San Diego water heater rebates in 2026: what ended and what is left

Last verified: November 11, 2026

Written and checked by the DuloCore research team

San Diego water heater rebates mostly ended during 2025 and 2026, so if an older article promised a coupon or tax credit, check it against this list before you buy; prices are on the home page estimator.

First, know your utility

SDG&E serves San Diego and southern Orange counties with both electric and natural gas meters (SDG&E, accessed Nov 11, 2026). SoCalGas rebates require you to confirm you are a SoCalGas customer (SoCalGas rebates page, accessed Nov 11, 2026), so they do not apply to an SDG&E gas account. San Diego Community Power, the city's community choice energy provider, lists its own offers (accessed Nov 11, 2026); the relevant ones are below.

Still open, if your household qualifies

SDG&E Energy Savings Assistance (ESA)

ESA provides no-cost home upgrades. Its Basic Plus tier lists "Water Heater Repair/Replacement" and "Heat Pump Water Heater", with documentation required and age rules for existing appliances (SDG&E ESA page, accessed Nov 11, 2026). You qualify through programs such as Medi-Cal or CalFresh, or by income at or below 250% of federal poverty guidelines, for example $82,500 for a household of four from June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027 (SDG&E ESA page, accessed Nov 11, 2026) (checked Nov 11, 2026). The CPUC lists the same limits (CPUC, accessed Nov 11, 2026).

SDG&E ESA Whole Home pilot

SDG&E says qualified homeowners and renters may receive upgrades valued at up to $25,000 at zero cost, including a hot water heater upgrade (SDG&E ESA Whole Home page, accessed Nov 11, 2026) (checked Nov 11, 2026). It is limited to 250 customers by income, energy savings and ZIP code, propane-heated homes are excluded, and SDG&E does not publish how many places remain. Use the ZIP checker on that page.

Ended or closed

The Energy Commission also warns that HEEHRA rebates are not available to Californians right now and that callers claiming otherwise may be scammers (California Energy Commission, accessed Nov 11, 2026).

Local programs to watch

San Diego Community Power runs Smart Energy Rewards, a pilot that pays for enrolling a connected heat pump water heater; its FAQ says eligible units must be new and installed through TECH Clean California (accessed Nov 11, 2026). Community Power also lists the state Equitable Building Decarbonization Program for no-cost upgrades (accessed Nov 11, 2026). Check each page for current terms.

Next steps: confirm the permit route, then use the installer checklist.