CityofSantaBarbara
Santa Barbara Clean Energy Customers eligible for rebate up to $1,000
Santa Barbara Clean Energy, the City’s program that supplies 100% carbon-free electricity to local homes and businesses, is announcing a cash rebate for City of Santa Barbara residents who purchase or lease a qualified electric vehicle (EV). This incentive is available now until the program funds are exhausted.
Santa Barbara Clean Energy is offering an EV rebate of $1,000 for all City residents who are enrolled as Santa Barbara Clean Energy customers. Customers who are currently enrolled in the CARE program or other income-qualified programs are eligible for a $2,000 rebate.
“This new incentive through Santa Barbara Clean Energy will help reduce the costs of purchasing or leasing electric vehicles and move towards the City’s goals of electrification and carbon neutrality,” said Alelia Parenteau, the City’s Sustainability & Resilience Director and the Director of Santa Barbara Clean Energy. “By coupling this incentive with the federal tax credit of up to $7,500, getting an EV has become a great deal.”
City of Santa Barbara residents interested in this rebate can learn more at SBCleanEnergy.com or by calling (805) 538-1810. Those interested in the EV rebate program should confirm their eligibility on the website or by calling the number above. This rebate only applies to electric vehicles with an MSRP less than $80,000. Customers will receive their rebate within 45 days of submitting a completed application and proof of purchasing the vehicle.
The new EV rebate coincides with the City’s recent launch of on-demand permitting for EV chargers, meaning that residents can now get permits for an EV charger instantly through a simple, streamlined online process.
About Santa Barbara Clean Energy:
Santa Barbara Clean Energy, launched in 2021, is the City run, locally controlled electricity supplier offering Santa Barbara residents 100% carbon-free electricity and incentives such as EV rebates, reduced-cost electric bike memberships, and discounts on solar and battery storage programs. Learn more at SBCleanEnergy.com or by calling (805) 897-1979.
I agree that charging infrastructure should be a greater priority right now–who wants to buy a car, no matter how cheap, if you can’t fuel it conveniently?
Anyway, this is NOT on top of your SCE bill. SCE now bills for itself and SBCE (SB Clean Energy), which controls the electricity *generation* (not distribution, which is still with SCE). And it is CHEAPER than what SCE has been charging for generation. Instead of going to shareholders, the surpluses are going to forward-looking drivers who are willing to go electric while we’re still building infrastructure.
Also, the city won’t reassess your property if you add solar panels (does need a permit tho) or a level II car charger–only when you sell, YOU may set the selling price higher because of that infrastructure, and the new owner will then pay higher taxes on that higher value.
Finally, YES, your electric bill will go up substantially in the not too distant future, because the CA legislature just passed AB205, a “budget rider” that REQUIRES CA electric companies to assess a “Utility Tax” on ALL electricity consumers, a flat fee of $30-$70, depending on income. The CA Public Utilities Commission, a body in the pocket of the electric companies, will soon be holding hearings on this. Look it up and weep. Or better yet be outraged and write to your elected representatives to repeal this mandate!! A flat fee like this DISincentivizes people from conserving, and small users will see their bills increase the most.
Whatever you want to call the fee, it is additional to my usage cost
I’m a single person in a one bedroom apt and shouldn’t be paying $150 a month for electricity
Especially if a full third of that is going to subsidize an agenda I’m not supportive of
It’s a scam that many ignorant people are guilted into by greedy fear mongers like musk
Because of him, i can’t even find rechargeable lithium batteries for my personal use anymore cuz he’s taking all the lithium for these fkn cars
It’s a greedy scam
Don’t even get me started bro
Whatever you want to call the fee, it is additional to my usage cost
I’m a single person in a one bedroom apt and shouldn’t be paying $150 a month for electricity
I absolutely agree that these flat-rate fees, independent of usage, are KILLIN’ me! Goleta Water District is the same! I use barely any water, and my monthly charge to “meter read” is 3-4 times the cost of my usage! This is just plain wrong, and like the other poster noted, is a DISincentive to conservation of ANYTHING.
How much a year does it cost taxpayers to operate this new “City Sustainability” office? It is located in a rather expensive office building.
Costs don’t matter as long as it makes people feels good.
😂 Consider this an upvote by comment
How many electric vehicles has the city purchased to add to its fleet?
😂
I’m sure they’ve somehow managed to get the $2000 rebate as well
Soooo
Lemme see if i got this right
The 50 plus dollars a month i pay, on top of my sce bill, is being given away to prius and tesla buyers
And we don’t have any say in this, or any way to regulate this spending of the “delivery fee” we pay, that should be going into our power infrastructure or into helping people that can’t even afford to pay this exorbitant fee
Did i get this right ?
This is a dirty trick. Here’s what will really happen. You will get your rebate in the mail. However the city will reassess your property for adding the electrical work and improvements to your home
And tax you more per year on your property tax due to the improvement, thus making all of their rebate back and some more. You’d be better off to not get the rebate, install the electrical necessary and not claim the rebate so your property value doesn’t increase and you pay some crazy higher tax due to some little tiny improvement. It’s a trick, don’t do it.
The Re-distribution of taxpayers funds to subsidize the rich… Oh, and you WILL pay more starting Jan. 2024 for your Electric Bill (Minimum $40.00 a month per user across the State) to subsidize MORE of the GREEN AGENDA being forced upon us.
The money would be better spent on charging infrastructure. That’s still a large barrier for entry for many people. That and their political views.