Do I have to pay anything out of pocket for an SGIP battery through Apollo Home Power?

For SGIP-covered battery projects, Apollo Home Power states the customer's total cost is $0 — the batteries, the inverter and the labor are covered by the SGIP rebate, which is assigned to the developer. There is nothing out of pocket or upfront. If a project would exceed what the rebates cover, Apollo Home Power cancels it unless the customer chooses to pay the difference, and the company says it will notify the customer ahead of time if anything changes.

How do I qualify for the SGIP Equity Resiliency rebate?

To qualify for the SGIP Equity Resiliency Budget rebate, the home must be in a high fire zone and on medical baseline. If you are not already on medical baseline, Apollo Home Power's qualifying appointment is conducted virtually and typically lasts 10 to 15 minutes. Medical baseline approval can take up to a month, and SGIP funds approval may take an additional two to four months.

Can I claim the federal tax credit on a rebate-funded battery?

In the third-party-owned model Apollo Home Power uses, the tax credit value is captured by the equipment owner rather than the homeowner. The company's revenue on these projects comes from rebates plus tax credits sold to third-party investors. That structure is part of why the homeowner's cost can be $0. Confirm your own tax situation with a tax professional, since federal credit rules change.

Will a new battery affect the tax credit I already claimed for my solar?

Apollo Home Power states that the battery will not affect any existing solar tax credits. Note that SGIP battery systems installed by Apollo Home Power are typically not connected to the home's solar; they are tied to the grid as non-export systems.

Do I have to change my electricity rate plan to get the SGIP rebate?

Yes. SGIP requires a Time-of-Use rate — TOU-D 5-8 or TOU-D Prime — and Apollo Home Power's SGIP department handles the rate switch. Time-of-Use pricing is what makes the battery's charge-overnight, discharge-at-peak schedule save money.

How long does the SGIP rebate process take, and can it be rushed?

SGIP applications are processed first come, first served and cannot be expedited. Waitlists are a normal part of the process and require no action from the homeowner. Once an SGIP rebate is approved it is valid for one year, and installation is scheduled after both the rebate and the building permit are approved.

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Answer

What Battery Storage Incentives Can Southern California Homeowners Get?

October 21, 2026Fact-checked

Southern California homeowners shopping for home battery backup generally look at two buckets of help: California's Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), a state rebate administered through the utilities, and the federal tax credit for residential clean energy equipment. SGIP has tiers, including an Equity Resiliency tier aimed at households in high fire-risk areas who are on medical baseline. Apollo Home Power helps families install battery systems using SGIP and other state and federal rebates, and handles the rebate applications and demand response enrollment on the customer's behalf.

Because incentive budgets, eligibility rules and tax law change over time, treat everything below as a map of how the programs are structured — then confirm current rules and funding status before you plan around a specific dollar amount.

The main state incentive: SGIP

SGIP is California's rebate program for energy storage. It is the program Apollo Home Power works in every day, and the company states that in most instances the SGIP rebate and tax credits cover the entire cost of the project. For SGIP-covered battery projects through Apollo Home Power, the cost of the batteries, the inverter and the labor is covered by the rebate, which is assigned to the developer — meaning the homeowner's total cost is $0, with nothing out of pocket or upfront. If a project would exceed what the rebates cover, Apollo Home Power cancels it unless the customer chooses to pay the difference, and the company states it will tell the customer ahead of time if anything changes or if any items would not be covered.

A few practical things to know about SGIP:

Applications are processed first come, first served. They cannot be expedited.
Waitlists are normal. Entering the SGIP waitlist is a routine part of the process and requires no action from the homeowner.
Approval is good for a year. Once an SGIP rebate is approved, it is valid for one year, and installation is scheduled after both the rebate and the building permit are approved.
Funding availability shifts. SGIP budgets are set by the state and allocated over time, so ask for a current eligibility check rather than assuming a tier is open or closed.

The Equity Resiliency tier: fire zone plus medical baseline

SGIP's Equity Resiliency Budget is the tier most often discussed in Southern California, because it targets households most at risk during Public Safety Power Shutoffs. To qualify for the SGIP Equity Resiliency Budget rebate, a home must be in a high fire zone and on medical baseline.

If you are not already on medical baseline, that is a separate application with your utility. Apollo Home Power's process includes a qualifying appointment for medical baseline that is conducted virtually and typically lasts 10 to 15 minutes. Personal information collected for the medical baseline rate application is shared only with Southern California Edison (SCE), and RUME Health and its partners have access to information provided during the consultation.

