What is open in San Bernardino
SCE's offers are the same across its territory. These are the ones we could confirm from SCE's own pages.
EV charger panel upgrade (SCE Charge Ready Home)
Income-qualified customers only, below 80% of area median income or on an assistance program. A Level 2 charger must be installed within 180 days.
SCE Charge Smart
Plus $100 off professional charger installation through the SCE Home Electrification Marketplace.
Smart thermostat (SCE Smart Energy Program)
For letting SCE adjust an eligible smart thermostat by up to four degrees during demand response events.
SCE Energy Savings Assistance
For income-qualified customers. Can include a heat pump water heater, appliances and weatherization.
TECH Clean California
Single-family heat pump incentives are fully reserved and take new requests on hold only.
Riverside is different
Riverside, next door, runs its own utility and pays $750 per ton for a heat pump and $500 per kWh for a battery. San Bernardino homes do not get those amounts, however close the address is to the border. Check the name on your electric bill. See Riverside's rebates if you live or own property there.
Why heat pump money is thin here
SCE's rebates page names bill assistance and a Marketplace with smart thermostat incentives, Golden State Rebates coupons, the Switch Is On site and a Home Performance Plus program for homes in disadvantaged or low-income communities. It does not list a direct SCE rebate for a heat pump or heat pump water heater. TECH Clean California and the federal HEEHRA program, which paid for those, are fully reserved for single-family homes and take new requests on hold only. See SCE's rebates and Marketplace page.
Income-qualified help first
If your household qualifies, three SCE programs matter more than any single rebate. Energy Savings Assistance gives no-cost upgrades. Home Performance Plus gives a no-cost assessment and enhanced rebates in disadvantaged or low-income communities, for single-family homes and buildings of up to four units. Charge Ready Home pays up to $4,200 for a panel upgrade when you install a Level 2 charger. Ask SCE which your address qualifies for before you get any quotes.
Solar permits cost nothing in San Bernardino
The City's Building and Safety Division says residential solar systems can be applied for online or in person and carry no permit charge, and that expedited residential solar and electric vehicle charger plans can be submitted online. Water heater replacements and panel upgrades are usually issued over the counter. Building and Safety's Public Service Counter is at 201B North E Street. See the City's building permit page. Ask your contractor to confirm which route each part of the project uses.
Climate and sizing
San Bernardino's average January low over 2015 to 2024 was 6.3°C (about 43°F), with a coldest recorded day of -1.8°C, and it gets about 5.4 peak sun hours a day. A standard heat pump handles the winters, and cooling drives the size in long hot summers. Without a rebate, the best protection is a correct load calculation, three bids, and a model chosen on its ratings.
What else might help
South Coast AQMD's GO ZERO single-family rebate resumed accepting applications on August 28, 2026, with limited funding remaining, according to the City of Santa Monica's incentives page (City of Santa Monica). We did not read SCAQMD's own terms, so check the amount and eligibility with them. The federal 25C and 25D tax credits ended after December 31, 2025.
Installers in San Bernardino
These San Bernardino heat pump and HVAC companies have the best Google ratings, listed by rating and then review count. We are not paid to list anyone, and some have few reviews, so call several.
See all San Bernardino installers →
How to start
- Look at your electric bill to confirm SCE, and at your gas bill for SoCalGas.
- Ask SCE about Energy Savings Assistance, Home Performance Plus and Charge Ready Home if your household may qualify.
- For a thermostat, check your model against SCE's eligible list and enroll in the Smart Energy Program for the $75 credit.
- Check SCAQMD's GO ZERO program for current funding.
- Get three bids for any heat pump or water heater and ask your contractor which City permit each part needs.
Common questions
Who supplies electricity in San Bernardino?
Southern California Edison. The City does not run its own electric utility.
Is there a heat pump rebate in San Bernardino?
We found no SCE rebate for a heat pump. State programs are fully reserved for single-family homes.
Do solar permits cost anything?
The City says solar energy systems have no permit charge.
How do I get a water heater permit?
The City says permits for minor work such as water heater replacement are usually issued over the counter.
How is Riverside different?
Riverside has its own utility, Riverside Public Utilities, and pays $750 per ton for a heat pump.
What to do next
Run the California rebate calculator, read SCE's rebates page, or see the City's permits page.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 2, 2026: SCE rebates and Marketplace, SCE EV rebates and rates, City of San Bernardino building permits, The Switch Is On California. All San Bernardino rebates → Every Southern California Edison rebate →
