It’s easy to join the Charge Ready Home program as an eligible contractor. You just need to meet the following requirements: 

You can still apply for the rebate if you upgraded your home’s electrical panel within the last six months. 

You can apply for the rebate by creating a Charge Ready Home account, filling out the application form and providing the required documentation. Find more details on the “How to Apply” page. 

The documents you provide will depend on the rebate (income or geographic) you qualify for. A list of all required documentation is on the “Required Documentation” section of the “How to Apply” page.  

Amp stands for ampere and is the unit of measurement for electric current. It quantifies the flow of electric charge in a circuit, representing how many electrons pass through a point in one second. 

On average, panel upgrades cost about $4,200. The income-qualified rebate level was set to cover up to 100% of the electric panel upgrade costs. The rebate may be adjusted during the life of Charge Ready Home to account for changes in average panel upgrade costs to ensure the rebates provide the target coverage for residents – 50% for geographic-based (DAC) rebate and 100% for income-qualified rebate.  

No. You are not required to work with an in-network contractor to receive a rebate through the Charge Ready Home program. However, the application process does differ slightly.  

If you work with a contractor in-network, you will follow the Direct Participation Application Process. After you apply through the program database, you will receive an application ID that you will provide to the in-network contractor. From there, the contractor will claim your project and manage the rebate on your behalf.  

The Contractor Network is a list of eligible Charge Ready Home contractors who have provided information such as their CSLB license information, counties served and services provided. Contractors in the network are required to complete a mandatory annual training about the Charge Ready Home program, eligibility requirements and application processes. 

Inclusion in the Contractor Network means the contractor has met the minimum requirements necessary to participate in Charge Ready Home. The program in no way endorses or guarantees any contractor or their work.

When selecting an electrical contractor, make sure they hold an active Contractors State License Board (CSLB) C-10 or General B license and have a general liability insurance policy. Appendix A and Appendix B of the Implementation Manual include tips and guidance on how to select a contractor. 

We’ve made the process of finding an electrical contractor to upgrade your electrical panel easy with our Contractor Directory by entering your city, county and ZIP code.