California Solar Rebates & Incentives


Financial Incentives for Solar Energy

Grants & Rebates

Program
Technology
Eligibility
Incentive
Contact Info
CEC Emerging Renewables Rebate Program
PV, Small Wind

PG&E, SCE, SDG&E

check site for status

Phone: 1-800-555-7794 (in Ca) or 916-654-4058 (outside Calif.)
Send E-mail 
CEC website
‘CPUC’ Self-Generation Program*
PV (Wind, fuel cells, etc.)

PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E and So Cal Gas customers
30 kW to 1 MW system size – onsite generation

check site for status

PG&E 
415-973-6436
SCE 
1-800-736-4777 

San Diego
619-595-5634 
So Cal Gas
1-800-GAS-2000

 

SMUD- PV Pioneer Program
PV
Sacramento Municipal Utility District customers
varies
SMUD PV
916.732.5501 
email
SMUD -Solar Water Heating Program
SDHW

SMUD customers w/ electric water heaters

 

SMUD SDHW
888.742.SMUD

Green LA Solar Program
PV
Los Angeles Dept. Water & Power customers
check site for status
Palo Alto PV Partners
PV
City of Palo Alto Utility Customer
check site for status
CPAU
(650) 329-2241
email
Silicon Valley Power
PV
Silicon Valley Power customers (Santa Clara)
check site for status
SVP
(408) 244-SAVE
email
Silicon Valley Power
PV/Wind
Silicon Valley Power business customers 
(Santa Clara)
check site for status
SVP
(408) 244-SAVE
email
City of Santa Clara
SDHW
Pool heating
Process
City of Santa Clara Residents & Businesses
City lease program. fees vary
Municipal Solar 
408-615-2000
Pasadena Water & Power
PV
PWP customers
check site for status
PWP
(626) 744-6970
Burbank Water & Power
PV
Burbank W&P customers
check site for status

BWPbiz
BWPres 
818-238-3562

Anaheim Public Utilities
‘Count on the Sun’ Program
PV
Anaheim PU residential customers
check site for status
Redding ElectricUtility

PV or
SDHW

City of Redding Customers [residential or commercial]
check site for status
Glendale Water & Power
PV
Glendale WP customers
check site for status
Turlock Irrigation District
PV
TID customers
check site for status
TID
(209) 883-8327
Imperial Irrigation District
PV
IID customers

check site for status

* Note that individual projects can apply to only one of the applicable programs. Example: the CPUC and CEC incentive programs can not be combined. In certain locations, a project may be eligible for either the CEC, SCE, or So Cal Gas incentives, but can only receive rebates from one program.

Please send details of new programs not listed here to webmaster@californiasolarcenter.org

Tax & Other Incentives

Program Description Eligibility more info

California Solar Tax Credit – established 9/2001 retroactive to 1/1/2001. 
Note this tax credit has expired as of 12/31/05

PV and Wind systems – up to 200 kW – 15% on the net cost, sunsets in 2006. residential and commercial

full text of SB17x and supporting analysis
FTB Form 3508 -yr2002 [22kb pdf]
FAQs [100 kb pdf]

10% Investment Tax Credit. Federal credit for businesses + Accelerated depreciation. Established by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. 
Update (2006) – Expanded to 30% through 2007.

Commercial (Businesses).

2005 Federal Energy Bill now includes residential incentives and includes solar hot water.

 

FAQ -html

Net Metering – California Law providing retail value for excess electricity produced onsite via a PV or Wind systems or hybrid of the two. All California Electric utility customers – up to 1MW system size (PV or Wind or a Hybrid of the two)

legislation reference

 

Financing Options – sources compiled by the California Energy Commission & REDI Varies – Residential, Commercial, Institutional Residential – 250 kB[pdf]
Commercial – 250 kB[pdf]
Institutional – 250 kB [pdf]
     

For Incentives available in other States, visit the DSIRE website