California (CA) • PG&E, Southern California Edison (SCE) & SDG&EMin Backup Reserve: 20% Configurable Floor
California ELRP (Emergency Load Reduction Program) $2.00/kWh VPP Payout Guide
California’s Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP) pays residential solar + battery owners a flat $2.00 per kWh ($2,000/MWh) for energy exported or load reduced between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM during CAISO grid emergencies—with zero penalties if you opt out of an event.
Upfront Enrollment Rebate
$0 Upfront (No Penalty / Voluntary Participation)
Annual Recurring Payout
$2.00 per kWh Exported / Load Reduced During CAISO Alert Events ($200 – $900/summer)
Dispatch Season & Window
May – October (Triggered by CAISO EEA-1 / EEA-2 / Flex Alerts, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
1. Annual & 5-Year VPP Earnings Breakdown by Battery Size
Open Interactive VPP Calculator →Compensation Formula: $2.00 / kWh ($2,000 / MWh) incremental load reduction & battery export between 4 PM and 9 PM
| Home Battery Configuration | Estimated Annual VPP Payout | 5-Year Cumulative Value |
|---|---|---|
| Single 13.5 kWh Battery (~10 kWh/event × 15 Summer Events) | $300 / summer | $1,500 |
| Dual 27 kWh Battery Bank (~22 kWh/event × 15 Summer Events) | $660 / summer | $3,300 |
2. VPP Dispatch Rules, Backup Reserves & Aggregator Fine Print
- 1ELRP vs. DSGS Comparison: While ELRP pays $2.00/kWh during actual CAISO Flex Alerts with zero non-performance penalties, CEC DSGS Option 3 typically yields 2x–3x higher guaranteed annual cash because DSGS pays monthly capacity ($12–$19/kW-month) regardless of how many Flex Alerts occur.
- 2Minimum 1-Hour to 5-Hour Event Duration: Events are announced day-ahead or day-of when CAISO declares an Energy Emergency Alert (EEA).
Recommended Homeowner-Owned Battery Setup
EG4 18kPV + 2x 14.3kWh PowerPro or EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra
✓ Powerwall✓ Enphase✓ FranklinWH✓ SolarEdge
CPUC Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP — Subgroup A.6 Residential VPP) FAQ
Is there any financial penalty if my battery is empty during a California ELRP event?
No. Residential Subgroup A.6 ELRP is a penalty-free program—you are simply paid $2.00/kWh for whatever incremental kWh your battery actually dispatches during the event.
Do I also keep my normal NEM 2.0 or NEM 3.0 export credits during an ELRP event?
Yes! The $2.00/kWh ELRP compensation is an incremental bonus paid on top of your underlying retail tariff credit.
More Paying Utility Virtual Power Plant Programs
CA: CEC Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) — Option 3 Behind-the-Meter Battery VPP →TX: ERCOT Aggregate Distributed Energy Resource (ADER) VPP & Real-Time Wholesale LMP →MA: Mass Save & Rhode Island Energy ConnectedSolutions Daily Dispatch VPP →CO: Xcel Energy Colorado Renewable Battery Connect (RBC) →