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

Summary

Last modified on February 12, 2015.

Financial Incentive Program

Place	California
Name	California Solar Initiative - Low-Income Solar Water Heating Rebate Program
Incentive Type	State Rebate Program
Applicable Sector	Low-Income Residential, Multi-Family Residential
Eligible Technologies	Solar Water Heat
Active Incentive	Yes
Implementing Sector	State/Territory
Energy Category	Renewable Energy Incentive Programs
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
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.
Start Date	2012-03-29
Funding Source	Ratepayer Funds
Installation Requirements	Systems must be installed by an appropriately licensed contractor
Maximum Incentive	Single-Family Low-Income: $3,750 Multi-Family Low-Income: $500,000
Program Budget	$25 million
Website	http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/solarwater/low income solar water.php
Incentive Source	DSIRE

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 and 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.

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

Authority 1:	CPUC Decision 11-10-015
Date Effective	2011-10-06

Authority 2:	CSI Thermal Handbook
Date Effective	March 2013

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

Quantitative Data

Rebates Grants Solar Water Heating Incentives

SWH Residential Max $	$3,750
SWH Residential $/unit	$25.64/therm

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