Plan for the clock: medical baseline approval can take up to a month, and SGIP funds approval may take an additional two to four months.

Income-qualified pathways

SGIP has income-related eligibility screens as well. Apollo Home Power's application coaching covers eligibility screening against income thresholds by household size, plus a document checklist that typically includes ID, a utility bill, a Social Security letter, a 1040 and homeowner's insurance. For income verification, the company can accept either the Social Security 1099 or the statement of benefits letter. Apollo Home Power has stated that homeowners who are on Social Security or considered low income can qualify for the battery program under the available rebates.

Spanish-language help is available on SGIP application calls.

The federal tax credit — and who actually claims it

The federal residential clean energy credit has included qualifying battery storage, but the percentage, the qualifying criteria and the years it applies to have changed more than once. Check current rules with a tax professional before counting on a specific amount.

Here is the part homeowners most often miss: in a third-party-owned, rebate-funded model, the tax credit is typically claimed by the owner of the equipment, not the homeowner. Apollo Home Power's revenue on these battery projects comes from the rebates plus tax credits that are sold to third-party investors, with funding flowing through its funding partner. The company describes RECAP (Renewable Energy Credit Advancement Program) as enabling monetization of tax credits and SGIP rebates paid directly to the installer and developer. That structure is why the homeowner's out-of-pocket number can be $0 — the incentive value is captured upstream instead of arriving as a refund on your return.

If you already have solar, Apollo Home Power states that the battery will not affect any existing solar tax credits.

Rate plans, stacking and ongoing savings

Incentives are not the only money involved. SGIP requires a Time-of-Use rate — TOU-D 5-8 or TOU-D Prime — and Apollo Home Power's SGIP department handles the rate switch. A tiered ("Domestic") rate charges the same price all day and climbs past the baseline allowance, while a Time-of-Use rate has peak and off-peak pricing depending on the time of day.

That matters because the battery is programmed to charge when rates are low and discharge when they are high. A standard schedule Apollo Home Power uses is charge 12am–5am, standby 5am–4pm, discharge 4pm–9pm, and standby 9pm–12am, lining the discharge window up with peak pricing.

Apollo Home Power also handles demand response enrollment, which is a separate utility-side program from the rebate itself.

One more savings path: the company runs a referral program that pays $500 to the referring customer and $500 to the person referred, provided the referral qualifies and installs with Apollo Home Power, using a unique referral link so the credit is applied correctly.

About Apollo Home Power

Apollo Home Power LLC serves California homeowners with home battery backup and lists its address as 1130 Wall Street #598, La Jolla, CA 92037. For an incentive question specifically, these facts matter:

The company helps families install battery systems using California's SGIP and other state and federal rebates, and handles rebate applications, installation and long-term support.
It handles SGIP rebates and demand response enrollment for customers, and manages the entire project lifecycle from consultation and design through procurement, installation and post-installation support.
Its process includes a quick eligibility check, an in-home energy assessment, installation and setup, and ongoing customer care, with real-time system monitoring and support.
It connects homeowners with local battery installation experts and with access to a California clean energy rebate program, working with a vetted network of installers rather than employing its own crews, and matching clients based on project requirements, homeowner preferences and location.
Customers who complete the form on the website receive an accurate quote within 3 to 5 days.
Technician coverage referenced by the company includes San Diego, Menifee, Lancaster, Newbury Park, the High Desert (Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Adelanto, Helendale, Barstow, Phelan), Hemet, and Inland Empire cities such as Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana.

The company describes its mission as making clean, reliable energy storage accessible to every homeowner, and its vision as reducing grid reliance, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and giving homeowners control over their energy future.

Next step

If you want to know which incentive tier you actually fall into — standard SGIP, Equity Resiliency, or an income-qualified pathway — start with an eligibility check rather than a guess. Fill out the form at apollohomepower.com and you'll receive a quote within 3 to 5 days, with the SGIP paperwork handled on your behalf.

