Incentives
Homes on GRID and no battery back Up
At times when the solar panels are generating more power than is being consumed, the excess power is sent back through the electric company's power lines, spinning the utility meter backwards as it does. It is not possible to directly use the power from the PV array when grid-power fails.
See this excellent animation from SPG Solar on the utility meter.
Financial incentives
Below are financial incentives currently available to homeowners who are installing PV Systems in California. Your installer should take you through the steps applying for rebates or incentives. Generally the solar contractor receives the rebates and charges you the net amount.
- DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. This site is up to date and an excellent starting point.
- California Solar Initiative
The California Solar Initiative (CSI) is offering a rebate of $2.50 per Watt for all residential photovoltaic projects. Also, all residential projects may opt into the Performance Based Incentive (PBI) which is offering a rebate of $0.39 per kWh produced for 5 years.
- Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
