What SJCE pays in 2026
Each card links to a page with the rules and the local detail. SJCE rebates must be approved before you install, and every add-on needs a heat pump HVAC or water heater on the same project.
Heat pump water heater
$4,000 in EJ communities. Includes a $500 bonus until October 31, 2026.
Panel and circuit add-ons
Panel $1,000, EV, dryer or cooking circuit $500 each, pauser $250.
Environmental Justice amounts
SJCE pays more to households in Environmental Justice communities: $4,000 for a water heater, $2,500 for a heat pump HVAC, $2,000 for a panel upgrade and $750 for each prewiring circuit. You qualify if your home is in a highlighted area on SJCE's map and meets the income requirements, or if you are enrolled in CARE, FERA, SJ CARES or another income-based assistance program. Search your address on the map on the EcoHome page before you assume you do not.
How the process works
You apply first, with a photo of your existing equipment and agreement to the Applicant Agreement. SJCE confirms by email in 2 to 4 business days, and approved funds are reserved for 120 days. Installation can begin only after approval, except for approved emergency replacements, which need an email to SJCEPrograms@smud.org first. Each residence gets one rebate per appliance type. SJCE's EcoHome Network and Go Electric Advisor help you plan, and its EcoHome Payment Plan can help with costs.
What is closed or not offered
SJCE's battery storage rebate, which paid $125 per kWh up to $3,250 ($400 per kWh up to $10,400 in an EJ community), no longer accepts new applications. We found no SJCE solar rebate. EcoHome pays no stand-alone insulation, EV charger or thermostat rebate: those appear only as add-ons to a heat pump project. If you find a current SJCE program we missed, tell us at hello@homepowerrebate.com.
Permits and City help
The City of San Jose requires a plumbing permit for a water heater, and an electrical permit depending on the type, and it takes single-family and duplex permits online at SJPermits.org. See its water heater page and appliance installations page. San Jose's average January low over 2015 to 2024 was 6.7°C (about 44°F), with a coldest recorded day of -1.3°C.
Money outside SJCE
BayREN's EASE Home program pays 80% of weatherization costs for income-qualified PG&E customers in Santa Clara County (BayREN). The federal 25C and 25D tax credits ended after December 31, 2025. TECH Clean California and the federal HEEHRA program for single-family homes are fully reserved and take new requests on hold only.
How SJCE compares
SJCE's $3,000 water heater rebate is above Burbank's $1,500 (Burbank) and Pasadena's $500 (Pasadena), and below Glendale's $4,000 (Glendale). Its heat pump rebate is a flat $1,500 where the Los Angeles-area utilities pay per ton.
Installers in San Jose
These San Jose heat pump and HVAC companies have the best Google ratings, listed by rating and then review count. We are not paid to list anyone.
How to start
- Confirm that you are a current SJCE customer, and look up your address on the Environmental Justice map.
- Pick the upgrade that fits your next purchase and open its page for the rules.
- Apply on the EcoHome Rebate page before installation, listing add-ons with the main equipment.
- Wait for SJCE's confirmation email, then install within the 120 days of reserved funds.
- Have your installer pull the City permit and finish the inspection.
- Submit your claim with the paid invoice and permit.
Common questions
Who supplies electricity in San Jose?
San Jose Clean Energy supplies it, with PG&E delivering. SJCE's rebates are separate from PG&E's.
When does the water heater bonus end?
The $500 bonus applies to applications from September 1 to October 31, 2026.
Do I apply before or after installing?
Before. SJCE must approve the application first, and funds are held for 120 days.
Is there a battery rebate?
No longer. SJCE's battery rebate is closed to new applications.
Can I get a rebate for insulation alone?
No. The attic insulation add-on must be paired with a heat pump HVAC rebate.
What to do next
Run the California rebate calculator, or open SJCE's EcoHome Rebate page.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 1, 2026: San Jose Clean Energy EcoHome Rebate, San Jose Clean Energy EcoHome Payment Plan, City of San Jose water heater permits, BayREN EASE Home. All San Jose rebates → Every San Jose Clean Energy rebate →
