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History of Solar Rebates in California
The Go Solar California campaign and builds on more than a decade of state solar rebates offered to customers in California's investor-owned utility territories: Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E.)
Running through 2016, the Go Solar California campaign developed out of Governor Schwarzenegger's Million Solar Roofs program in 2005.
The Go Solar California campaign includes:
- The California Solar Initiative (CSI) which focuses on all consumer-owned solar installations other than on new homes in PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E territory. The CSI launched in January 2007 is overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission.
- The New Solar Homes Partnership overseen by the California Energy Commission (CEC), which provides solar rebates for new homes. The NSHP launched in January 2007.
- A variety of Publicly Owned Utility (POU) solar rebate programs, overseen by the respective POUs. Many of the POU programs launched in 2008.
Prior to 2007, the rebates for the solar in California were offered through two other programs.
- The Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) offered rebates to solar systems greater than 30 kW in size in PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E territory until December 31, 2006. The program continues to rebate other distributed generation technologies, and the SGIP program is overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission.
- The Emerging Renewables Program offered rebates to solar systems less than 30 kW in size in PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E territory until December 31, 2006. The program continues to rebate other distributed generation technologies, and the program is overseen by the California Energy Commission.
There is a more detailed history of solar in California available here.