Frequently Asked Questions
About the California Solar Initiative
- Who manages the California Solar Initiative program?
- How much are the rebates?
- How much do solar systems cost?
- Who is eligible for the California Solar Initiative program?
- How do I apply for California Solar Initiative incentives?
- How do I find a solar installer I can trust?
- I'm interested in a solar water heating system. Can I get incentives for this?
- I am interested in a non-PV solar system. Can I get incentives for this?
- Which solar technologies are covered under California Solar Initiative?
- How long will the process take?
- How much are application fees?
- How can I check on the status of my application?
- Are there classes offered?
- Do I need a special meter to get California Solar Initiative incentives?
- When I get my solar system installed, will I be "off-grid?"
- When is the next California Solar Initiative Public Forum? Can I attend?
- How do I get on the CPUC's formal service list for the California Solar Initiative?
- Are the California Solar Initiative Program Forum presentation slides publicly available?
- What is a CEC-AC watt?
- Do I have to go on a time-of-use rate as a condition of the California Solar Initiative?
- My system failed inspection-now what?
- Where is my rebate?
Who manages the California Solar Initiative program?
The day-to-day administrative policy and activities, including application processing and incentive payment, are handled by a Program Administrator for each of the three Investor-Owned Utilities.
- PG&E is the Program Administrator in its territory.
- SCE is the Program Administrator in its territory.
- The California Center for Sustainable Energy is the Program Administrator in the San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) territory.
How much are the rebates? What types of rebates are available?
Please see the "Rebates Page" for latest information. California Solar Initiative Rebates vary according to system size, customer class, and performance and installation factors. The subsidies automatically decline in "steps" based on the volume of MW of confirmed incentive reservations issued within each utility service territory. There are two incentive paths available to consumers: Expected Performance Based Buydown (EPBB) and Performance Based Incentive (PBI.)
How much do solar systems cost?
System costs vary according to a variety of factors: system size, quality of components, discretional installer costs, and specific locational attributes. Additionally, the amount of rebates your system is eligible for effects the "price" of your system. It is also important to factor in the cost of capital used to finance your project. In simplest terms, prices are discussed in terms of dollars per watt. Solar Industry market reports suggest a range of price between $3.50 and $10.00/watt, with $9.00 being the assumed average for many calculators. There are a variety of decision making tools and calculators available to help you understand whether solar works for your situation.
Who is eligible for the California Solar Initiative program?
All electric customers of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) are eligible to apply for California Solar Initiative incentives. This includes residential homeowners, commercial, industrial and agricultural enterprises, and local governments and non-profit organizations.
To be eligible, residential properties must have a Permit of Occupancy from their local Building Department prior to submitting a Reservation Request Application for California Solar Initiative incentives. Planned residential new housing construction, including residential new housing development projects and new custom homes, are eligible for the New Solar Homes Partnership Program.
Homeowners who qualify for low income housing programs may apply for incentives under the California Solar Initiative Low-income Single-family Incentive Program, which should be available by the end of 2008.
How do I apply for California Solar Initiative incentives?
Applicants who are ready to reserve their application can use the online application tool called Powerclerk. Homeowners and other small system owners (<=10kW) apply for incentives with a simple two step process: first, applicants submit the Reservation Request Form; when this is processed by the Program Administrator and the solar system is installed and fully operational, the applicant then submits the Incentive Claim Form along with required documentation.
For larger (>=10kW) non-residential, customers apply using a three-step process. For this, the applicant submits a Reservation Request Form, then submits proof of project milestone, and finally the Incentive Claim Form, all of which are processed by the Program Administrators.
How do I find a solar installer I can trust?
Please see the "Find An Installers" page. Installers are required to register with the Energy Commission's Retailers/Installers List annually. This list is on the Go Solar California website. Except for those systems that are self-installed, all systems must be installed by appropriately licensed California contractors in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the California Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB.) Installation contractors must have an active A,B,C-10, or C-46 license for photovoltaic (PV) systems. All systems must be installed in conformance with the manufacturer's specifications and with all applicable electrical and building code standards.
Qualified contractors are your key to getting the most productive PV system for your home or business. Choose a reputable installer by interviewing at least three potential installers and obtain bids before making your selection. In addition to the Go Solar California list, customers can check for information about their contractor with the California State Licensing Board (CSLB), FindSolar.com, the Better Business Bureau, the California Solar Energy Industries Association, or other consumer information websites.
I'm interested in a solar water heating system. Can I get incentives for this?
Customers of San Diego Gas and Electric may be eligible for incentives under the Solar Hot Water Pilot Program. Contact CCSE, the pilot program administrator, for more information.
I am interested in a non-PV solar system. Can I get incentives for this?
California Solar Initiative incentives are available for both electrical displacing systems -- like solar water heaters, solar space heating and solar cooling systems -- and electrical generating solar systems like dish sterling, solar troughs, dish and lens, and concentrating solar systems of up to 1MW.
Which solar technologies are covered under California Solar Initiative?
California Solar Initiative program is available for solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies (roof-mounted, ground-mounted and building-integrated PV,) non-PV electric displacing systems, and non-PV electric generating systems, sized to meet actual or forecast on-site load*.
How long will the process take?
The Program Administrators are striving to take fewer than 30 days to confirm reservation requests. Application processing time is dependent on the Program Administrator reviewing paperwork, as well as the applicant responding to any requests for more information or application corrections.
