California

The non-residential photovoltaic (PV) rebate program provides financial incentives for Riverside Public Utilities' business customers to install qualifying PV systems on their facilities. For Fiscal Year 2013, the rebate amount was $2.00 per watt AC and cannot exceed 50% of the total system cost. Specific dollar limits for the incentive also apply based on the rate schedule of the applicant. Incentives for customers on the flat rate (E200) are capped at $15,000. The incentive cap for demand customers (E210) is $45,000, and the cap for large customers (TOU) is $100,000.

The Earth Advantage Rebate Program was designed to offer rebates to residential and business customers of Redding Electric Utility (REU) for solar PV, solar thermal, and geothermal heat pump systems. As required by state law, PV incentives were scheduled to decline annually.

On December 9, 2010, Redding Electric announced that they have already committed the projected budget for their PV rebates through 2015. At this time the PV rebate program is suspended. Redding Electric will reopen the program if any projects in the queue drop out of the queue. 

Rebates are still available for geothermal heat pump. Vertical loop systems can receive rebates of $1,000/ton up to $5,000 for residential customers (commercial customers should contact REU for their project limit). Incentives are subject to available funding, require approval before installation begins, and must offset the customer's electrical load. REU reserves the right to inspect all systems before issuing the rebate.

Plumas-Sierra REC offers an incentive for its customers to install photovoltaic (PV) systems on homes and businesses. Rebates are available for qualifying systems between one kilowatt (kW) and 25 kW; the rebate amount is based on the installed capacity. The rebate level will decreases by 7% annually over the 10-year life of the program. During the 2012 program year, the rebate level is $2.09 per watt. Rebates may be reduced based on expected performance due to shading. 

The program is available to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and non-profit members of Plumas-Sierra REC. There are annual incentive caps for each customer class. If the rebate funds in any rate class have not been fully reserved by July 1 of any program year, the remaining rebates will be available to any other member type. Applicable caps based on rate class will still apply. 

Residential members must include the "Residential Energy Efficiency Checklist" along with the application. Members may be exempt if the home complies with the 2001 or 2005 CA Title 24 Energy Code. (Submit a copy showing compliance with CF-1R Form, prepared by a Certified Energy Plans Examiner). Commercial members are encouraged to consider contracting for an energy efficiency study prior to PV system installation.

Pasadena Water & Power (PWP) offers its electric customers a rebate for photovoltaic (PV) installations, with a goal of helping to fund the installation of 14 megawatts (MW) of solar power by 2017. The rebate amount varies depending on the customer class installing the system and the system's size. Systems up to 30 kilowatts (kW) are eligible for the Expected Performance Based Buydown (EPBB) or can opt for the performance based incentive (PBI). The EPBB provides a one-time lump sum payment after installation and inspection approval based on the system's estimated AC energy output. The energy output is estimated using the California Energy Commission's Clean Power Estimator, which accounts for installation factors such as current and future shading and system orientation. The PBI awards payments based on the actual metered electricity production of the system during its first five years. Larger systems, over 30 kW and up to 1,000 kW, are only eligible for the PBI.

As required by the California Solar Initiative, the PBI and EPBB incentive levels will step down annually over the 10-year life of this program. As of June 1, 2012, the base rate for the EPBB is $1.40/watt AC for residential, $0.85/watt for commercial, $1.60/watt for non-profits and government, and $4.00/watt for income-qualified residential. These levels are reduced depending on the Clean Power Estimator's analysis of the system. The current rate for the PBI is $0.212/kWh for residential. $0.129/kWh for commercial, $0.242/kWh for non-profit and government applicants, and $0.632/kWh for income qualified residential.

Pacific Power is providing rebates to their customers who install photovoltaic (PV) systems on their homes and facilities. These rebates step down over time as key installation targets are met.  As of December 14, 2012, the rebate for residential systems is on Step 3, with incentives for $1.13 per watt AC-CEC.  The rebate for non-residential systems is on Step 7, with incentives of $0.36 per watt for taxable entities and $1.11 per watt for tax-exempt entities. Customers may elect to install systems up to 5 megawatts (MW) in capacity but will receive a rebate based on a maximum of 250 kilowatts (kW).  

Moreno Valley Electric Utility provides rebates to its electric customers for the purchase of photovoltaic (PV) systems. System must be on the same premises as the customer to qualify. Systems 30 kilowatts (kW) or less can receive an upfront incentive of $2.00 per Watt up to $14,000 for a residential system and $50,000 for small commercial systems, or 50% of cost, whichever is less. Systems larger than 30 kW can receive a performance-based incentive of $0.06 per kWh for 4 years. 

Modesto Irrigation District offers a photovoltaic rebate program for all of their electric customers. The peak output capacity of a system must be 1 kW or greater to participate. Systems up to 30 kilowatts (kW) in capacity can receive an up-front capacity-based incentive. Systems greater than 30 kW and up to 1,000 kW (1 MW) can receive a performance-based incentive. The rebate levels will decline over time.

As of January 2014, the capacity-based rebate is $0.80 per installed watt AC, per customer account, not to exceed 50% of total project costs. These rates may be adjusted based on expected performance. As of January 2014, the performance-based incentive is $0.09 per kWh of actual electricity production over a 5-year period. As required by state law, these incentive levels will step down over time. Interested customers should refer to the rebate program packet for complete details.

Merced Irrigation District (MID) offers its residential, commercial and non-profit customers a rebate for installing solar electric photovoltaic (PV) systems on their homes and offices. The rebate is $2.80 per watt (adjusted based on the expected performance of the system) with a maximum of $8,400 for residential systems and $70,000 for non-residential systems.

Lodi Electric Utility offers rebates to its residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers who install photovoltaic (PV) systems. The rebate program is funded with approximately $6 million to support systems installed between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2018. The total amount available for qualified installations in 2013 is $300,000, with $100,000 reserved for residential installations and $200,000 for non-residential installations. The rebate for both residential and non-residential PV systems installed in 2013 is $1.94/watt.

Lassen Municipal Utility District (LMUD) is providing incentives for its customers to purchase solar electric photovoltaic (PV) systems. Rebate levels will decrease annually over the life of the program. Through June 30, 2014, rebates of $3.00 per watt-AC up to $5,000 are available for residential systems. Commercial systems can receive a rebate of $2.10 per watt-AC up to $23,000. Rebates are only available for systems up to 50 kilowatts (kW).

Systems must be interconnected and must meet all other requirements detailed in the program guidelines. Homes wishing to receive a rebate must have an LMUD administered energy audit performed and must agree to pursue any efficiency improvement identified with a three year payback or less.