Enhancing Reliability and Safety: PG&E, Enphase Energy Partner to Provide Home Battery Systems for 100 Vulnerable, Low-Income Customers

PG&E and Enphase Energy are launching a home battery energy storage program to support vulnerable, low-income customers during power outages. Through the Residential Storage Initiative, PG&E is providing battery systems at no cost to approximately 100 residential customers who have been frequently impacted by outages as a result of PG&E’s Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS). 

These enhanced safety settings protect millions of Californians who live in high fire-risk areas within PG&E’s service area. To help prevent wildfire ignitions, the safety settings turn off power within one-tenth of a second when a fault, such as a tree limb contacting a powerline, is detected. 

PG&E’s use of these enhanced safety settings in high fire-risk and select adjacent areas in 2022 has led to a 65% reduction in ignitions in those areas. 

PG&E is taking actions to reduce the burden of these safety-related outages on customers and communities, including partnering with Enphase to develop the Residential Storage Initiative.  

“We know power outages can be hard on our customers and even more challenging for vulnerable populations. We expect this initiative in collaboration with Enphase will help build resilience, enhance reliability, and make life a little easier for our customers when the power is turned off for safety,” said Aaron August, Vice President, Utility Partnerships & Innovation, PG&E.  

Eligible customers live in El Dorado, Napa, and Nevada counties; are enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy program; do not already have a fixed power solution (such as a battery or permanently installed generator); and have experienced the most frequent safety-related outages. 

While battery availability is limited to the first 100 enrollments on a first-come, first-served basis during the launch phase of the initiative, PG&E and Enphase anticipate expanding installations to several hundred new systems in 2023.  

“PG&E is taking bold action with this home battery initiative to provide its customers with innovative resiliency options in communities that need it most. The Enphase IQ Battery offers customers reliable home energy technology, and we look forward to our continued partnership with PG&E to provide additional support for enhanced grid security solutions,” said Dave Ranhoff, Chief Commercial Officer at Enphase Energy.   

Progress to date and next steps 

Since October, working with Enphase as the battery provider and Richard Heath & Associates Inc. (RHA) as the contracted installer, PG&E has reached out to approximately 1,000 pre-qualified customers. The companies have completed approximately 100 site assessments and installed approximately 20 new home battery systems.  

Participating customers will be auto enrolled in the PG&E Power Saver Rewards program, which provides customers with a bill credit during times of high electricity demand when they voluntarily reduce energy consumption and use energy stored in their battery systems. Learn more at powersaver.pge.com. 

Additional customer resiliency resources 

For customers served by EPSS-enabled circuits that are not eligible for a no-cost battery system through the Residential Storage Initiative, PG&E has resources available to help prepare for outages and stay safe, including the: ​​​​​​​

• Generator Rebate Program for customers who rely on well water, customers in PG&E’s Medical Baseline Program and certain small businesses.
• Portable Battery Program for eligible customers in the Medical Baseline Program who live in high fire-threat areas or have experienced two or more Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) outages since 2020.
• Expansion of the Backup Power Transfer Meter offering to all customers on EPSS-capable circuits, making it easier and safer for them to connect a generator.
• Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) that PG&E administers statewide. Eligible customers have been installing permanent battery storage systems that if paired with solar can keep them powered through an outage at no or low cost to them. Customers can learn about the program here and find a contractor here.  

Visit www.pge.com/backuppower to explore backup power options, fixed power solutions, and rebates.