CEC - New Solar Homes Partnership (California)

Summary

Last modified on December 17, 2014.

Financial Incentive Program

Place	California
Name	CEC - New Solar Homes Partnership
Incentive Type	State Rebate Program
Applicable Sector	Residential, Construction, Multi-Family Residential, Low-Income Residential
Eligible Technologies	Photovoltaics
Active Incentive	Yes
Implementing Sector	State/Territory
Energy Category	Renewable Energy Incentive Programs, Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs
Amount	Varies by customer class and system performance (see below)
Eligible System Size	Minimum: 1 kW AC Maximum: 100% of a home's expected electrical load Maximum: 100% of a home's expected electrical load
Equipment Requirements	Must use CEC-certified PV modules and inverters. Systems must be grid-connected. Inverters and modules must each carry a 10-year warranty. PV modules must be certified to UL 1703 by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) Inverters must be certified to UL 1741 by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). They also must have completed the Energy Commission's required weighted efficiency testing.
Installation Requirements	Systems must be installed by appropriately licensed California solar contractors Self-installs are also acceptable Although not required, installation contractors are encouraged to become certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Although not required, installation contractors are encouraged to become certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).
Maximum Incentive	Affordable housing: 75% of system cost All other projects: 50% of system cost
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits	Remains with system owner
Program Budget	Up to $425 million over 10 years
Program Administrator	California Energy Commission
Website	http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/about/nshp.php
References	DSIREDatabase of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

Summary

The New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP), is administered by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and provides incentives for solar on new home construction. To be eligible for the NSHP incentive, the home must receive electricity from one of the following investor-owned utilities: Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, San Diego Gas and Electric Company, and Bear Valley Electric Service.

Launched on January 2, 2007, the New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP) is a 10-year, $400 million program to encourage solar in new homes by working with builders and developers to incorporate into the homes high levels of energy efficiency and high-performing solar systems. The NSHP specifically targets the market-rate and affordable housing single-family and multifamily sectors, with the goal of achieving 360 MW of installed solar electric capacity on new homes, and to have solar electric systems on 50% of all new homes built in California by the end of 2016.

Incentives are determined by the housing type and the expected performance of the system, which depends on factors like equipment efficiency, geographic location, orientation, tilt, shading, and time-dependent valuation. These factors are then compared to a reference system in San Jose, California. To qualify for incentives, the residential dwelling unit must achieve certain energy efficiency levels (please refer to the New Solar Homes Partnership Guidebook for specific details and program requirements). The incentive is paid once the system is installed, operational, and has met all program requirements.

There are four incentive levels available:

Tier I Incentive: Expected Performance Based Incentive (EPBI) level as of November 6, 2014 is $1.00/watt. This applies to projects that have an energy efficiency compliance margin of at least 15 percent better than the Building Energy Efficiency Standards as specified in Chapter II, Section B of the guidebook.

Tier II Incentive: The EPBI level as of November 6, 2014 is $1.50/watt. This applies to projects that have an energy efficiency compliance margin of at least 30 percent better than the Building Energy Efficiency Standards and a space-cooling compliance margin of at least 30 percent better than the Building Energy Efficiency Standards as specified in Chapter II, Section B of the guidebook.

Residential Areas of Affordable Housing Projects: The EPBI amount as of November 6, 2014 is $1.85/watt. This applies to affordable housing projects of all sizes.

Common Areas of Affordable Housing Projects: There is currently no incenitve for solar electric systems serving the common areas of affordable housing projects.

All incentives will decline over time as specific megawatt targets are achieved. Refer to the NSHP Guidebook and contact the program administrator for complete details.

Incentive Contact

Contact Name	Public Information Officer
Department	California Energy Commission
Division	New Solar Homes Partnership
Address	1516 Ninth Street, MS-45
Place	Sacramento, California
Zip/Postal Code	95814-5512
Phone	(800) 555-7794
Email	renewable@energy.state.ca.us
Website	http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/nshp/index.html

Authorities (Please contact the if there are any file problems.)

Authority 1:	NSHP Guidebook (2014)

• Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.