Solar Financial Incentives

State rebates and tax incentives can replace approximately 30% for residential systems and up to 90% for commerical systems of construction costs! Plus, solar energy systems are exempt from property taxes, while they add to the value of your site. WHC Solar Consultants will help design a financial solution suited to your needs, while the typical solar system pays for itself approximately six to ten years. With a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty and a potential lifespan of 50+ years, the PV solar system on your site creates free electricity for many years after the solar system is fully paid for.

2007 Financial Incentives Summary for California Solar Installations

There has never been a better time to go solar. As electric rates continue to rise. With California’s tiered electric rates, the more electricity you use, the higher your electric rates are. Rates will continue to escalate as California struggles with its energy supply and the effects of deregulation.

This Graph illustrates the historic increase in California’s electric rates from the years 1970 through 2006 for residential and commercial users

Fortunately, there are major financial incentives available from the state and federal governments to encourage investment in solar energy: a rebate, property tax exemption and Net Energy Metering law from the state of California; and an investment tax credit and accelerated depreciation schedule from the federal government

California Incentives

California Solar Initiative (CSI) Overview

California Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) was signed into law in 2006 and provides $2.1 billion to be used over 10 years for incentives to build commercial and residential solar systems in a program called the California Solar Initiative (CSI). Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO) will be the administering entities for these incentives, and beginning January 1st, 2007 the CSI will pay performance-based incentives and estimated performance-based incentives for new solar installations.

Residential Incentives

For systems less than 100 kW AC in size the CSI program will pay an up-front, onetime payment based on the systems expected performance known as the Expected Performance Based Buy down (EPBB). The EPBB is based on system-specific design factors including location, tilt, azimuth and shading.

The solar project’s site must be within the service territory of and receive current or future retail level electric service from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) or San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E). At this time, municipal utilities (SMUD, LADWP, etc.) do not qualify for CSI incentives, but municipalities may have separate solar incentives beyond the CSI program.

These incentives are designed to decline over time. Please contact a WHC Solar Energy Consultant for further details on eligibility requirements and for more details on solar incentives available for your area.

Rebates for Residential Solar Systems

For Customers in the PG&E Utility Territory – Residential solar systems are eligible for a maximum $2.50/watt or under rebate, based on system-specific design factors determined by the EPBB, or a PBI at $0.39/kWh.
For Customers in the SCE Utility Territory – Residential solar systems are eligible for a maximum $2.50/watt or under rebate, based on system-specific design factors determined by the EPBB, or a PBI at $0.39/kWh.
For Customers in the SDG&E Utility Territory – Residential solar systems are eligible for a maximum $2.50/watt or under rebate, based on system-specific design factors determined by the EPBB, or a PBI at $0.39/kWh.

Please contact one of our Solar Consultants for exact rebate information that is offered by your electric provider as these are subject to change.

California Solar Property Tax Exemption

The cost of a solar system adds to the appraised value of the property on which it is installed, but not to the assessed value, so the increased value cannot be taxed in California. This tax exemption extends for the life of the solar system. This provision can be found in the California Revenue and Taxation Code, section 73. The National Appraisal Institute notes that the value added to a home by a solar PV system is 20 times the value of the electricity costs saved in the first year. A solar installation is one of the few ways that you can increase the value of your home or building without increasing your property taxes. Appraisal Journal, October 1999.

California Net Energy Metering

California’s Net Energy Metering law allows solar PV system owners to sell excess electricity back to the utility company at retail rates, for a credit to owners’ accounts. This is literally saving for a rainy day: When a solar system makes more electricity than is used, such as a summer afternoon, the extra electricity goes onto the utility grid, and the utility company credits the system owner for up to 12 months!. On rainy days or at night when the system isn’t producing enough to keep up with demand, the utility grid supplies the electricity, and the credit is drawn down.

Federal Incentives

Investment Tax Credit

For solar systems installed from January 2006 through December 2008, the federal government offers an Investment Tax Credit (ITC) of 30% of the net system cost. (This Credit has a $2,000 cap for residential buyers)

5-Year Accelerated Depreciation Schedule

The federal Internal Revenue Code (IRC) has special depreciation provisions for solar systems. They can be depreciated on a 5-year accelerated schedule, or on the regular depreciation schedule. The depreciable basis is calculated as the system cost minus one-half of any federal tax credit, or 85% of the system cost. These provisions are found in IRC section 179.

Eligibility for the above solar incentives varies from individual to individual. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your system-specific eligibility.