PG&E launches VPP initiative SHARE to boost grid reliability

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), together with Rewiring America, Google, and other tech and energy giants, has launched a pioneering Virtual Power Plant (VPP) initiative named SHARE (Smart Home Assets for Reliability and Efficiency). The program aims to deliver significant cost savings and enhance energy reliability for all customers in the Bay Area, California.

SHARE is a first-of-its-kind initiative, combining the deployment of new and existing energy devices with a coordinated network of home batteries, smart devices, and battery-enabled heat pumps. This VPP is designed to address growing electric demand while improving grid reliability and reducing costs for participating households.

"The initiative is about delivering power at the speed our economy demands, while making affordability and reliability better for the people we serve," stated Chelle Izzi, Chief Commercial Officer at PG&E. The program is expected to begin supporting the grid as early as fall 2026, with nearly 21,000 existing flexible energy devices enrolled.

PG&E is partnering with Tesla, Sunrun, and Renew Home to enroll and upgrade existing devices. These devices, including new Carrier high-efficiency, battery-enabled heat pumps, will allow participating households to manage their energy costs more effectively and earn rewards for using smart features. The resource is expected to lower costs for customers, maintain comfort, and support grid reliability during peak demand periods.

"This initiative unlocks the potential of local distributed energy resources to strengthen grid capacity and resilience while delivering meaningful benefits for local communities," said Amanda Peterson Corio, Global Head of Energy & Power at Google. Google is fully funding the program to support customer incentives, technology deployment, and program delivery.

The initiative is designed to improve reliability and lower costs by making better use of everyday, flexible home energy resources. It also aims to expand capacity during periods of high demand and support new and growing energy users more quickly. PG&E will lead planning, analysis, and validation to evaluate customer impacts, system performance, and long-term benefits.

Rewiring America is working directly with households to deploy and enroll energy-saving electric technologies into SHARE. They will also ensure that projects meet high quality and performance standards. Ari Matusiak, Founder and CEO of Rewiring America, commented, "This initiative shows how households can be part of the energy solution. By helping families upgrade their homes with efficient electric technologies, we can lower costs, improve comfort, and optimize California's grid capacity at the same time."

The program is expected to run through 2027, with initial findings shared in late 2026 or early 2027. PG&E and Rewiring America will begin reaching out to eligible customers starting in fall 2026.

"We see this as a model for California and beyond, representing a new way for utilities, customers, and technology partners to work together to help meet electricity growth reliably and affordably," Izzi added. SHARE is expected to inform future solutions for transmission constraints, local capacity challenges, and rising demand across the electric system.

To learn more about SHARE and program eligibility, visit https://energyshare.rewiringamerica.org/.