Single Family Affordable Solar Housing (SASH)
The CSI Single-family Affordable Solar Housing (SASH) Program provides fully subsidized 1 kW systems to very low-income households, and highly subsidized systems to other low-income households. GRID Alternatives, a non-profit solar organization, manages the $108 million SASH Program on the CPUC's behalf.
SASH Eligibility
To qualify for the SASH Program, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Must be a customer and in the service territory of PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E.
(The project's site must be within the service territory of, and receive electric service from, PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E.) - The residence must be occupied by the homeowner/applicant.
- The household's total income must be 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less based on the most recent available income tax return.
(Area Median Income is subject to annual changes based upon Housing and Urban Development's income guidelines.) - The residence must be California Public Utilities Code (P.U.) 2852-compliant.
A fully subsidized 1 kW system is available to households that meet the legal definition of "very low-income" defined as 50% or below the area median income.
Eligibility for a highly subsidized solar system is determined by the applicant's Federal Income Tax liability and eligibility for the California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) Program. Lump-sum incentives will be provided at the following per-watt rates:
Incentive Rates for Highly Subsidized Systems (shown in $ per watt)
| Federal Income Tax Liability | CARE Eligible | Not CARE Eligible |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $7.00 | $5.75 |
| $1 to $1,000 | $6.50 | $5.25 |
| $1,001 to $2,000 | $6.00 | $4.75 |
Statewide SASH Program Progress
| California Solar Initiative Single-family Affordable Solar Housing Statewide Snapshot for October, 2011 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Completed | 870 | Number of completed projects |
| 2,421 | Capacity (kW) of completed projects | |
| Reserved | 283 | Number of projects reserved |
| 913 | Capacity (kW) of projects reserved | |
| Under Review | 530 | Number of applications under review |
| 493 | Capacity (kW) of applications under review | |
| Average Costs Before incentives |
$7.34 | Statewide Average SASH project costs ($/AC Watt) |
Source: October, 2011 www.salesforce.com
SASH Program Goals
- Decrease electricity usage by solar installation and reduce energy bills without increasing monthly expenses.
- Provide full and partial incentives for solar systems for low-income participants.
- Offer the power of solar and energy efficiency to homeowners. Decrease the expense of solar ownership with a higher incentive than the General CSI Program.
- Develop energy solutions that are environmentally and economically sustainable.
How to Apply
For questions about the California Solar Initiative Single-Family Low-Income Program, including eligibility information, information on solar power and energy efficiency measures, and application information, please contact GRID Alternatives toll-free at 866-921-4696, by e-mail at sash@gridalternatives.org , or visit their website at www.gridalternatives.org/sash/
For regulatory information and proceedings, please first review the CPUC website, then contact the CPUC at energy@cpuc.ca.gov, subject line "CSI Single Family Low Income" or call the CPUC Distributed Generation Hotline at 415-355-5586 with additional questions.