SCP Awarded $4.99 Million Grant to Expand Smart Energy Access for Underserved Communities

Santa Rosa, CALIF., November 4, 2025 – Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), the public power provider serving nearly all of Sonoma and Mendocino counties, has been awarded a $4.99M grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) through its Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program. With an additional $1M in matching funds coming from SCP, more than $6M will go toward expanding SCP’s GridSavvy Rewards program over the next four years.

The grant will help renters, income-qualified households, and small businesses access smart energy technologies that have historically been out of reach. By 2029, SCP expects to shift four megawatts of electricity use to off-peak hours, a measurable step toward California’s statewide goal of 7,000 megawatts by 2030.

“This funding allows us to scale a program that’s already proven to work, and bring its benefits to the people who need them most,” said Geof Syphers, CEO of Sonoma Clean Power. “By moving from manual alerts to smart devices that automate savings, we’re making it simple for customers to cut costs while strengthening the grid. That’s the kind of clean energy future everyone should share in.”

GridSavvy Rewards offers incentives for customers to connect devices like smart thermostats, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, water heaters, and batteries. These devices automatically adjust when the grid is under stress, and when linked together, they form a community-based “virtual power plant” (VPP) that reduces demand and emissions across the region.

With this support, SCP will:

• Install 1,000 free smart thermostats in income-qualified homes, with automatic enrollment in
  GridSavvy Rewards.
• Provide incentives for 7,500 new devices such as EV chargers, battery storage, heat pump water
  heaters, and smart panels.
• Deploy 40 smart panels and battery systems, giving multifamily renters access to advanced
  technology and reliable backup power.
• Enroll up to 500 small businesses in GridSavvy Rewards, helping them cut costs and manage
  energy more effectively.
• Invest a total of $250,000 in partnerships with strategic local community organizations to lead
  multilingual outreach and enrollment efforts.

“This initiative shows what equity in action looks like,” said Jonah Steinbuck, Director of the R&D
Division at the California Energy Commission. “Sonoma Clean Power is poised to deploy advanced
technologies where they’re needed most, delivering cleaner, smarter, and more affordable energy for all.”
The four-year grant is effective from April 2025 to March 2029, with installations scheduled to begin as
early as January 2026. Participation is voluntary, and customers will always remain in control of their
devices. For many, this will be the first chance to access advanced clean energy tools, while every new
device added helps move the region closer to California’s 100% clean energy future.

About Sonoma Clean Power
Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) is the public power provider for Sonoma and Mendocino counties, serving
about half a million people and investing in its communities through partnerships targeting climate
solutions, education, and the fundamental needs of residents. Its EverGreen service is the only 100
percent locally generated energy option available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and customers
also have the option to earn cash rewards through SCP’s award-winning demand response program,
GridSavvy Rewards. In downtown Santa Rosa, SCP operates its Customer Center, dedicated to helping
customers cut their energy costs and improve energy efficiency in their homes. To learn more, visit
sonomacleanpower.org or call 1 (855) 202-2139.

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