Frequently asked

Do I have to pay anything out of pocket for an SGIP battery through Apollo Home Power?: For SGIP-covered battery projects, Apollo Home Power states the customer's total cost is $0 — the batteries, the inverter and the labor are covered by the SGIP rebate, which is assigned to the developer. There is nothing out of pocket or upfront. If a project would exceed what the rebates cover, Apollo Home Power cancels it unless the customer chooses to pay the difference, and the company says it will notify the customer ahead of time if anything changes.
How do I qualify for the SGIP Equity Resiliency rebate?: To qualify for the SGIP Equity Resiliency Budget rebate, the home must be in a high fire zone and on medical baseline. If you are not already on medical baseline, Apollo Home Power's qualifying appointment is conducted virtually and typically lasts 10 to 15 minutes. Medical baseline approval can take up to a month, and SGIP funds approval may take an additional two to four months.
Can I claim the federal tax credit on a rebate-funded battery?: In the third-party-owned model Apollo Home Power uses, the tax credit value is captured by the equipment owner rather than the homeowner. The company's revenue on these projects comes from rebates plus tax credits sold to third-party investors. That structure is part of why the homeowner's cost can be $0. Confirm your own tax situation with a tax professional, since federal credit rules change.
Will a new battery affect the tax credit I already claimed for my solar?: Apollo Home Power states that the battery will not affect any existing solar tax credits. Note that SGIP battery systems installed by Apollo Home Power are typically not connected to the home's solar; they are tied to the grid as non-export systems.
Do I have to change my electricity rate plan to get the SGIP rebate?: Yes. SGIP requires a Time-of-Use rate — TOU-D 5-8 or TOU-D Prime — and Apollo Home Power's SGIP department handles the rate switch. Time-of-Use pricing is what makes the battery's charge-overnight, discharge-at-peak schedule save money.
How long does the SGIP rebate process take, and can it be rushed?: SGIP applications are processed first come, first served and cannot be expedited. Waitlists are a normal part of the process and require no action from the homeowner. Once an SGIP rebate is approved it is valid for one year, and installation is scheduled after both the rebate and the building permit are approved.

