The California Public Utilities Commission announced on Apr. 6 the launch of RISE Homes, a $50 million statewide initiative aimed at supporting the reconstruction of residential buildings destroyed or red-tagged by natural disasters since 2017.
The program is designed to help approximately 37,000 homeowners and rental property owners across California who have been impacted by wildfires, storms, floods, and earthquakes. By providing financial incentives and assistance to rebuild all-electric, energy-efficient homes, RISE Homes seeks to promote cleaner technologies and improve resilience in affected communities.
Nick Zanjani, Energy Division’s Building Decarbonization Section Supervisor at the CPUC said: “We’re really excited to see this program launch. In addition to helping families rebuild in a climate-friendly and resilient manner, this program goes a step further by also incentivizing Passive House new construction, an innovative building method that has been shown to dramatically improve energy efficiency and reduce energy bills. What we learn from this program will shape the future of new construction in very real ways.”
RISE Homes offers financial incentives for rebuilding all-electric residential homes including single-family houses, multifamily units, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), modular homes, and manufactured homes. The rebuilt home does not need to be the same type as the one lost. The program allows participants to combine funding from other sources such as the California Electric Homes Program (CalEHP). Additional support includes bonus incentives for features like whole home batteries and ultra-low Global Warming Potential heat pump water heaters.
Equity participants—those living in Disadvantaged Communities or qualifying for income-based utility programs—are eligible for higher incentive levels as well as extra benefits such as first-year homeowners insurance premiums and induction-compatible cookware. The application process is supported by dedicated staff who assist with navigating insurance claims, permitting processes, contractor selection, and connecting applicants with other available state incentives.
To expedite rebuilding after disasters, RISE Homes provides pre-approved home designs focused on affordability and efficiency that comply with state codes. Eligible homeowners must be located within investor-owned utility regions in California with properties deemed uninhabitable due to declared local emergencies since Jan. 1, 2017.
According to Liza Martin of the CPUC’s Public Information Office: “With the launch of RISE Homes, the CPUC serves as a dedicated partner to natural disaster survivors helping build a stronger more resilient and cleaner California.”
