Most Californians still unprepared for wildfires and outages, Haven Energy survey shows
A new statewide survey from Haven Energy reveals that nearly 7 in 10 California residents remain unprepared for wildfire-related power outages, despite rising awareness of battery storage incentives and growing concerns over utility costs.
The 2025 results update Haven’s original 2023 survey on emergency preparedness and grid reliability, showing only modest improvements in household readiness—even after a string of destructive wildfires, mounting public safety power shutoffs (PSPS), and soaring electric bills across the state.
Haven Energy, based in Los Angeles, specializes in deploying home battery and solar systems in underserved communities. The company aggregates its systems into virtual power plants, providing grid services while helping homeowners reduce energy costs.
“Our latest survey makes one thing clear, and that is most Californians are still unprepared for what’s ahead,” said Vinnie Campo, CEO and co-founder of Haven Energy. “While it’s promising to see awareness of home batteries has nearly doubled since 2023, nearly three in four Californians still don’t know they may qualify for state-funded systems.”
Wildfire threats rising, but residents remain underprepared
California’s worsening wildfire season—including the deadly Eaton and Palisades fires—has highlighted the risks of an overburdened grid. Yet, according to the survey:
- 65% of California residents still have no evacuation plan, backup power, or emergency kit.
- 80% have no savings set aside for emergency repairs or wildfire damage.
- 37% have no emergency fund at all—up from 32% in 2023.
Meanwhile, public safety shutoffs and unplanned outages are now routine. Over half of respondents reported 1–2 outages in the last year, and 55% expect at least one outage this summer.
Battery awareness improves, but adoption lags
One bright spot in Haven’s findings is a sharp increase in awareness of home battery incentives. Over half of Californians (57%) now know that battery subsidies exist—up from just 22% in 2023. But knowledge gaps remain:
- 74% are unaware that low- to moderate-income households may qualify for free solar + battery systems under California’s SGIP Residential Storage Equity program.
- Only 10% understand the concept of a virtual power plant (VPP).
- 19% say they’ve never heard of a home battery system—improved from 34% in 2023, but still a concern.
Despite rising energy bills, cost remains the top barrier to home battery and solar adoption, followed by confusion over installation and benefits.
- 29% say batteries are too expensive (down from 40% in 2023).
- 34% say solar panels are too expensive.
- Nearly 1 in 4 say they don’t know where to start with battery installation.
Californians adjusting energy use to lower costs
With federal tax credits expiring and utility rates climbing, nearly half of Californians (49%) say their electricity bills have risen in the last 12 months, and 53% expect continued increases over the next decade. Many are already changing behavior:
- 64% report shifting appliance use to off-peak hours or reducing usage altogether.
- 37% are concerned about their ability to pay their electric bill this summer.
“Homeowners need help cutting through the noise,” Campo said. “At Haven, we’re focused on making these incentives clear, accessible, and actionable—because no one should miss out on protecting their home simply because they didn’t have the right information.”
