Straight answers about the SGIP program, Medical Baseline, costs, equipment, and what happens after you sign up.
Jump to a topic: Medical Baseline · Rebates, credits, and costs · Equipment · Moving, credit, and NEM
Medical Baseline is a cheaper rate schedule with the utility company for customers who have a medical need for electricity. To qualify for the highest SGIP rebate, the Equity Resiliency Budget, a home must be in a high fire threat zone and be on Medical Baseline. The rate is good for two years before a reapplication. Reapplying later is not required for the initial rebates. A copy of the Medical Baseline approval letter must be included with the SGIP application.
Yes, typically you need to reapply for Medical Baseline or similar programs with your utility company every two years. This ensures the utility has current information and can confirm that you still qualify based on medical needs that require additional energy consumption at a lower cost. Failing to reapply will not affect any battery rebates you have received, but it will reduce your ongoing savings because the lower rates will no longer apply. Some utilities may request updated certification from a healthcare provider as part of the reapplication. Policies vary by utility, so check with your provider for their requirements and deadlines.
To receive the Equity Resiliency rebate, homeowners must be in a fire zone and have the Medical Baseline rate with the utility company. Most utilities require a doctor to sign off on the application. Customers who already have Medical Baseline must still have a current doctor’s note justifying the rate in the SGIP application.
The appointment is conducted virtually and typically lasts 10 to 15 minutes. The doctor verifies any ailments and medical devices that qualify the homeowner for the Medical Baseline rate. No proof of diagnosis is necessary.
All personal information is kept confidential and is shared only with your utility for the purpose of applying for the Medical Baseline rate. No medical information from previous doctors is disclosed. RUME Health and its partners only have access to the information you provide during your consultation, and you are under no obligation to use RUME Health for any future medical needs.
The Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) is a California financial incentive program designed to promote the installation of distributed energy resources. It offers rebates for qualifying technologies including energy storage systems and renewable energy generation. The program aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve grid reliability, and support energy generation at the point of use. Funded by ratepayers of large California utilities, SGIP is available to residential and non-residential customers to help offset the cost of installing clean energy technologies.
RECAP (Renewable Energy Credit Advancement Program) enables the monetization of tax credits and SGIP rebates, which are paid directly to the installer and developer. These rebates and credits typically cover both the hard and soft costs of the battery installation. Through this arrangement the batteries are effectively paid for through state and federal rebates, and the financial burden does not fall on the homeowner. All SGIP applicants must also enroll in a demand response program with their utility before the rebates can be paid out. This ensures the batteries benefit the individual homeowner and also help reduce overall grid reliance.
Yes, but the application process is extremely complex. It involves detailed engineering calculations and requires an active identification number registered with SelfGenCA, the program administrator. Applying on your own may also require you to pay upfront costs that are only offset by the rebate later, and the rebates are considered taxable income. Letting professionals handle the application and receive the rebates directly is usually the most cost-effective route, with every technical and regulatory requirement met and no upfront financial burden.
No. In most instances the SGIP rebate and tax credits are sufficient to cover the entire cost of the project. On the rare occasion that total costs exceed the rebates, the project is cancelled unless the customer opts to pay the additional amount.
Because the battery system is owned by the financing partner named in your agreement and only transferred to the homeowner after full depreciation, there are no tax implications for the homeowner. The rebates are paid directly to the installer and developer, so the homeowner owes no taxes on those amounts. The battery also does not affect any existing solar tax credits.
Once the reservation request is approved, we have a full year to complete the project and the rebates are still honored. The reservation request guarantees the rebates for the project.
SGIP requires all participants to enroll in a qualified demand response program through their utility. Demand response programs encourage customers to reduce electricity consumption during infrequent times of high demand to help manage the state’s electricity supply, and they offer additional financial incentives for doing so. The batteries let homeowners keep powering their homes during those times with no interruption while reducing consumption and pressure on the grid. You must enroll before your install can be scheduled so the SGIP rebates are ensured and the project can be funded. One of our representatives will help you enroll before your project is underway.
The battery system comes with a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty. The financing partner that owns the system for the first six years is also contractually obligated to provide a warranty for that period. After that, ownership transfers to the homeowner along with the remaining manufacturer’s warranty.
