Commonwealth Solar Hot Water Residential Program (Massachusetts)

Summary

Last modified on February 12, 2015.

Financial Incentive Program

Place	Massachusetts
Name	Commonwealth Solar Hot Water Residential Program
Incentive Type	State Rebate Program
Applicable Sector	Multi-Family Residential, Residential
Eligible Technologies	Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat
Active Incentive	Yes
Implementing Sector	State/Territory
Energy Category	Renewable Energy Incentive Programs
Amount	Base rate: $45 X SRCC rating in thousands btu/panel/day (Category D, Mildly Cloudy Day) Additional $200/system for systems with parts manufactured in Massachusetts Additional $1,500/system for metering installation Adder for natural disaster relief of twice the base rebate.
Equipment Requirements	OG-100 Collectors or OG-300 Systems certified by the SRCC 10-year manufacturer's warranty for collectors 2-year warranty for other system components 2-year comprehensive installation warranty
Start Date	2011-02-07
Expiration Date	2016-12-31
Funding Source	Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund
Installation Requirements	Shading, tilt, and orientation requirements apply Shading, tilt, and orientation requirements apply
Maximum Incentive	$3,500 per building or 25% of total installed costs
Program Budget	2011-2012: $1,000,000; 2012-2016: $10,000,000
Program Administrator	Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)
Website	http://www.masscec.com/programs/commonwealth-solar-hot-water
References	DSIRE

Summary

Since February 2011, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) provides rebates for the installation of residential solar hot water systems through the Commonwealth Solar Hot Water Pilot Program. Commonwealth Solar Hot Water rebates are available to electricity customers served by the following Massachusetts investor-owned electric utilities: Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light (Unitil), National Grid, NSTAR Electric and Western Massachusetts Electric. In addition, customers of certain municipal lighting plant (MLP) including Ashburnham, Templeton, Holden, Holyoke and Russell utilities are eligible. Only residents that live in territories that contribute to the MassCEC Renewable Energy Trust Fund are eligible for the rebate. In July 2012, the program was extended through 2016.

In addition, the system must be installed at a residential building with 1 to 4 units. The building must be occupied year-round. Any fuel may be used as a backup to the solar water heater. Pool heaters do not qualify for this rebate; however, space heating and combo systems do qualify.

Incentive rates are determined by using the following equation:

$45 X (# of collectors) X (Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) rating)

In order to determine the SRCC rating of a particular solar hot water system, the MassCEC uses the SRCC thousands btu/panel/day rating for "Category D, Mildly Cloudy Day." See [1] www.solar-rating.org] to find the rating of a particular collector or refer to the MassCEC "Construction Application Instructions."

Rebates are capped at $3,500 per building or 25% of the total installed costs, not including bonuses. Residents can receive an additional $1,500 to cover the costs of a meter installation if the homeowner signs up for the MassCEC performance monitoring program, and an additional $200 if the system includes parts that are manufactured in Massachusetts. The MassCEC web site includes a list of known manufacturers that make solar water heater parts in Massachusetts. Additional funding may be available for residents who were impacted by the June 1, 2011 tornado (in the Springfield area), or for residents that meet certain income or home value requirements. This incentive may be used in combination with other state, federal, and utility loans and rebates.

Applications are available online. Installers submit the applications online for the customer. Once the application has been approved, an email will be sent to both the installer and the resident. The system must then be installed at the home within 9 months of receiving the approval email. After the installation, the installer will submit all necessary forms online, including photos, a completion form, a copy of the building permit, invoices, and a W-9 from the system owner.

Audits will be performed on the first two installations performed by every installer. Residents have the option of participating in a metering program. The metering program will be used allow MassCEC to design the follow-up program to the pilot program. Interested customers should have the installer check the appropriate box on the application at the time of submission.

Incentive Contact

Contact Name	Information - Commonwealth Solar Hot Water
Department	Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Address	55 Summer Street, 9th Floor
Place	Boston, Massachusetts
Zip/Postal Code	02110
Email	solarhotwater@masscec.com
Website	http://www.masscec.com/solarhotwater

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

Quantitative Data

Rebates Grants Solar Space Heating Incentives

SSH Residential % Max	25%
SSH Residential Max $	$3,500

Rebates Grants Solar Water Heating Incentives

SWH Residential Max $	$3,500
SWH Residential % Max	25%

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