The California Solar Initiative - CSI

Single Family Low Income Program

On November 17th, 2007, the CPUC adopted the innovative $108 million CSI Single Family Low Income Incentive Program. GRID Alternatives, a non-profit solar organization, manages the Single Family Low Income Program on the Commission's behalf. The CSI Single Family Low Income Program provides fully subsidized 1 kW systems to very low income households, and highly subsidized systems to other low income households.

To qualify for a fully subsidized 1 kW system, homeowners must meet the legal definition of "low-income residential housing" in Public Utilities Code 2852 (see the text of Assembly Bill 2723, which established this definition, above). Eligibility is limited to those households who financed their home through local, state and federal housing assistance programs and whose household income is at or below the 50 percent of the area median income.

Eligibility for a highly subsidized solar system is determined by housing stock eligibility (P.U. Code 2852 as amended by AB 2723, above), 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)

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 ext 802, by e-mail at sfli@gridalternatives.org, or visit their website at www.gridalternatives.org

For regulatory information and proceedings, please first review the CPUC website at www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Solar/070424_csilowincome.htm , 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.

Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH)

On October 16, 2008, the CPUC adopted the Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Program that provides solar incentives on qualifying affordable housing multifamily dwellings.

The MASH program is managed by the Program Administrators of the General Market CSI Program: Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison, and The California Center for Sustainable Energy in San Diego Gas & Electric territory.

The MASH program provides two types of incentives-Track 1 incentives and Track 2 incentives. Track 1 incentives provide fixed, up front capacity-based incentives for solar PV systems that offset common area and tenant loads. The MASH Track 1 incentive rate structure is as follows:

MASH Track 1 Incentive Rates
(shown in $ per watt)

Track 2 offers higher incentives to applicants who provide quantifiable "direct tenant benefits" (i.e. any operating costs savings from solar that are shared with their tenants). Track 2 incentives will be accepted every six months through a competitive process. The MASH Program Administrators are currently developing a statewide application and review process for Track 2 incentives.

Applications for MASH Track 1 and Track 2 incentives are expected to be available in 2009.