⚠️ This program ended December 31, 2024. PG&E's Empower EV Program is no longer accepting applications. If you need help paying for a home EV charger in 2026, use the PG&E Residential Charging Solutions Rebate instead — see below.
Last verified 2026-05-17.
What replaced Empower EV: the Residential Charging Solutions Rebate
PG&E now runs one combined home-charging rebate. It has two tracks. Income-eligible households get the bigger one ("Rebate Plus").
If your household income is at or below 80% of your county's Area Median Income, OR you're enrolled in CARE, FERA, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI, or similar programs, you qualify for Rebate Plus:
- Up to $2,000 toward an eligible Level 2 EV charger and installation
- Up to $5,000 if you also need an electrical panel upgrade to support the charger
- Limit one rebate per household
- First-come, first-served — funded through about December 2026 or until the ~$38 million in funding runs out
[Source: pge.com/en/clean-energy/electric-vehicles/getting-started-with-electric-vehicles/residential-charging-solutions-rebate.html (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Who qualifies
- You are an active PG&E residential customer (you get a PG&E electric bill at the home where the charger will go).
- You own or lease a qualifying battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, registered in California.
- For the higher Rebate Plus tier: household income ≤ 80% of Area Median Income, or you're already on CARE/FERA/Medi-Cal/CalFresh/SSI/etc.
How to apply
- Buy and install an eligible Level 2 charger at your home first. The rebate is paid after installation, not before.
- Upload your PG&E account info, vehicle registration, charger receipt, and (for Rebate Plus) proof of income or program enrollment.
- Approved rebates are mailed as a check, typically within several weeks.
[Source: pge.com/en/clean-energy/electric-vehicles/getting-started-with-electric-vehicles/residential-charging-solutions-rebate.html (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Common pitfalls
- Don't install before you check the charger list. Only PG&E-approved chargers qualify. The approved list is linked from the application page.
- Save every receipt — charger, installation labor, and any panel upgrade work. You'll need them to claim the rebate.
- One rebate per household, ever. If someone at your address already received a Residential Charging Solutions rebate, you can't claim another.
- Funding can run out. Apply soon after install rather than sitting on receipts.
Where to get help
- PG&E EV Help Center: 1-877-704-8888
- Online application and document upload: energyinsight.pge.com/Residential-EV-Charging
Other current EV help worth knowing about
- PG&E Pre-Owned EV Rebate (used EVs only): a $4,000 Rebate Plus for income-qualified PG&E customers. Everyone else can get the $1,000 Standard Rebate if a complete application is in by November 11, 2026; after that, only income-qualified customers get a rebate. Apply within 90 days of buying or leasing — see evrebates.pge.com. [Source: PG&E Pre-Owned EV Rebate program requirements, checked 2026-09-27]
- EV-friendly electric rates: PG&E offers time-of-use rate plans that make overnight home charging much cheaper. Ask the EV Help Center which plan fits your driving.
Historical: what the Empower EV Program offered (2022 – Dec 31, 2024)
Kept here for anyone who applied before the program closed.
PG&E's Empower EV Program offered income-eligible households up to $2,500 in financial incentives for home charging. It was open to single-family households that had recently purchased or leased an EV within six months before applying.
- One free Level 2 charger valued at $500 (hardwire or 220V+ plug).
- Up to $2,000 per single-family household for panel upgrades, completed by the program's licensed electricians (Synergy Companies).
- No cost to enroll.
- First-come, first-served.
Empower EV stopped accepting new applications on December 31, 2024. [Source: pge.com/en/clean-energy/electric-vehicles/empower-ev-program.html (accessed 2026-05-17)]