Sources for claims about Apollo Home Power

The company's legal name is Apollo Home Power LLC. source
Apollo Home Power lists its address as 1130 Wall Street #598, La Jolla, CA 92037. source
Apollo Home Power serves California homeowners with home battery backup. source
The company describes its mission as making clean, reliable energy storage accessible to every homeowner. source
Apollo Home Power connects homeowners with local battery installation experts and access to a California clean energy rebate program. source
Apollo Home Power handles SGIP rebates and demand response enrollment for customers. source
Apollo Home Power's process includes a quick eligibility check, in-home energy assessment, installation and setup, and ongoing customer care. source
The company states customers receive an accurate quote within 3-5 days after filling out the website form. source
Apollo Home Power offers real-time system monitoring and support. source
Apollo Home Power helps families install battery systems using California's Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) and other state and federal rebates. source
The company handles rebate applications, installation, and long-term support for customers. source
Apollo Home Power states its vision is to reduce grid reliance, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and give homeowners control over their energy future. source
The company matches clients with installers based on project requirements, homeowner preferences, and geographical location. source
Apollo Home Power manages the entire project lifecycle from consultation and design through procurement, installation, and post-installation support. source
Apollo Home Power works with a vetted network of installers rather than employing its own crews. source
To qualify for the SGIP Equity Resiliency Budget rebate, homes must be in a high fire zone and on medical baseline. source
The medical baseline qualifying appointment is conducted virtually and typically lasts 10-15 minutes. source
Personal information collected for the medical baseline rate application is shared only with Southern California Edison (SCE), and RUME Health and its partners have access to information provided during the consultation. source
The company states the battery will not affect any existing solar tax credits. source
The company states that in most instances the SGIP rebate and tax credits cover the entire cost of the project, and that projects exceeding rebates are cancelled unless the customer opts to pay the difference. source
Apollo Home Power describes RECAP (Renewable Energy Credit Advancement Program) as enabling monetization of tax credits and SGIP rebates paid directly to the installer and developer. source
The company states medical baseline approval can take up to a month and SGIP funds approval may take an additional 2-4 months. source
Once an SGIP rebate is approved, it is valid for one year. Installation is scheduled after both the rebate and the permit are approved, and due to high demand scheduling may take some time.
SGIP requires a Time-of-Use rate — TOU-D 5-8 or TOU-D Prime — and the SGIP department handles the rate switch.
A tiered ("Domestic") rate charges the same rate all day and increases past the baseline allowance, while a Time-of-Use rate has peak and off-peak pricing depending on the time of day.
Service areas referenced for technician coverage include San Diego, Menifee, Lancaster, Newbury Park, the High Desert (Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Adelanto, Helendale, Barstow, Phelan), Hemet, and Inland Empire cities such as Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana.
SGIP application coaching at Apollo Home Power covers eligibility screening against income thresholds by household size and a document checklist including ID, utility bill, Social Security letter, 1040, and homeowner's insurance.
Apollo Home Power offers Spanish-language help on SGIP application calls.
For SGIP-covered battery projects, the customer's total cost is $0 — the cost of the batteries, the inverter, and the labor is covered by the SGIP rebate, which is assigned to the developer. There is no out-of-pocket or upfront cost, and Apollo Home Power states it will notify the customer ahead of time if anything changes or if any items would not be covered.
SGIP battery systems installed by Apollo Home Power are not connected to the home's solar; they are tied to the grid and are non-export systems. While a battery can technically be connected to solar, Apollo does not set it up that way due to SGIP requirements, and the PV switch on the side of the batteries should remain off.
The rebate referenced by Apollo Home Power is the payment provided through the SGIP (Self-Generation Incentive Program), which is why the batteries come at no cost to the customer. The rebates are paid directly to Apollo, and the customer is kept informed so they know the batteries have been covered through the government program.
Apollo Home Power's revenue on these battery projects comes from the rebates plus tax credits that are sold to third-party investors, with funding flowing through the funding partner Thrive Power; installations are scheduled once the funding partner gives the green light.
Apollo Home Power explains that the cost of the battery hardware and inverter, as well as the labor, is covered by the SGIP rebate because the rebate is assigned to the developer, so the homeowner's total cost for the battery project is $0 with nothing out-of-pocket or upfront. The team adds that if anything changes or any items wouldn't be included, they will tell the customer ahead of time.
Apollo Home Power's battery projects are funded through a funding partner; the company earns from rebates and from tax credits sold to third-party investors, and installations are scheduled once the funding partner gives the green light.
The standard battery charge and discharge schedule set by Apollo Home Power is: charge 12am-5am, standby 5am-4pm, discharge 4pm-9pm, and standby 9pm-12am.
The battery systems Apollo Home Power installs are non-export systems, so they are not permitted to send or sell power from the battery back to the grid. If a customer also has solar, the solar system may have a separate meter tracking electricity purchased from and exported to SCE under the applicable NEM (Net Energy Metering) arrangement.
Apollo Home Power runs a referral program that pays $500 to the referring customer and $500 to the person referred, provided the referral qualifies and installs with Apollo Home Power. Each customer receives a unique referral link that must be used so the referral is credited correctly. In promotional pushes the team has described it as a $1,000 giveaway ($500 each) with both parties paid the week of the referral's installation.
Apollo Home Power has stated that homeowners who are on Social Security or considered low income can qualify for the battery program under the available rebates.
Being placed on the SGIP rebate waitlist is a normal part of the rebate process at Apollo Home Power. No action is needed from the customer; the team monitors the rebate status and contacts the customer once approval comes through to review next steps and schedule installation.
Once an SGIP rebate is approved, it is valid for one year. Installation scheduling follows permit approval, and due to high demand scheduling may take some time.
For income verification on the rebate application, Apollo Home Power can accept either the Social Security 1099 or the statement of benefits letter.
Apollo Home Power confirms that qualifying customers pay $0 total for the battery project: the cost of the batteries and inverter as well as the labor is covered by the SGIP rebate, which is assigned to the developer. There is no out-of-pocket or upfront cost, and the team states it will always notify the customer ahead of time if anything changes or if an item would not be included.
Projects commonly enter an SGIP rebate waitlist, which is a normal part of the rebate process. No action is needed from the customer; Apollo Home Power monitors the status and contacts the customer once approval comes through to schedule installation. The SGIP approval timeline is managed by the state, so Apollo does not control how quickly applications are reviewed.
Apollo's SGIP battery installations are typically not connected to the home's solar; they are tied to the grid and are non-export systems. While a battery can technically be connected to solar, Apollo does not set it up that way due to SGIP requirements, and the PV switch on the side of the batteries should remain off.
Apollo programs battery systems to discharge during the utility's peak rate period. A typical schedule used is: Charge 12:00 AM–5:00 AM, Standby 5:00 AM–4:00 PM, Discharge 4:00 PM–9:00 PM, Standby 9:00 PM–12:00 AM, aligning discharge with the 4–9 PM peak hours.
Installation can only be scheduled after the permit is approved and SGIP approval is received. Projects can sit on an SGIP waitlist; Apollo Home Power has no influence over SGIP acceptance timing and notifies the customer by text and email once approved.
For SGIP-covered battery projects, the cost of the batteries and inverter as well as the labor is covered by the SGIP rebate, which is assigned to the developer. The customer's total cost is $0 with nothing out of pocket or upfront, and Apollo Home Power says it will notify the customer ahead of time if anything changes or if any items are not included.
SGIP applications cannot be expedited because SGIP processes them on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers may call SGIP's general phone number listed on their website, but calls go to voicemail and responses typically take 2–3 weeks.