July 31st, 2025
California’s largest low-income solar program is now helping cover the cost of energy storage. The Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program, which provides solar incentives to qualifying affordable housing properties, has expanded to include energy storage systems paired with new solar installations.
The incentive is designed to support California’s push toward energy resilience and equity. With backup battery storage, multifamily housing can reduce energy bills for tenants, avoid costly peak-time usage, and provide emergency power during outages — an increasingly vital benefit in a state prone to wildfire-related shutoffs and extreme heat events.
“During a planned power outage or an emergency, energy storage can keep the lights on, the refrigerator cold, and cell phones charged,” said Anna Taleysnik-Mehta, SOMAH senior project manager at the Center for Sustainable Energy. “It’s also a smart way to manage your property’s energy costs by using stored solar power during the hours when electricity prices are highest.”