We serve businesses with a monthly electrical demand greater than 20 kW over the most recent 12-month period. This includes convenience stores, data centers, grocery stores, supermarkets, healthcare and medical facilities, lodging, restaurants and food service operations, retail stores, warehouse, and storage facilities.
If you are unsure whether you qualify, our program team can help you confirm eligibility within minutes with your SDG&E account number. Please feel free to call us at 844-600-2367.
No, our program offers cash incentives and equipment rebates for any energy-efficient equipment you choose to purchase that meets program guidelines listed here.
There are three ways to participate, Fast-Track, Pre-Approval, and Direct Install.
Fast-Track Incentives provide cash payments to help customers upgrade specific equipment that meets the criteria listed in our Fast-Track Equipment Guide. All you need to do is submit the completed application within 90 days (about 3 months) of purchase and install date. The incentive is processed, and you will receive a check in the mail.
Pre-Approval Incentives offer savings in addition to those covered by Fast-Track Incentives. We perform a no-cost energy evaluation and help you identify custom saving opportunities, ensuring your building can achieve optimal efficiency, no matter what you need to upgrade.
Direct Install projects work with FCI, a program approved vendor, to qualify projects and install low– to no-cost energy-saving equipment. Equipment that can be installed include lighting, pipe insulation, and HVAC fan controls.
The goal is to help businesses reduce their energy use which will help everyone in the community. The Comprehensive Energy Management Solutions (CEMS) Program is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by San Diego Gas & Electric® Company (SDG&E) under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission, through a contract awarded to TRC. California customers who choose to participate in this program are not obligated to purchase any additional services offered by TRC or CEMS.
We offer cash incentives to commercial businesses who are SDG&E® customers to help them install energy-saving equipment at their facilities. We also offer no-cost technical inspections to help identify energy savings and contractor recommendations to help you perform the work.
Many Energy Star® appliances and equipment qualify for a rebate or cash incentive. However, DLC or Energy Star certification is not required for equipment to be eligible for an incentive, unless specific certification(s) are stated within the Fast-Track Equipment Specifications Guide. For details regarding equipment requirements, please see our the Fast-Track Equipment Specifications Guide.
You can also work with contractors from our Trade Professional Network who utilize our program and can provide direction as to what types of equipment would apply to your facility.
If you have detailed questions about our incentives, please feel free to call us at 844-600-2367 or email connect@savingwithcems.com
Please visit the incentives page to find more information about each program, incentive lists, program guidelines, and downloadable applications.
If your equipment is eligible for the Fast-Track Program, and the invoices are dated within 90 days (about 3 months) of the application submission date, then you can apply for an incentive after the equipment is installed. If the project does not qualify for the Fast-Track Program but does qualify for the Pre-Approval Program, it will need to receive pre-approval before any equipment is purchased or installed.
The CEMS Program does not currently incentivize these types of projects. Visit www.sdge.com to learn more about renewable energy equipment.
Yes, if you are a tenant and SDG&E account holder you can apply for an incentive. If the tenant is not the account holder, the building owner/CEMS account holder would need to sign the application providing consent to ensure that they are aware of the changes taking place in their building.
We have a network of certified contractors called the Trade Professional (TP) Network. The contractors in this network have gone through an application and training process and are very familiar with the program application and incentive process. For the Fast-Track Program and, Pre-Approval Program, you are not required to use a Trade Professional.
Direct Install projects must work with the Direct Install Program (DI) partner FCI. Direct Install projects consist of specific energy-saving equipment provided and installed in your facility at low to no-cost to you. Equipment available includes lighting, pipe insulation, and HVAC fan controls.
The contractor or business owner/customer representative may fill out and submit the application. If a contractor or TP completes the application on the customer’s behalf, the terms and conditions should be signed by the customer, or the contractor or TP must provide a Letter of Authorization from customer.
Please refer to our Trade Professional Network for a list of contractors who have been trained to use our incentive program. If you have detailed questions about our incentives, please feel free to call at 844-600-2367.
