Rancho Mirage residents can qualify for $ 500 solar battery storage reductions from town – Desert Solar

Rancho Mirage is adding battery storage to its solar discount program, which reimburses residents $ 500 for new solar systems or upgrades.

The expansion of the current program to include the installation of solar battery storage continues the advancement of clean energy through the city, Jessica Pulliam, senior management analyst, told the city council on Thursday.

The rebate program was launched in 2017 when the city established the Rancho Mirage Energy Authority – RMEA – to promote clean energy and reduce energy bills for residents.

The Energy Agency provides electricity to households and businesses in Rancho Mirage and offers the option to opt for up to 100% renewable energy. The city is partnering with Southern California Edison, which continues to bill customers, maintain power lines, and handle any new service requests and emergencies.

Since 2018, when the program went into effect, more than 900 solar discounts have been granted totaling more than $ 450,000, according to Pulliam.

The discounts are paid by the Rancho Mirage Energy Authority and do not come from the city's general fund. The agency allocated $ 150,000 for discounts this fiscal year, Pulliam said.

Adding solar battery storage to the current solar discount program will allow residents to use the excess clean energy their solar panels take in during the day and store it for later use, Pulliam said.

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The addition of battery storage "is a very important step for this program," said City Manager Isaiah Hagerman.

This stored energy means these homes will not lose power during an outage, even if the state's electrical grid is overloaded, Hagerman said.

“Thanks to the battery storage system, the house is supplied with energy at the crucial moments when the grid is loaded to the maximum and we don't have enough energy,” said Hagerman.

If someone has medical equipment at home, the solar battery can keep those equipment running even in the event of a failure, he said.

The one-time discounts are available to residents who have participated in the Rancho Mirage Energy Authority program since its inception or for at least a year, Pulliam said.

The municipal council unanimously approved the program expansion.

For more information or to sign up for the Energy Authority program at ranchomirageenergy.org or call City Hall at (760) 324-4511.

Desert Sun reporter Sherry Barkas covers the cities of La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. She can be reached at sherry.barkas@thedesertsun.com. Follow her on Twitter @TDSsherryBarkas