Medical Baseline approval can take up to a month, and SGIP funds approval may take another two to four months. Once funds are approved, projects are permitted and installation is scheduled first come, first served. Because of high demand and the time it takes to receive the rebate reservation, we cannot guarantee a specific installation timeline. Batteries ship directly to the home three to five days before installation.
Batteries save money through time-of-use (TOU) arbitrage: storing electricity when rates are low and using it when rates are high. Utilities charge more during peak demand hours, usually late afternoon and early evening. By charging your battery during off-peak hours and discharging it during peak hours, you avoid the higher rates. This lowers your bill, improves energy efficiency, and provides backup power during outages.
No. Batteries can be charged from the grid to provide backup power, manage energy use, and take advantage of time-of-use arbitrage without solar. Pairing batteries with solar can maximize savings by storing excess solar energy for later, especially during peak pricing or when the sun is not shining.
It is possible to connect batteries to an existing solar system, but we do not offer this service, to avoid voiding warranties on your current installation. Charging from the grid during off-peak hours, when rates are lowest and solar production is minimal, still optimizes your energy usage. Additional solar panels, on-grid or off-grid, can be added later to charge the batteries directly without affecting your NEM status.
A full home backup system powers all the circuits in your home, so lights, appliances, and HVAC keep running as usual, provided the battery capacity is sufficient. A partial home backup system supplies power only to essential circuits such as refrigerators, key lights, and medical devices. The choice depends on your power needs during an outage and your budget. Homes must have a peak demand of 12 kWh or more to qualify for a 100% subsidized full home backup; homes with lower demand may qualify for a partial home backup.
The battery system automatically takes over and supplies power to your home. If the battery is charged, it begins supplying electricity to the designated circuits or the whole property, depending on how the system is configured, so essential appliances keep running without interruption. How long it lasts depends on the battery’s capacity and how much energy is being used. Where solar panels are connected directly to the battery, it keeps charging during the day, extending backup for as long as the outage continues and sunlight is available.
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries offer enhanced safety thanks to a stable chemical composition that greatly reduces the risk of fire. They also last longer, enduring more charge and discharge cycles with minimal capacity loss. Standard lithium-ion cells have higher energy density, which suits compact devices, but LiFePO4 is preferable where safety and durability come first, such as residential energy storage. LiFePO4 also performs better across a wider range of temperatures.
Every installation includes batteries, an inverter, a sub-panel, and conduit. We typically install the batteries in the garage or on an exterior wall, depending on the layout and conditions of your property. Where possible we place the sub-panel next to the main panel with the batteries and inverter on the same wall. Each installation is unique and must follow the regulations of the local authority having jurisdiction, which vary.
You control your system from a dedicated app on your phone or tablet, with real-time insight into performance and the ability to adjust settings to your needs. We program the battery at installation for optimal savings, taking into account peak rates and your typical usage, and you can adjust it as your needs change.
To fully finance the project, the 30% federal tax credit on its fair market value is used, and to claim that credit the project must be owned by the same entity for five years. For the first six years the system is therefore owned by the financing partner named in your agreement. During that time you make no payments and carry no liens or obligations, and you retain control of the battery. Ownership transfers to you in the sixth year. The battery is also covered by an extended guarantee for the first six years, during which the owner maintains it and addresses any issues.
The system stays with the home and the agreement transfers to the new homeowner at no cost. Ownership of the battery system passes to whoever owns the home after year six. There are no tax implications from the transfer.
Once you have assigned the rebates to the developer, all you need to do is wait. After installation and permission to operate, you will also need to change your utility rate to an SGIP-approved rate so the rebates are honored. Your project manager coordinates that, and it may only require your verbal approval over the phone. You may also need to clear space in your garage for the installation, depending on where it goes. All of this is coordinated with you when the install is scheduled.
No. This is not a loan or a purchase, and no credit check is performed.
No. Adding a non-export, grid-charged battery to an existing system does not change your NEM status. The NEM Plus (NMP) program allows existing NEM customers to add non-export technology without losing their NEM participation.
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