California Solar Energy Rebates and Incentives
Most California solar energy rebates and incentives are funded by fixed amounts of state-allocated money. It can be difficult to predict when a given incentive’s funds will run out and the incentive will become unavailable, so it’s always better to get started with solar sooner rather than later to ensure you take advantage of as much rebate money as possible. Rest assured that Real Goods Solar will make sure you get every dollar of incentive money available to you.
California Government Solar Energy Rebates + Incentives
Many new residential solar PV systems qualify California homeowners for a property tax exemption up to the full amount of the system’s cost.
California Utility Solar Energy Rebates + Incentives
Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric are three of California’s largest electricity providers, and their customers’ solar rebates and incentives are handled through a program called the California Solar Initiative. Customers of most other California utilities can qualify for rebates as well, though not through the CSI program.
The California Solar Initiative provides cash back to customers of California’s three investor-owned utilities (Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric). If you currently get your electricity from one of them and your property receives continuous sunlight from 11am – 6pm, you qualify for rebate money through the CSI.
Low-income (SASH and MASH) and new construction (NSHP) rebates are also handled by the CSI, making it a convenient, centralized program many Californians can find most of their available rebates in.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offers an up-front, lump sum incentive payment based on your solar electric system’s expected production. The payment calculation is based on a number of factors, but it is in effect both an up-front and performance-based rebate rolled into one (and delivered up-front), which makes
going solar that much easier for LADWP customers.
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) is providing loans up to $30,000 for the purchase of a solar PV system. The loan is at 8.57% and must be repaid in 10 years.
Other California Solar Energy Rebates + Incentives
Residents of unincorporated Marin County and Marin County employees can get a $500 rebate for solar PV systems.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is offering homeowners who install solar PV systems 1 kW or larger a cash incentive. The incentive is $2,000 – $2,750 in most cases, but lower-income homes can qualify for up to $10,000.
