California
Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP)
California investor-owned utilities, under CPUC authority
California emergency load reduction with separate customer subgroups. Nonresidential incentives and battery VPP pathways must be distinguished from the former residential Power Saver Rewards program.
Last reviewed October 21, 2026
Published rates
Nonresidential incentive
$2/kWh of qualifying incremental load reduction
CPUC-published nonresidential rate; use only where the applicable utility and subgroup confirm eligibility and settlement rules.
Former residential Power Saver Rewards
Historical A.6 pathway; not modeled as a current offer
The CPUC confirms the A.6 sunset after 2025, and SDG&E confirms its closure. Do not infer another subgroup’s status from this closure.
These are published program terms, not a guaranteed payment. Actual earnings depend on measured performance, event counts, and what your aggregator passes through.
How the program works
ELRP compensates qualifying incremental load reduction during called emergency events. The CPUC publishes a $2/kWh nonresidential incentive, but eligibility, baselines, subgroup rules and utility enrollment must be checked. A published program rate does not establish how many events will occur.
The residential A.6 Power Saver Rewards pathway is different from battery VPP and other ELRP subgroups. The CPUC says Power Saver Rewards sunset after the 2025 program year; SDG&E confirms closure November 1, 2025 and no continuation in 2026. Do not present the former residential $1/kWh rate as a current statewide offer. Other pathways require their own current terms.
Who qualifies
- An eligible account in a participating utility territory and an available customer subgroup.
- Meter data and an approved baseline or performance methodology for incremental reductions.
- Utility approval of any dual enrollment; the same load reduction cannot simply be counted and paid twice.
How to enroll
Ask the utility or approved provider which ELRP subgroup is currently available to your account, its rate and baseline, and any restrictions on other programs. Do not enroll based only on a statewide summary.
Questions buyers ask
Is residential Power Saver Rewards available in 2026?
SDG&E states that its Power Saver Rewards program ended after 2025. Battery VPP and other ELRP subgroups are separate; verify the current utility offer rather than treating ELRP as a single residential program.
What does the ELRP calculator model?
Only an illustrative nonresidential $2/kWh scenario using your assumed qualifying energy reduction and event count. It is not a residential payment quote or an enrollment check.
Can I combine ELRP with another demand-response program?
Only if the applicable subgroup and utility permit it. Baselines, overlapping dispatch and duplicate compensation restrictions must be checked before assuming combined revenue.