Energy Upgrade California is a new, statewide program that offers incentives to homeowners who complete select energy-saving home improvements on a single-family residence. Unveiled March 1, the program offers homeowners up to $4,000 to perform energy efficiency upgrades, including photovoltaic solar panels. These incentive packages encourage customers to take a "whole house" approach by combining several related improvements at once to increase a home's overall energy efficiency and achieve greater savings.

By working with participating contractors, homeowners can choose from two incentive options, the Basic Package or the Advanced Package, based on their improvement needs and budget.

The Energy Upgrade program will offer rebates to 100,000 homeowners throughout the state. Homeowners that choose the Basic Package qualify for a $1,000 rebate through their utility. That incentive package helps homeowners pay for attic sealing, attic insulation, duct sealing, hot water pipe insulation and temperature-controlled shower heads.

Under the Advanced Upgrade Package, homeowners that get a Home Energy Assessment and make prescribed changes can qualify for a rebate of up to $4,000 through their utility. The advanced package includes support for photovoltaics and solar-water heaters.

It’s also part of a larger umbrella effort to educate homeowners about all the renewable energy and energy-efficiency incentives and rebates that they can qualify for.

While programs are being coordinated by counties, it’s coordinated at the state level by the California Energy Commission. Overall, the program is supported by more than $1.2 billion, including $1 billion leveraged through the state’s investor-owned utilities. The program will receive $146 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) State Energy Program and Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants and $13 million from Employment Development Department Workforce Investment funding.

Solar Contractors: To become a participating contractor, you must be a California-licensed contractor and meet program requirements. Learn more about the requirements and how you can become a clean energy contractor.