Last verified 2026-05-17. Program is active and accepting applications.
PG&E will install a free Backup Power Transfer Meter (BPTM) at your home so you can safely plug in a portable generator during a power outage. No more running extension cords through windows. The meter and installation cost $0 if you qualify. [Source: pge.com/transfermeter (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Who qualifies
You need to meet all of these:
- You are a PG&E residential customer and the account holder (or have the account holder's permission).
- Your home is in a Tier 2 or Tier 3 High Fire-Threat District, a High Fire Risk Area, or on an Enhanced Powerline Safety Setting (EPSS) circuit. These are the areas where PG&E shuts power off most often during fire weather.
- Your electrical service is 200 amps or less at 120/240 volts.
- You have a SmartMeter (PG&E's standard digital meter).
- You own — or are buying — a portable generator with a NEMA L14-30R receptacle, 30 amps, 240V, with built-in overcurrent protection.
Not sure if you're in a fire-threat district? Enter your address at the PG&E application portal — it checks for you. [Source: pge.com/transfermeter (accessed 2026-05-17)]
What you get
- The transfer meter device itself
- The connection cable
- A site inspection to confirm your setup is compatible
- About a one-hour installation by a PG&E crew
Total out-of-pocket: $0. [Source: pge.com/transfermeter (accessed 2026-05-17)]
How to apply
- Go to pge.com/transfermeter or directly to the application form at cloud.em.pge.com/backuppowerpge.
- Enter your address to confirm you're in an eligible area.
- Fill out the form with your PG&E account info and generator details.
- PG&E contacts you to schedule the site visit and install.
Phone help: 1-800-743-5000 (PG&E customer service). Email the program team at backuppowertransfermeterrequest@pge.com. [Source: pge.com/transfermeter (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Common pitfalls
- Your generator must be on PG&E's compatibility list. PG&E publishes a list of approved generators. Buying one before checking the list is the most common reason people get rejected. Pull the list from pge.com/transfermeter before you shop.
- You can't install it yourself. Only a PG&E crew can install the meter. Don't pay an electrician for this part.
- Limited-time offer. PG&E says the program is "good for a limited time only and subject to change." There's no announced end date as of May 2026, but don't wait years.
- The meter doesn't include a generator. If you don't have one, you may also qualify for the PG&E Generator and Battery Rebate Program (up to $500 off a generator, up to $300 off a battery). Rebate applications must be submitted within 12 months of purchase, or by December 31, 2026 — whichever comes first. [Source: pge.com/generatorrebate (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Where to get help
- Application portal: cloud.em.pge.com/backuppowerpge
- Program page: pge.com/transfermeter
- PG&E customer service: 1-800-743-5000
- TechEmpower: call or email us at techempower.org and we can help you fill out the form.
Related programs
If you don't have a generator yet, look at the PG&E Generator and Battery Rebate ($300–$500 off) and the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) for whole-house battery installs. Income-qualified households get larger SGIP rebates.
Sources
- PG&E Backup Power Transfer Meter program page — pge.com/en/outages-and-safety/outage-preparedness-and-support/general-outage-resources/backup-power-transfer-meter-program.html (accessed 2026-05-17)
- PG&E application portal — cloud.em.pge.com/backuppowerpge (accessed 2026-05-17)
- PG&E newsroom: "PG&E Installs More than 5.5K Backup Power Transfer Meters" — pge.com/en/newsroom (accessed 2026-05-17)
- PG&E Generator and Battery Rebate Program — pge.com/en/outages-and-safety/outage-preparedness-and-support/general-outage-resources/generator-and-battery-rebate-program.html (accessed 2026-05-17)