No-Cost Home Upgrades
Eligibility for no-cost Full-Service Home Upgrades and Emergency Water Heater Replacement
Qualifications for No-Cost Electrification
The following requirements must be met for owner-occupied residences to qualify for no-cost upgrades:
- Property owner must meet the Household Income Eligibility Requirements and be able to provide supporting documentation prior to installation of measures;
- Property owner must be the legal owner of the residence. If property owner is an entity, entity must provide proof of the signatory’s ability to bind the entity;
- Residence is a single-family home with four or fewer dwelling units and existing gas-fired equipment;
- Residence is located in SVCE service area;
- Property owner’s investable assets [1] must be less than $500,000;
- Residence is property owner’s principal residence and is not a short-term rental. Property owner does not own additional properties;
- Residence must be less than 2,000 square feet.
[1] Investable/liquid assets include education/custodial accounts, individually-owned retirement accounts, stocks, options, bonds, mutual funds, managed accounts, hedge funds, structured products, ETFs, cash accounts, annuities, and cash value life insurance.
The following requirements must be met for tenant-occupied residences to qualify for no-cost upgrades:
- Residence is a single-family home with four or fewer dwelling units and existing gas-fired equipment;
- Residence is located in SVCE service area;
- Property is not a short-term rental;
- Property owner must be the legal owner of the residence and authorize installation of measures at residence. If property owner is an entity, the entity must provide proof of the signatory’s ability to bind the entity;
- Tenant must meet the Household Income Eligibility Requirements and be able to provide supporting documentation prior to installation of measures. Property owner does not need to meet Household Income Eligibility Requirements;
- Residence must be less than 2,000 square feet;
- Property owner must be an individual owner, public entity, or entity with two or fewer officers. Corporate and institutional owners are excluded.
SVCE determines eligibility at its sole discretion and may request verification of eligibility requirements as needed.
To qualify for the Program, the Property Owner’s or Tenant’s gross annual household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income in Santa Clara County, as listed below. Income guidelines based on the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s 2024 State Income Limits for “Low-Income” households for each County as effective on May 9, 2024.
Santa Clara County Income Guidelines | |
Household Size | Maximum Gross Annual Household Income |
1 person | Up to $102,300 |
2 person | Up to $116,900 |
3 person | Up to $131,500 |
4 person | Up to $146,100 |
5 person | Up to $157,800 |
6 person | Up to $169,500 |
7 person | Up to $181,200 |
8 person | Up to $192,900 |
Instructions for counting household size and gross income:
- The household size is the Tax filer plus all persons expected to be claimed as tax dependents on your federal tax form.
- For the purposes of the Program, gross income includes both taxable and non-taxable income sources. This includes, but is not limited to the following: Wages, unemployment, workers’ compensation, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, public assistance, veterans’ payments, survivor benefits, pension or retirement income, interest, dividends, rents, royalties, income from estates, trusts, educational assistance, alimony, child support, assistance from outside the household, and other miscellaneous sources.
- Only count the gross income of the family members included or who will be included in your federal tax form.
Income Eligibility Documentation Verification
Property Owner or Tenant can provide proof of their gross household income via one of two ways. Franklin Energy will review and visually verify documents to confirm household income eligibility. SVCE and Franklin Energy may request additional verification of eligibility requirements as needed.
Customers participating in one or more of the public assistance programs on the Categorical Eligibility List may submit documentation confirming their participation.
Categorical Eligibility List – Provide one of the documents below | ||
Program Type | Document Type | Max Age of Document |
Disadvantaged Communities—Single Family Solar Homes (DAC-SASH) |
|
24 months |
Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) |
|
24 months |
Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) |
|
24 months |
Single Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) |
|
24 months |
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) |
|
24 months |
CalFresh/SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) |
|
12 months |
CALWORKS TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) |
|
12 months |
Tribal TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) |
|
12 months |
Tribal Head Start |
|
12 months |
Bureau of Indian Affairs – General Assistance or Financial Assistance and Social Services (FASS) program |
|
12 months |
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) |
|
12 months |
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) |
|
12 months |
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) |
|
12 months |
Income Sources List – Provide one of the documents below | ||
Income Source Type | Document Type | Max Age of Document |
Tax returns (default) for all people living in the household who are over 18 years or older |
|
Most recent filing. After May, previous calendar year required (i.e., if it is 2025, returns for 2024 CY). |
Other documents only if tax returns not available for all people living in the household who are over 18 years or older |
|
Most recent 3 months for pay stubs. Within the last 12 months for SSA. |
Questions?
Our team is here to support you in making the transition to clean energy effortless and affordable. Contact us at advisor@svce.franklinenergy.com or (408) 260-5255.