State-level battery incentives expand in California, Washington, and Oregon
State-level programs are making battery storage more accessible—and sometimes even free—for homeowners across California, Washington, and Oregon. As utilities seek new ways to balance grid reliability with clean energy goals, incentive programs are emerging that offer upfront savings in exchange for participation in virtual power plants (VPPs) and load management programs.
Two recent announcements highlight how these programs are taking shape: one in Southern California, focused on income-qualified solar customers; and one in the Pacific Northwest, offering rebates for battery installations that support grid services. Together, they reflect a growing push to integrate residential storage systems into the broader energy market.
California: Haven Energy + Clean Energy Alliance
Haven Energy is partnering with Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) to launch the Battery Bonus Connect program, which provides qualifying single-family homeowners with a battery storage system at no cost. Funded by California’s $280 million SGIP Residential Solar & Storage Equity program, this initiative supports low-income residents by offering fully installed battery systems with no out-of-pocket expenses or monthly payments.
Batteries enrolled in the program will participate in a CEA-managed virtual power plant, operated by Haven. Participants will maintain at least 20% of battery capacity for backup power, while the remainder is used to support the grid during peak demand periods.
Program Eligibility | To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a residential CEA customer
- Participate in CEA’s PeakSmart Savers program
- Own their home
- Have household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)
Income eligibility can generally be met through enrollment in programs such as CARE, FERA, or ESA. The program also includes a technical assessment to verify space and electrical compatibility for battery installation.
“The Battery Bonus Connect program is a meaningful step toward making clean energy solutions more accessible and available to all of CEA’s customers,” said CEA CEO Greg Wade.
Washington & Oregon: SolarEdge + Pacific Power
In the Pacific Northwest, SolarEdge has joined Pacific Power’s Wattsmart Battery Program as a qualifying battery provider. The program offers incentives of up to $3,000 per battery for homeowners who install SolarEdge’s high-efficiency, DC-coupled battery systems. Commercial customers can earn up to $18,000 in incentives (30 kW).
The incentive structure helps offset the upfront cost of battery storage while enabling the utility to tap into distributed energy for grid support during peak demand periods. Battery systems participating in Wattsmart deliver four primary benefits:
- Frequency regulation
- Peak load management
- Circuit congestion relief through aggregation
- Backup power during outages
SolarEdge’s DC-coupled architecture, which avoids multiple energy conversions, enables more efficient energy use and increases the effective output from paired PV systems.
“The Wattsmart Battery Program is a win–win for both homeowners and the grid,” said Marty Rogers, General Manager of SolarEdge North America. “Participants can earn up to $3,000 per battery while taking advantage of our DC-coupled architecture… It’s a smarter, cleaner and more cost-effective way to maximize backup power and savings.”
As utilities and regulators look to boost grid flexibility and reduce emissions, expect more states to roll out programs that make distributed battery storage a smarter—and more affordable—investment for homeowners.
