-eligible households on a first-come, first-served basis. This program is administered by CEA.

Key program benefits include:

  • Free battery system to pair with existing solar panels
  • Electricity bill savings of up to 90%
  • Backup power during outages

Find out if you qualify for our Battery Bonus Connect program. It available to CEA residential customers who are at or below 80% of the Area Median Income, which varies by county and household size.

If you qualify and are approved for the program, your system will be zero out-of-pocket and installed by our trusted partner, Haven Energy. Haven is a certified SGIP developer and trusted battery storage installer in California. They will be responsible for installing and managing your system and making sure it runs perfectly. Contact Haven Energy to learn more at (323) 943-1606.

San Diego County Income Eligibility

(Effective: April 16, 2025)

Income Eligibility Limits by Household Size
Household Size
Number of Residents		 Annual
Income Limit
1 $92,700 (or less)
2 $105,950 (or less)
3 $119,200 (or less)
4 $132,400 (or less)
5 $143,000 (or less)
6 $153,600 (or less)
7 $164,200 (or less)
8 $174,800 (or less)
This table shows the annual income limits for eligibility based on household size in San Diego County, effective from June 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Through the Battery Bonus Connect program, qualifying homeowners can have a battery system installed at no purchase or installation cost. This means you won’t have to pay anything for the battery storage system or make monthly payments beyond your typical electricity bill. The program does not require credit checks or a property lien, either. To qualify, applicants must own their home and meet certain income requirements.

There are three primary requirements to qualify for the Battery Bonus Connect program

  1. You must be a CEA residential customer
  2. You must own your home
  3. Your household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) verified through proof of total household income, typically with a 1040 tax form. Homeowners who are enrolled in one of the Energy Saving Assistance programs listed below are likely to qualify for the 80% AMI threshold:
    1. California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)
    2. Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA)
    3. Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) program

As part of enrollment, the program will evaluate the technical feasibility of installing storage based on your home’s configuration and space for equipment, among other things.

If you meet these requirements, you could have a battery system installed at no purchase or installation cost to you, pending availability of funding. You will still be responsible for any electricity charges on your monthly bill. Being eligible does not guarantee you a system. Funding is first-come, first-serve, and we expect high demand for these systems.

Qualifying customers will contact Haven Energy, a residential and commercial solar and battery developer selected by CEA to administer this program, to begin the process of evaluating your home for battery storage. Once your eligibility is confirmed for the Battery Bonus Connect program, Haven Energy will perform a site survey and create a custom battery proposal. This proposal will include the size of the battery storage system, the projected monthly savings on your electric bill, and the estimated backup time provided by your battery. The site survey will take one to two hours and will be scheduled with Haven Energy. The goal of the site survey is to examine the home for solar and battery storage compatibility.

Once your home is successfully vetted for a battery storage system, Haven Energy will prepare an Energy Service Agreement. If you agree with the scope and terms of enrollment, you’ll sign the Energy Services Agreement with Haven Energy to participate.

The Battery Bonus Connect program and the Energy Services Agreement with Haven Energy will end after 10 years from the Operation Date[1] of your battery storage system. After 10 years, ownership of the systems will be transferred over to you (or a subsequent homeowner) or removed (if requested). You may purchase the System from Haven Energy prior to 10 years for a purchase price equal to the Fair Market Value[2]  of the System. You shall notify Haven Energy of its intent to purchase at least ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred eighty (180) days before the end of the Term.

[1] The Operation Date is the date of receipt of all approvals and permits needed to operate the battery storage and solar PV system.

[2] The “Fair Market Value” of the System shall be determined by mutual agreement of the parties.

Administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the SGIP Residential Solar and Storage Equity program (RSSE) and Residential Equity program rebate seeks to incentivize homeowners to adopt solar and battery storage because it can help improve grid stability. As the demand for electricity continues to rise, programs like the SGIP RSSE rebate can help protect the power grid while also giving families a practical tool for lowering bills and securing reliable power.

The SGIP RSSE and Residential Equity rebates are funded by the federal government (through the Inflation Reduction Act).

