U.S. Virgin Islands - VI Battery Energy Storage (VIBES) Rebate Program

The VIBES program provides up to $6,000 in rebates for installing automatic battery backup systems (3–21 kWh capacity) at your home or business in the U.S. Virgin Islands, at a rate of $300/kWh. To qualify, you must be a full-time territory resident, own your property, have an active Water and Power Authority bill in your name, and purchase from an approved local vendor or obtain DPNR electrical certification if buying elsewhere. Submit a completed application with your W-9, government ID, recent WAPA bill, itemized receipt, signed terms, electrical permit, equipment spec sheets, and installation photos to the Virgin Islands Energy Office.

Approved vendors on the VIEO vendor list can offer customers straightforward rebate eligibility: systems must be grid-interactive, provide automatic whole or partial home backup via automatic transfer switch or smart critical load panel, and be between 3–21 kWh. Non-approved vendors can participate but their customers' systems require additional technical review and an approved DPNR Electrical Final Certificate before VIEO processes the rebate. The program is first-come, first-served with $800,000 in initial funding, so early applications improve approval odds.

VIBES is a first-come, first-served rebate program funded by an $800,000 State Energy Program Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (SEPBIL) grant, launched May 23, 2024. Eligible applicants must be full-time residents with active WAPA accounts and ownership of residential property, condominiums, or registered small businesses/nonprofits; systems must be 3–21 kWh with automatic backup capability and DPNR electrical permits. Processing requires verification of vendor status (approved list or technical review), documentation review (W-9, ID, WAPA bill, itemized receipt, permit, spec sheets, installation photos), and dispersal of $300/kWh rebates capped at $6,000 per applicant.