Utility guide · CA
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E): EV charger rebates & programs
Free charger + up to $2,000 panel work (income-eligible); $700 equipment rebate (income-qualified). Service area: Northern & Central California — Bay Area, Sacramento Valley, Central Coast.
Quick answer for PG&E
- Free charger + up to $2,000 panel work (income-eligible); $700 equipment rebate (income-qualified)
- Funding status: active; deadline / window: Both programs open while LCFS funding lasts; some counties have long panel-upgrade wait times.
- Service area: Northern & Central California — Bay Area, Sacramento Valley, Central Coast.
- EV rate / managed charging: EV2-A (whole-home EV time-of-use), EV-B (separately metered).
Official source: PG&E official program pages
The offer
What PG&E actually pays
PG&E's home-charging money is concentrated on income-eligible households through two verified programs. Empower EV provides a free Level 2 charger (about $500 value) and covers up to $2,000 of electrical panel upgrades per single-family home, with the panel work done by the program's contracted electricians. Separately, the Residential Charging Solutions rebate pays $700 toward equipment from PG&E's approved list — adjustable-amperage chargers, load-management devices, and smart splitters designed to avoid panel upgrades entirely. Both are funded by California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard and run first-come, first-served.
Program funded · Deadline / funding window: Both programs open while LCFS funding lasts; some counties have long panel-upgrade wait times
Fine print
Requirements that actually disqualify people
- Empower EV: income within 400% of the federal poverty level; active residential PG&E electric account; single-family home
- Empower EV: automatic enrollment in the EV2-A time-of-use rate for at least 6 billing cycles
- Charging Solutions rebate: equipment must be on PG&E's approved product list; licensed California electrician for installed equipment
- Charging Solutions rebate: apply within 180 days of purchase; one rebate per household
Ongoing savings
EV rates & charging rewards
Plans: EV2-A (whole-home EV time-of-use) · EV-B (separately metered).
EV2-A makes overnight charging dramatically cheaper than peak-hour use and is the default for Empower EV participants. EV-B needs a second meter, which adds install cost — most single-EV homes choose EV2-A. Compare against your actual usage with PG&E's rate tool.
Do it right
How to apply, step by step
Step 1
Check whether you income-qualify: within 400% of the federal poverty level (Empower EV) or via public-assistance enrollment / tax documents (Charging Solutions)
Step 2
For Empower EV: apply online; GRID Alternatives handles income verification, then the program ships the charger and schedules any panel work
Step 3
For the $700 rebate: buy an approved-list device, have it installed by a licensed electrician, and apply with the invoice within 180 days
Step 4
Switch to (or confirm) an EV time-of-use rate and schedule charging overnight
Step 5
Keep permits and invoices — rebate reviews ask for them
Rules, rebates, and incentives change. Verify with the official program before applying.
Quotes from electricians who know PG&E paperwork
Ask bidders whether they've handled this utility's rebate documentation before — it saves weeks.
Finding an installer yourself: ask for the contractor's state license number, proof of insurance, and at least two recent Level 2 installs. Get the permit number in writing.
Use the free permit checklistFAQ
PG&E — frequently asked questions
Does PG&E pay for home EV chargers in 2026?
Yes — if you income-qualify. Empower EV gives eligible customers a free Level 2 charger and up to $2,000 of panel-upgrade work, and the Residential Charging Solutions program pays a $700 rebate on approved equipment. Standard-income customers don't get hardware money; their win is the EV2-A overnight rate.
Which PG&E rate is best for EV charging?
For most homes, EV2-A — the whole-home EV time-of-use rate — with charging scheduled into the overnight window. The separately metered EV-B rate exists, but the second meter's installation cost rarely pays off for a single vehicle. Run your numbers on PG&E's rate comparison tool.
Do I need a specific charger for PG&E programs?
For the $700 Charging Solutions rebate, yes — the device must be on PG&E's approved list, which favors adjustable-amperage chargers and load-management gear that avoids panel upgrades. Empower EV supplies its own charger. If a rebate matters, verify the model before purchase; returns are painful after hardwiring.
What happened to PG&E's Clean Fuel Rebate?
That on-bill credit for EV drivers was absorbed into the statewide California Clean Fuel Reward back in 2021 — and the statewide program itself went inactive for passenger vehicles in September 2022. Neither exists for new applicants today; Empower EV and the Charging Solutions rebate are the current programs.
Keep going