In 2020, California offered significant financial incentives to encourage homeowners and businesses to invest in solar energy. The California solar rebate, a key part of this initiative, aimed to make solar installations more affordable and accessible. This article will provide a detailed overview of the rebate amount available in 2020, including eligibility requirements and how to apply for it. Whether you’re considering going solar or looking to understand the benefits you might have missed, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the California solar rebate for 2020.
California solar incentives and tax credits put solar power within reach
If you live in the Golden State, you probably already know that the plentiful sunshine available every season of the year makes a great climate for solar power. That’s just one of the many reasons to go solar in California – some of the best solar rebates and incentives in the country are here.
What are the main California solar tax credits and rebates?
Local solar rebates
Homeowners in many parts of the Golden State have access to incentive schemes. Between $500 total to $0.95 per watt of installed capacity, these rebates will compensate solar shoppers everywhere. Here is an example of this:
Rancho Mirage Energy Authority
If you install solar at a Rancho Mirage home, the RMEA will provide a $500 rebate to cover the cost of your license fee. The rebate is granted after authorization to operate by the utility company (PTO).
You have options with your nearest renewable electric service provider, the Rancho Mirage Energy Authority (RMEA). Customers are automatically enrolled in the 5 percent energy discount of RMEA. Solar consumers are automatically enrolled in the net metering system of RMEA, which provides the incentives you are now getting, and RMEA increases the credit for excess energy returned to the grid via the SCE rebate. There is no method of registration. Only customers who choose to opt-up to our 100% renewable plan, Premium Renewable Choice, or customers who choose to opt-out from RMEA and stay at higher rates with SCE need to take action.
PACE solar financing: a leading CA solar tax credit
California has a large Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) offering the Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) funding program in many cities and counties. PACE funding enables homeowners to finance and reimburse their photovoltaic installation through property taxes. There are also many county-specific variations of this initiative as well as the HERO program, such as the Energy Independence Initiative of Sonoma County–make sure to check the opportunities available in your county.
Net metering in CA
Although some recent state fights surrounding net metering have occurred, this opportunity is still available and is still one of California’s biggest reasons to go solar. Every solar homeowner in the Golden State can earn bill credits from its utility for their extra solar power at the retail rate. The capacity limit is 5 percent of California’s net metering program’s aggregate consumers peak demand-a regional reward.
There are a few more solar incentives in California to keep in mind aside from the top options:
DAC-SASH
The plan Disadvantaged Communities-Solar Homes Single Family (DAC-SASH) offers cash rebates for income-eligible, single-family homeowners installing solar panels. In order to take advantage of the opportunity, homeowners must be customers of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) or San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E).
Don’t forget about the Federal ITC (solar tax credit)
Focusing on state-specific solar-going incentives, it’s easy to forget the federal solar incentive that makes solar so appealing to homeowners across the country: the investment tax credit, also known as the ITC. Now that the ITC has been extended by 2021, every homeowner buying a solar panel system will benefit from a 30% discount in addition to all additional state rebates and incentives.
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