Convening the Sierra – Fall 2026
September 25, 2026
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Join SBC at these Upcoming Events Across the Region
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 11, 2025
CONTACT
Media: Jill Sanford, Communications Director, jsanford@sierrabusiness.org, 530.562.4991
Federal Incentives for Energy Efficiency Expiring Soon – Rural PG&E Customers Can Pair Them with Stackable Energy Rebates, Holiday Season Discounts to Maximize Savings
Location, CA – Rural Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers, thanks to the new Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) program, can now access increased residential energy rebates to improve energy efficiency in their homes and lower their energy costs. Many rebate measures, including those on ENERGY STAR refrigerators, and federal tax credits will expire at the end of 2025, leaving customers with less than 2 months left to stack these incentives.
“By pairing the NREN rebates with additional Black Friday, Veteran’s Day and holiday season deals, this is a great time for rural Californians to get new energy efficient equipment at an affordable price,” said Brittney Gutierrez, project manager, NREN Residential Rebate Program.
Formed to expand energy efficiency services for rural Californians, NREN is a program independent of PG&E that offers residential rebates on home energy equipment and appliances, offering money back towards qualifying efficient home energy equipment purchases. As end-of-year opportunities to leverage holiday sales draw near, residents can save big on new refrigerators, washers and dryers, air conditioners and more.
“Tax credits for energy equipment are expiring at the end of this year, but Californians still have time to take advantage of this opportunity before it ends,” said David Jaeger, NREN project manager. “These credits can offer a big incentive to upgrade home energy equipment and support homeowners and renters who are feeling the crunch of rising costs, especially when paired with rebates and additional holiday discounts.”
The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit, which offers 30% back towards eligible purchases on home energy upgrades and energy audits, is set to expire on December 31, 2025. Customers can search NREN’s website by their zip code to identify rebates available in their area. Appliance purchases made in the last 90 days may also still be rebate-eligible. Small- or medium-sized businesses may also still be eligible for tax credits for energy efficiency upgrades before they expire.
NREN is administered by the regional nonprofit Sierra Business Council in the following 14 Sierra Nevada counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter, Tuolumne and Yuba counties.
About the Northern Rural Energy Network:
Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) offers energy efficiency programs to rural communities, delivering cost savings and strengthening community resilience for the North Coast and the Sierra Nevada. More information on NREN’s services can be found at NorthernREN.org.
About Sierra Business Council:
Sierra Business Council (SBC) catalyzes innovative approaches to increase community vitality, economic prosperity, environmental quality and social fairness in the Sierra Nevada. More information on SBC’s impact can be found at sierrabusiness.org.
Join SBC at these Upcoming Events Across the Region
Two SNEW services that are often requested by Sierra Nevada public agencies are energy benchmarking (sometimes including AB 802 reporting for buildings
California’s 2026-27 legislative session wrapped up September 1 after a turbulent final week of negotiations over wildfire policy, funding, and the state budget. While a last-minute proposal on wildfire liability ultimately stalled, the Legislature did restore and increase funding for climate resilience through Proposition 4 and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF)—a meaningful outcome for Sierra communities amid a challenging state budget year.
The final plan includes $329.5 million for wildfire and forest resilience through Prop 4 and $118 million for wildfire prevention through GGRF. While these investments are an improvement over the June budget, wildfire resilience funding remains near historic lows, with no clear plan for sustained investment in future years.
Read more about the final budget, Prop 4 and GGRF allocations, and what’s next for wildfire and climate resilience in the Sierra.