As part of the Battery Bonus Connect program, battery storage systems will participate in a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) controlled by Clean Energy Alliance. This Virtual Power Plant will help reduce electricity use during times of high demand when the grid is under stress. By controlling battery storage systems through a Virtual Power Plant, your battery system will team up with others to provide stored energy to the power supply and help stabilize the grid, lowering prices for you and everyone else. This will be done on your behalf by Haven Energy.

Virtual Power Plants are a benefit to customers as they can maximize bill savings potential. Further, a dedicated minimum of 20% of the battery’s capacity will always be intact for backup power operations.

A solar and battery storage system lets you generate and store electricity to use whenever you like. By producing your own energy, you can lower your electric bills. Electricity gets stored in your battery, which you can use to power your home at night or from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., when time-of-use rates are most expensive.

  1. Energy savings: Homeowners with solar and battery systems can typically lower their electric bill by an average of 90%
  2. Backup power: With a solar and battery system, homeowners can secure reliable power during an outage
  3. Lower CO2 emissions: Producing and storing electricity that comes from a renewable resource lowers your household emissions by over 2,600 lbs of CO2 a year

A battery system stores electricity from the power grid or from solar panels. Most batteries are made of lithium-ion technology, similar to what’s used in smartphones and electric vehicles. These batteries are popular because they’re efficient, have a long lifespan, and can store a large amount of energy in a relatively small space.

When solar panels produce extra electricity, it can be stored in batteries to use later, when time-of-use rates are high or when your panels aren’t producing. In the event of an outage, the battery will automatically provide backup power to your home.

Battery systems operate in the background, charging from solar panels (or from the grid). This stored energy provides bill savings and backup power without you having to do anything.

When the electrical grid goes down, the home battery automatically isolates your house from the grid and starts powering your home. This allows you to continue using select appliances and devices until the power comes back on. All of this happens without your involvement. In fact, homeowners are often unaware that there’s been a power outage in their area. Your house will reconnect to the grid when the battery system recognizes that power has been restored.

It depends! The amount of backup power you need depends on how much energy your home uses. Most people choose an “essential” backup, which keeps things like lights, refrigerators, fans, internet, and power outlets running during an outage. Batteries can also back up other appliances, like heat pumps, air conditioners, or even the whole house, but in some cases these ‘larger’ electric loads will exceed the capacity of the battery system. The final plan for backup will be determined after site survey and during the detailed system design process.  Haven Energy will attempt to provide full home backup, but may be unable to for home with multiple large loads.

Once Haven Energy checks your eligibility, they will create a custom battery proposal for you. If everything looks good, you’ll sign your Energy Services Agreement with Haven Energy who will gather any final documents that are required.

Our next steps completed on your behalf:

  1. Submit your application for SGIP to the state
  2. Once your application is approved, Haven Energy will draft and submit design plans for permits from your local county
  3. Installation day! Haven Energy will install and inspect the system to make sure it meets local code, then onboard you once the system is operational
  4. Coordinate an inspection by city, once system is operational
  5. Once inspected, your utility will grant “Permission to Operate”, officially interconnecting the system to the grid. An executed inspection record card from the city will be required to grant “Permission to Operate.”

The installation of solar panels and battery typically takes one to three days, depending on the size and complexity of the complete system. Haven Energy will work with you to schedule the installation.

Haven Energy partners with licensed and certified electricians and installers.

Haven Energy provides robust workmanship and production warranties in addition to the warranties provided by the equipment manufacturers.

Haven Energy will provide a 10-year workmanship warranty starting from the day the system is fully installed. This warranty covers the cost of fixing or replacing the system due to any defects in workmanship not otherwise covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. During these 10 years, Haven Energy will honor all manufacturer’s warranty claims, provide system support, diagnose problems, and make repairs, all at no extra cost to you.

To coordinate our Battery Bonus Connect program, CEA has partnered with Haven Energy, a residential and commercial solar and battery developer dedicated to accelerating the clean energy transition. Haven Energy is a certified SGIP developer and certified California contractor (CSLB # 1104018). Learn more about Haven Energy at havenenergy.com

Contact Haven Energy at hello@havenenergy.com.