San Diego Community Power's Solar Battery Savings program can support an eligible battery installation, but retaining the full upfront rebate requires a five-year commitment. Before combining the program with a solar-plus-battery PPA, understand the participation timeline and who handles any repayment if enrollment ends early.
This guide uses SDCP's current program page and linked Fall 2025 manual, checked October 11, 2026. The agency identifies separate rules for its 2024 pilot; confirm which enrollment documents apply to you.
Start with the right account and agreement
Community Power's service overview identifies its member cities and unincorporated San Diego County service area. Confirm actual enrollment on your statement; a county address alone is insufficient. SDCP provides generation, while SDG&E continues delivery, billing and grid-outage response.
Use SDCP's bill guide to find its generation charges. Keep that utility relationship separate from the private solar provider's agreement and from enrollment in the battery program.
Understand the repayment schedule
The Solar Battery Savings FAQ says departure from the program or SDCP service before five years requires partial or full repayment of the upfront rebate and ends future performance incentives. Its published schedule requires repayment of 100% in year one, 80% in year two, 60% in year three, 40% in year four and 20% in year five. After five years, departure does not require returning the rebate, but future performance incentives stop.
For illustration only, assume a $4,000 rebate and departure during year three. Applying the published 60% factor gives $2,400. This is arithmetic using an assumed rebate, not an eligibility determination or a repayment quote for a particular household.
Confirm when your participation clock starts
The linked program manual measures year one from the date the battery is operationalized, for 365 calendar days. Do not substitute the sales-contract date or installation appointment without confirming the program record.
The manual directs participants, or their contractor acting for them, to contact SDCP about unenrollment. Ask the program team to confirm the recorded start date, applicable participation year and amount before making a change. Keep the response with your enrollment paperwork.
Third-party-owned batteries can participate with the owner's documented authorization. The enrollment form also states that sending the rebate to a third-party payee does not exempt the participant from program terms. Receiving no personal rebate check is therefore not enough to conclude that repayment obligations disappear.
Put responsibility into the PPA discussion
A qualifying no-upfront solar-plus-battery PPA can help eligible homeowners access equipment while preserving cash. Make the program obligations understandable alongside that benefit. Ask your provider:
- Who receives the rebate, and how does it affect the proposal's price?
- Who would fund a required rebate repayment under our agreement?
- Who contacts SDCP if the household changes service or sells the home?
- How would losing performance incentives change the cost comparison?
Our rebate-payment guide explains reservation versus payment. Confirm current project eligibility and funding with the approved contractor; this article does not reserve an incentive.
The CPUC solar guide explains provider ownership and ongoing PPA electricity payments. Review the rate, escalator, term, battery fees, maintenance and transfer provisions, plus remaining utility bills. Completing a battery-program commitment does not itself end a separate PPA contract. No upfront purchase does not mean free electricity or guaranteed savings.
Retain a practical backup plan: stored charge, supported circuits and equipment limits govern operation, and solar recharging needs suitable sunlight. Our SDCP participation and backup guide covers that planning.
Bring your enrollment documents and proposal to a West Coast Alternatives consultation. Direct program determinations to SDCP; WCA's independent consultation does not establish agency approval or endorsement.