SDG&E rebates look different in 2026. The retail coupons are gone, and what is left mostly serves income-qualified households and people buying a used electric car. DuloCore checked every program below on SDG&E's own pages and its program sites on October 14, 2026.
What Rebates Does SDG&E Offer in 2026?
As of October 14, 2026, SDG&E's pages list no-cost home upgrades for income-qualified households, a $1,000 or $4,000 rebate on a used electric vehicle, and monthly bill discounts. Its retail coupons have ended.
| SDG&E program (official pages, October 14, 2026) | What the page says | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) | Energy-efficient home improvements for income-qualified owners and renters | No cost |
| Pre-Owned EV Rebate | Used battery electric or plug-in hybrid, bought or leased | $1,000, or $4,000 if income-qualified |
| CARE | Monthly discount on the electric and gas bill | May be 30% or more off the bill |
| FERA | Monthly discount for incomes slightly above the CARE range | 18% off electric use |
| Golden State Rebates (ended) | The retail rebate offerings have ended | None |
| Smart thermostat incentive (ended) | Closed December 31, 2023 | None |
SDG&E's rebates page now opens with the closure notice for the retail coupons. To see which verified programs fit one household, use the eligibility check.
Have the Golden State Rebates Coupons Ended?
Yes. SDG&E's rebates page says the Golden State Rebates retail rebate offerings have ended, and that SDG&E doesn't honor post-purchase rebates.
The coupons were redeemed online or at local Home Depot, Best Buy and Lowe's stores. The program, now ended, was implemented by CLEAResult under a contract awarded by SDG&E and supported by PG&E, SoCalGas and SCE. Because SDG&E says it doesn't honor post-purchase rebates, don't buy a product expecting to claim money back from SDG&E later. The closure contact number is on the SDG&E rebates page.
How Do SDG&E's No-Cost Home Upgrades Work?
SDG&E's Energy Savings Assistance program can provide no-cost energy-efficient home improvements to owners and renters who meet its income limits or receive qualifying public assistance.
SDG&E's Energy Savings Assistance page splits the upgrades into two tiers:
- ESA Basic: customers can self-certify for items such as a smart thermostat, a low-flow showerhead, a faucet aerator, LED bulbs and a power strip.
- ESA Basic Plus: customers who provide income documents may qualify for larger items, including a refrigerator, a clothes washer or dryer, gas furnace repair or replacement, attic insulation, duct sealing, water heater repair or replacement, or a heat pump water heater.
Not every household gets every item. Existing appliances must meet age requirements, and landlords who own the appliances and pay the tenant's bills may owe a co-pay. The home must be a single-family or mobile home; duplexes to fourplexes count as single-family.
From June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027, the income limit is $39,900 for one person and $82,500 for four, with $14,200 more for each additional person. Taking part in a listed program such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal for Families A & B, WIC, SSI or LIHEAP also qualifies. You start with SDG&E's interest form; a program specialist confirms eligibility, then a contractor assesses the home and installs the upgrades. The San Diego water heater guide covers water heater replacement under this program.
What Is the Income Limit for the SDG&E EV Rebate?
No single figure. Rebate Plus uses California's state income limits for your county and household size, and the program site shows yours by ZIP code.
The program requirements page gives two routes to Rebate Plus:
- Enrollment, on the purchase or lease date, in a listed public assistance program such as CalFresh, income-qualified Medi-Cal, WIC, SSI, LIHEAP or San Diego Clean Cars 4 All.
- Household income within the limit for your household size and county. The limits come from the 2026 State Income Limits set by California's Department of Housing and Community Development, and income is checked against IRS tax return transcripts.
An applicant claimed as someone else's dependent, or whose vehicle is registered to a trust, can't get Rebate Plus. Other eligible applicants get the $1,000 standard rebate, and a standard rebate can't later be topped up to $4,000.
Which Used EVs Qualify for the SDG&E Rebate?
A used battery electric or plug-in hybrid, bought or leased, with a battery of at least 8 kWh for applications submitted from April 16, 2026.
The same requirements page sets the other rules:
- Submit the application within 180 days of the purchase or lease date.
- The car must be registered to your SDG&E residential service address and stay registered to you in California for at least 20 months.
- You must be an active SDG&E residential customer, though the account doesn't have to be in your name.
- One application per household address, and one rebated car per person, for the life of the program.
- You can't get it if you already received a rebate for the same car from the SCE or PG&E pre-owned EV programs or the California Clean Fuel Reward.
The program is run by the Center for Sustainable Energy and funded through the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, not by ratepayer dollars. For home charger incentives, see the EV charger rebate guide.
Does SDG&E Still Pay for a Smart Thermostat?
Not as a rebate. SDG&E's $25 smart thermostat incentive closed on December 31, 2023. Income-qualified households may qualify for a smart thermostat through ESA Basic.
SDG&E's thermostat incentive page says the program closed under a California Public Utilities Commission decision of December 20, 2023. It was open to homes in high-heat climate zones that enrolled in the AC Saver Thermostat Program. The San Diego thermostat guide covers the thermostat options left.
Does SDG&E Offer a Discount on the Monthly Bill?
Yes. CARE may take 30% or more off the energy bill, and FERA gives households just above the CARE income range 18% off electric use.
SDG&E's CARE and FERA page says enrollment in programs such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal for Families A & B, WIC or SSI qualifies; otherwise household size and income decide. SDG&E checks FERA automatically for households that don't qualify for CARE. The discount lasts two years before you renew, or four years for families on a fixed income. Applying for CARE or FERA also checks whether you qualify for the no-cost upgrades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SDG&E have a heat pump rebate in 2026?
SDG&E's rebates page shows no open heat pump rebate as of October 14, 2026; the $500 heat pump water heater coupon it still lists belonged to Golden State Rebates, which has ended. A heat pump water heater is one of the ESA Basic Plus items for households that qualify and provide income documents.
How long does the SDG&E used EV rebate take to arrive?
The program's FAQs say checks are typically mailed within 30 calendar days of approval, to the address on the vehicle registration, though some delays may occur. The application, with all supporting documents uploaded, must be submitted within 180 days of the purchase or lease date.
Can renters get SDG&E's no-cost upgrades?
Yes. SDG&E's page says homeowners and renters with a residential meter can qualify. Property owner approval may be needed for some upgrades.
Live in SDG&E territory? Estimate rebates for your ZIP code with the free rebate calculator.