Page 181 - Alternative Energy Systems in Building Design

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CALIFORNIA SOLAR INITIATIVE

PROGRAM

This chapter summarizes the California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) California
Solar Incentive (CSI) program, a detailed reversion of which is available at www
.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/csi/index.html.
Beginning January 1, 2007, the state of California introduced solar rebate funding for
the installation of photovoltaic (PV) power cogeneration that was authorized by the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the state senate. The bill, referenced
as SB1, has allotted a budget of $2.167 billion to be used over a 10-year period.
The rebate funding program, known as the California Solar Initiative (CSI), awards an
incentive plan on the basis of performance, unlike earlier programs that allotted rebates
based on a calculated projection of system energy output. The new rebate award system cat-
egorizes solar power installations into two incentive groups. PV installations of 100 kW or
larger receive a performance-based incentive (PBI), which provides rebate dollars based on
the actual output over a 5-year period. Solar power systems with performance capacities of
fewer than 30 kW receive an expected performance–based buydown (EPBB), which is a
one-time lump-sum incentive payment based on the system’s expected future performance.
The distribution and administration of CSI funds are delegated to three major utility
providers that service various areas of the state. Three main service providers that
administer the program are

■ Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), which serves northern California
■ Southern California Edison (SCE), which serves central California
■ San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO)/San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E),
which serves the greater San Diego area

It should be noted that municipal electric utility customers are not eligible to receive
CSI funds from these three administrative agencies.
Each of the three service providers administering the CSI have Web pages that enable
clients to access online registration databases, program handbooks, reservation forms,

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