01

Why this matters now

California's first summer Climate Credit is reaching home power bills now. The state moved the usual spring and fall electric help into August and September. The goal is simple. Summer bills can be high when air conditioners run more. The credit can soften that bill. It is not money from your solar panels. It is not a new battery rebate. It is also not a reward for sending power to the grid. Eligible homes get it automatically. You should not need to fill out a form or give a seller your account number to receive it.

02

Check the right bill line

Look for a line called California Climate Credit or CA Climate Credit on your electric bill. PG&E says its 2026 electric credit is $36.18 in August and again in September. SCE says its credit is $36 in each month. SDG&E lists $49.36 in each month. Your bill dates may not match the calendar exactly. If you do not see it on the August bill, check the next bill before you worry. Keep a copy of both bills. The credit lowers what you owe. It does not erase the rest of your power use.

03

Solar does not change the credit

A solar home still buys some grid power at times. Many homes buy power after sunset or when the house uses more than the panels make. The Climate Credit is separate from those solar charges and from any payment for extra solar sent out. Do not use one lower summer bill to guess a new yearly solar savings number. Compare the power you bought, the power you sent out, the rate plan, and the automatic credit on separate lines. A battery may change when you buy power. It does not turn this bill credit into a battery payment.

04

This is not a sign-up offer

The California Public Utilities Commission says the credit goes automatically to residential customers of investor-owned power companies and Community Choice Aggregators. An active account during the distribution month matters. A Community Choice Aggregator is a local group that may buy power for your community while the utility still sends the bill. If a person calls and says you must buy solar, a battery, or a plan to unlock this credit, stop. That is not how this state bill help works. Call the phone number printed on your bill if the line is missing or looks wrong.

05

Know what did not move

This change is for residential electric credits at PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E. It does not mean every California utility gets the same schedule. Smaller power companies have different 2026 months. The natural-gas credit also did not move this year. The CPUC says it stays in April for 2026 and is planned for February starting in 2027. Small-business credits also keep their old timing. Read the utility name and service type at the top of the bill before you compare numbers with a friend in another part of the state.

06

Simple homeowner checklist

Open your August and September electric bills. Find the California Climate Credit line. Write down the credit amount before you compare solar savings. Do not count it as money earned by your panels. Check your solar export and grid-use lines separately. Keep a screenshot or PDF of the bill. If the credit is missing after the next bill, call your power company using the number on the bill. Never pay a seller to claim an automatic credit. Ask any solar installer to show bill credits, solar payments, battery rewards, and loan costs on separate lines. Clear numbers make a safer choice.

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