SoCalGas customers, California · Rebate
Residential Solar Thermal Water Heater Rebate (SoCalGas)
Run by Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)
SoCalGas residential customers who install an ENERGY STAR solar water heating system with a new gas backup water heater in 2026 get $2,500 to $5,000, depending on the backup unit and the water heater it replaces.
Amounts
How much you get
Rebate for an ENERGY STAR solar thermal water heating system (SUEF 1.8 or greater), by the gas backup water heater installed with it and the type it replaces. The amount depends on which of these fits your install.
| What you install | You get |
|---|---|
| ENERGY STAR tankless gas backup (.95 UEF+) replacing a tankless or storage gas water heater | $5,000 |
| ENERGY STAR storage gas backup (up to 55 gal) replacing a storage gas water heater | $4,000 |
| Non-ENERGY STAR tankless gas backup (.82 UEF+) replacing a tankless or storage gas water heater | $3,500 |
| Non-ENERGY STAR storage gas backup (up to 55 gal) replacing a storage gas water heater | $2,500 |
Eligibility
Do I qualify?
You need to meet all 3 of these.
SoCalGas residential customer on a residential rate with an active meter at the installation address.
An ENERGY STAR certified solar water heating system with a Solar Uniform Energy Factor (SUEF) of 1.8 or greater, installed with a new natural gas backup water heater. Limit one per household.
Purchased and installed between January 1 and December 31, 2026.
Equipment
What equipment counts
Applying
How to apply
Follow these steps.
- Hire an installer.
SoCalGas highly recommends a California-licensed NABCEP-certified contractor.
- Install in 2026.
Install the solar system and the new gas backup water heater between January 1 and December 31, 2026.
- Apply.
Apply online at socalgas.com/Rebates or mail the application to SoCalGas, Residential Solar Thermal Water Heater Rebate, P.O. Box 512670, Los Angeles, CA 90051-0670, postmarked by December 31, 2026.
Forms and instructions, including for applying by mail2026 Residential Solar Thermal Water Heater Rebate application (SoCalGas, PDF)
Questions about applying888-431-2226 or scgprocessing@socalgas.com
Stacking
Use it with
Your address
Next steps
Check that it covers your address. Then, if you want, ask for a contractor quote.
Is it available at your address?
Before anything else
Your quote request is in If a contractor we work with serves your ZIP, they can contact you. We take one request per person; contact us to change it.
Get an email if this program changes
We'll write if its amount, status or deadline changes. Nothing else.
FAQ
Questions
How much does Residential Solar Thermal Water Heater Rebate (SoCalGas) pay?
$2,500 to $5,000, depending on what you install. The table under How much you get lists each amount.
Do I need to be a SoCalGas customer?
Yes. It’s only for homes in SoCalGas customers, California. See Do I qualify for the details.
What’s the deadline?
Apply by December 31, 2026.
Is it still available?
Yes. It was open when we last checked, on October 27, 2026.
Plain words
Words used on this page
- UEF
- A water heater’s efficiency rating. Higher is better.
References
Sources
This page is built from these official pages, run by the program itself.
- 2026 Residential Solar Thermal Water Heater Rebate application (SoCalGas, PDF)
- Residential Appliance Rebates - SoCalGas
When one of these pages changes, we re-check this page against it.
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