Quick quiz: California rebates
A few questions from the programs we track. Tap an answer to see why.
The ranking, by a 3-ton gas-to-electric swap
The same 3-ton system earns very different amounts depending on the utility. Here is what each pays, from its own page.
| Utility (city) | What it pays | 3-ton, gas to electric |
|---|---|---|
| LADWP (Los Angeles) | $1,000 to $1,250 per ton ducted, $1,500 to $2,500 per ton mini-split, by efficiency tier | $3,000 ducted at the entry tier, $4,500 mini-split, up to $7,500 |
| Glendale Water and Power | $1,000 per ton, up to $5,000, replacing gas | $3,000 |
| SMUD (Sacramento) | $3,000 variable-stage, $2,000 two-stage, replacing gas | $3,000 (variable-stage) |
| Burbank Water and Power | $1,000 per ton, up to $2,500 (up to $5,000 low-income) | $2,500 (the cap) |
| Riverside Public Utilities | $750 per ton, 15.2 SEER or higher | $2,250 |
| San Jose Clean Energy | $1,500 flat ($2,500 in Environmental Justice communities) | $1,500 |
| Pasadena Water and Power | $170 per ton, plus $20 per ton if bought in Pasadena | $510 |
These are utility rebates only. Funding is limited, and every one of these programs can change.
Why Los Angeles still comes first
LADWP's top mini-split tier pays $2,500 per ton, so a 3-ton unit at 20.5 SEER2 and 9.1 HSPF2 earns up to $7,500. Most homes will land lower, because the entry tier for a ducted system is $1,000 per ton. LADWP's scale also rewards buying a more efficient model, which no other utility here does. See Los Angeles heat pump rebates.
Where Glendale, Sacramento, Burbank and Riverside land
Glendale's $1,000 per ton is simple and reaches $5,000 at 5 tons, but the water heater rebate of $4,000 is the bigger draw (Glendale). SMUD pays $3,000 for a variable-stage unit and also publishes what its customers paid, a median of $18,804 for a gas-to-electric heat pump (Sacramento). Burbank caps its standard rebate at $2,500 so a 3-ton system gets the same as a 2.5-ton one (Burbank). Riverside's $750 per ton is the highest flat per-ton rate (Riverside).
Big California areas with no utility cash rebate
PG&E (Fresno, Bakersfield, Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont), SDG&E and San Diego Community Power (San Diego, Chula Vista, Escondido) and Southern California Edison (San Bernardino, Ontario, Long Beach) have no open utility cash rebate for a heat pump that we could confirm. San Francisco pays up to $1,200 in bill credits over two years. Free upgrades for income-qualified households are available through several of them. The federal 25C credit ended after December 31, 2025, and TECH Clean California and HEEHRA are fully reserved for single-family homes.
Common questions
Which California city has the best heat pump rebate?
For a typical 3-ton system, Los Angeles (LADWP) at $3,000 to $7,500, Glendale at $3,000 and Sacramento (SMUD) at $3,000.
Does the rebate depend on the unit's efficiency?
At LADWP, yes: the per-ton amount rises with the SEER2 and HSPF2 tier. At most others it is a flat per-ton or flat amount.
Is there a statewide California heat pump rebate?
Not open for single-family homes. TECH Clean California and HEEHRA are fully reserved.
Sources, read October 2, 2026: LADWP Consumer Rebate Program, Glendale Water and Power, SMUD, Burbank Water and Power, Riverside Public Utilities.
