Solar & Battery Regulation & Incentive Programs

California Solar Initiative - Low-Income Solar Water Heating Rebate Program

Program Overview


Category:
Financial Incentive
Program Type:
Rebate Program
Implementing Sector:
State
State:
California
Eligible Storage Technologies:
Solar Water Heat
Website:
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Solar/lowincomeolarwater.htm
Incentive Amount:
Step 1 Incentive Rates (contact utility to determine current incentive levels):
Single-Family Low-Income: $25.64 per therm displaced
Multi-Family Low-Income: $19.23 per therm displaced
Maximum Incentive:
Single-Family Low-Income: $3,750
Multi-Family Low-Income: $500,000
Equipment Requirements:
Systems must be used in connection with a natural gas water heater. Systems used in connection with an electric water heater are ineligible.
Systems must be SRCC certified.
Installation Requirements:
Systems must be installed by an appropriately licensed contractor
Applicable Sectors:
Multifamily Residential, Low Income Residential
Budget :
$25 Million
Start Date:
03/29/2012
Utility:
Pacific Gas & Electric Co, San Diego Gas & Electric Co, Southern California Edison Co
Last Updated:
06/30/2015
Funding Source
Ratepayer Funds

Eligibility Criteria

EligibilitySectorsTechnologies
$/therm displaced25.6400
Low Income Residential
Solar Water Heat
max $3750.0000
Low Income Residential
Solar Water Heat
$/therm displaced19.2300
Multifamily Residential
Solar Water Heat
max $500000.0000
Multifamily Residential
Solar Water Heat

Summary

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted in October 2011 to create the California Solar Initiative (CSI) Thermal Low-Income program for single and multifamily residential properties. The program offers rebates that are substantially higher than ones provided under the CSI-Thermal General Market Program.

The program is only available to customers who currently heat their water with natural gas in the service territories of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) . For single-family residences, customers must be participating or have previously participated in an Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESAP), and the property must remain low-income for at least 10 years. For multifamily housing property, at least 50% of all units in the structure must be occupied by ratepayers who have participated in an ESAP.  The residences must also meet the definition of low-income residential housing in California Public Utilities Code 2861(d). Additional requirements are outlined in the CSI Thermal Handbook.

Incentives will be determined based on the expected performance of the system using the SRCC rating and the specific orientation of the system. Incentives will step down over time in 4 steps as program participation levels are met. See the website above and the CSI Thermal Handbook for more information.

Interested customers should contact the appropriate program administrator:

Pacific Gas and Electric:
Phone: (877) 743-4112
Email:  solar@pge.com
 
Center for Sustainable Energy (SDG&E territory):
Phone:  (877) 333-SWHP
Email:  swh@energycenter.org
 
Southern California Gas Company:
Phone:  (800) Gas-2000
Email:  CSIThermalProgram@SoCalGas.com

Authorities

NameEnacted DateEffective DateExpired Date
CSI Thermal HandbookSeptember 2013
CPUC Decision 11-10-01510/6/2011