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CSI – Thermal Program in California: performance-based Incentives decreasing over the Years

Submitted by Baerbel Epp on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 10:41.

The eight-year programme in California has a budget of US$ 351 million and is thought to financially assist home owners and proprietors of commercial buildings who replace natural gas or electric geysers with solar water heaters.

The 1st of May 2010 will be the official starting date of the programme for accepting residential applications. As for multi-family homes and commercial buildings, the kick-off date is the 1st of June 2010. Applications for solar thermal systems installed after the 15th of July 2009 will be accepted.

 

Country / region   California
Name of programme   California Solar Initiative (CSI) - Thermal Program
Type of incentive   Home owners and building owners who replace their natural gas boiler or electric geyser with an SWH will receive incentives paid up-front, based on estimated first year therms or kWhel replaced
Eligible technologies   Solar Water Heating Systems  
Applicable sectors   Homeowners and Building owners from new or existing homes in the area of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E), and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)  
Amount   Natural gas displacing:

Step Incentive for Average Residential Solar Water Heating System Incentive per
Therm Displaced
1 $1,500 $12.82
2 $1,200 $10.26
3 $900 $7.69
4 $550 $4.70

 

Step Multi Family or Commercial CAP Incentive per
Therm Displaced
1 $500,000 $12.82
2 $500,000 $10.26
3 $500,000 $7.69
4 $500,000 $4.70

 

Electric geyser displacing:

Step Level Electric Displacing Incentive ($/kWh) Incentive for Average Residential System
1 0.37 $1,010
2 0.30 $820
3 0.22 $600
4 0.14 $380

 

Step Level Electric Displacing Incentive ($/kWh) Multi Family and Commercial CAP
1 0.37 $250,000
2 0.30 $250,000
3 0.22 $250,000
4 0.14 $250,000

Requirements for system   Single-family homes: SRCC OG-300 required Multi-family homes / commercial buildings: SRCC OG-300 required   System requirements:

  • 10 year warranty on collectors
  • City or county permit
  • Metering systems above 30 kWth (equals to 42 m2) 
Finance providers   Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E),and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)
Total funds   US$ 351 million, of which US$ 250 million for replacing gas heating systems and US$ 101 million for replacing electric sysetms
Funding source   Monies collected under AB 1470 from natural gas ratepayers will fund incentives to solar water heating systems that replace natural gas usage, while funds collected through CSI from electric ratepayers will fund solar water heating systems replacing electric ones.
Effective date   1 May 2010 for residential applications

1 June 2010 for multi-family and commercial buildings

The programme applies retroactively: Applications for systems installed after the 15 July 2009 will be accepted.

Expiration date   The program is going to run over 8 years, until 31 December 2017, or until programme funds have been exhausted (whichever occurs first.)
Website   http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PUBLISHED/FINAL_DECISION/112748.htm
Last review of this tabloid   January 2010
Contact California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave.,
San Francisco
Terrie Prosper,
Tel:  +1 415 703 2160.
Mail: tdp@cpuc.ca.gov
Effective Date: 
May 1, 2010
Incentive Program: 
California Solar Initiative (CSI) - Thermal Program
Contact: 
California Public Utilities Commission