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Haven Energy, a climate technology company focused on expanding access to renewable and reliable energy for homeowners, has announced a new initiative in California that aims to eliminate the financial barriers to adopting solar power and home battery systems. Through this new program, eligible low- to moderate-income homeowners in California can receive solar and battery systems entirely free of cost. This offering is made possible by leveraging California’s $280 million Self-Generation Incentive Program Residential Solar & Storage Equity (SGIP RSSE). Rather than asking homeowners to cover upfront costs and later seek reimbursement, Haven Energy’s model provides the systems at no cost from the start. The company will retain ownership of the installed equipment, and in return, it will collect the associated state rebates, federal tax credits, and revenue from demand response programs. Homeowners, meanwhile, will benefit from significantly lower electricity bills and enhanced energy security during outages. A key goal of the program is to address two long-standing issues: the high upfront expense associated with residential solar and battery installations, which are projected to average more than $20,000 in 2025, and the increasing strain on California’s energy grid due to rising demand. By covering installation and system costs entirely, Haven Energy provides underserved communities with immediate access to energy savings and backup power without the burden of a large initial investment. Once installed, the system allows homeowners to store solar energy in their battery. This stored energy can then be used during peak electricity pricing periods—known as time-of-use rates—or during power outages, including Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events. As a result, homeowners may see their monthly electricity bills reduced by as much as 90 percent. Participants in the program are automatically enrolled in a 10-year demand response agreement. This enrollment allows utility companies and the state to use a portion of the energy stored in these home battery systems during times of peak demand. This aggregated approach contributes to grid stability and helps reduce energy costs across the broader system. Haven Energy estimates that this initiative will result in the deployment of 10 megawatts (MW) of new distributed energy capacity, forming one of California’s largest virtual power plants (VPPs) to date. Vinnie Campo, co-founder and CEO of Haven Energy, mentioned, “Haven is proud to be the first company in California to completely remove the cost barrier for solar and battery storage, ensuring that clean, reliable energy is within reach for families in underserved communities. Many homeowners simply don’t have the resources to cover the purchase and installation costs of these systems. We are bridging that gap in the state’s rebate program. Through our unique financial structure, we’ll pay for the system and collect the state rebate, while the homeowner benefits from lower monthly bills and backup power during outages.” |