The applications that take "greater than 60 days" to get from received to reservation can be assumed to have some type of problem. Some of the most frequent types of problems encountered with applications are:
- Listed equipment does not match EPBB print out
- Mailing Address vs. Project Site Address
- Missing signature(s)
- Incomplete or missing documentation
Residential and non-residential retrofit customers are granted a reservation period of 12 months to complete their project. New non-residential construction projects, government agencies and non-profits are granted an 18 month reservation period.
How much are application fees?
There is no application fee for residential projects and other projects less than 10kW. For non-residential applications, above 10kW, the application fee is 1% of the unadjusted requested program incentive amount. This fee applies to both EPBB and PBI applicants. The application fee must be paid within 30 days of the Reservation Request to activate the application.
Applications received without payment will be cancelled. If a project is withdrawn or cancelled after receiving a reservation, the Host Customer will forfeit the application fee.
Application fees will be returned in full to the Host Customer if, upon eligibility screening, the project does not qualify for the California Solar Initiative Program. If a project that has received an Incentive Claim Form from the Program Administrator is withdrawn due to extenuating circumstances beyond the applicant's control, the application fee may be returned pending a discussion and agreement of the Program Administrators. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
How can I check on the status of my application?
Your installer can provide you with regular updates regarding the status of your application, or if you filed the application yourself on Powerclerk, you can sign in to check its status.
Are there classes offered in solar PV systems?
Monthly workshops are held throughout the state, hosted by the California Solar Initiative Program Administrators. Program Administrators also offer classes for residents, and specialty courses on a range of topics related to the California Solar Initiative, solar energy systems and energy efficiency.
Check with your Program Administrator for classes on solar in your area:
- Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
- Southern California Edison (SCE)
- California Center for Sustainable Energy (for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) territory)
Do I need a special meter to get California Solar Initiative incentives?
For solar electric generating systems receiving an EPBB incentive, a basic meter with accuracy of ±5 percent is required. For systems receiving PBI payments, an interval data meter with accuracy of ±2 percent is required.
When I get my California Solar Initiative-funded solar system installed, will I be "off-grid?"
No. The California Solar Initiative Program only provides incentives to grid-connected solar systems, thus California Solar Initiative participants are not off-grid; rather, their systems produce energy that flows back onto the grid, which they conversely draw from whenever their systems are not generating energy.
When is the next California Solar Initiative Public Forum? Can I attend?
Click here for California Solar Initiative Program Forum updates, information, and archives.
Are the California Solar Initiative Program Forum presentation slides publicly available?
California Solar Initiative Public Forum presentations slides are posted before the event on:
Archived presentations are also found on those sites, as well as Program Administrator websites.
How do I get on the CPUC's formal service list for the California Solar Initiative?
What is a CEC-AC watt?
To measure nominal output power of photovoltaic cells or module to determine the system's rating and subsequent incentive calculation, the Program Administrators will use the California Energy Commission's CEC-AC rating standards, which are based upon 1,000 Watt/m2 solar irradiance, 20 degrees Celsius ambient temperature, and 1 meter/second wind speed. The CEC-AC rating is lower than the Standard Test Conditions (STC.)
For more Solar 101 information, click here.
Do I have to go on a time-of-use (TOU) rate as a condition of the California Solar Initiative?
The Legislation enacting the California Solar Initiative requires incentive recipients to take electric utility service on TOU rates. To alleviate unintended consequences associated with some energy use patterns, the CPUC is able to delay implementation of the mandatory TOU requirement until rates can be appropriately adjusted during the General Rate Case and other rate-related Proceedings.
TOU rates are designed to value daytime peak energy usage and production higher than off-peak energy usage at night and in the morning. Most solar customers benefit from TOU rates, because solar production replaces peak load and is credited to the customer at the higher-cost peak price.
My project failed inspection -- now what?
The Program Administrators may inspect your system before approving your Incentive Claim Form. If there is a failed inspection because the verified system is not in compliance with the system as stated on the project application, the Applicant, Host Customer, and/or System Owner will have 60 calendar days to bring the system into full eligibility or accept the inspector's results.
Where is my rebate?
To receive payment, the Applicant must submit the Incentive Claim Form package, complete with all required attachments, to the Program Administrator prior to the Reservation Expiration Date. The Host Customer and System Owner must read, sign, and date the Incentive Payment Claim Form. This form must be returned to the Program Administrator by mail, as original signatures are required to process a payment.
Upon final approval of the incentive claim form documentation and completed field verification visit, the Program Administrator will issue the incentive in approximately 30 days for EPBB incentive payments. For PBI payments, the Program Administrator will issue the first incentive payment within 30 days of the first scheduled performance output meter read. Payment will be made to the Host Customer or a third party (as designated), as indicated on the Incentive Claim Form, and will be mailed to the address provided.
If an incentive claim form package is incomplete or is found to require clarification, the Program Administrator will request the information necessary to process that application further. Applicants have 20 calendar days to respond to the requested clarification with the necessary information. If after 20 calendar days, the Applicant has not submitted the requested information, the request for payment may be denied. If an Incentive Claim Form package is not received by the expiration date of the Incentive Claim Form, or the Incentive Claim Form package indicates that the project is otherwise ineligible, the Program Administrator will send a written notice stating the reasons why the project is ineligible and the project will be rejected. If this is the case, the Applicant or Host Customer may reapply for a incentive reservation but will be subject to the eligibility requirements, incentive levels, and funding available at that time of reapplication.