New Solar Home Partnership

 

Incentive Type

State rebate program

Applicable Sectors

Residential, construction, multi-family residential, low-income residential

Eligible Technologies

Photovoltaics

Amount

Varies by customer class and system performance.

Eligible System Size

Minimum: 1 kW AC. Maximum: 100 percent of a home's expected electrical load.

Equipment Requirements

  • Must use CEC-certified PV modules and inverters.
  • Systems must be grid-connected.
  • Inverters and modules must each carry a 10-year warranty.
  • PV modules must be certified to UL 1703 by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL).
  • Inverters must be certified to UL 1741 by an NRTL. They also must have completed the Energy Commission's required weighted efficiency testing.

Installation Requirements

Systems must be installed by appropriately licensed California solar contractors. Self-installs are also acceptable.

Although not required, installation contractors are encouraged to become certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.

More Information

www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/

Authority

NSHP Guidebook

Summary

The New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP) is administered by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and provides incentives for solar on new home construction. To be eligible for the NSHP incentive, the home must receive electricity from one of the following utilities: Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, San Diego Gas and Electric Company, or Bear Valley Electric Service.

Launched on Jan. 2, 2007, targeting market-rate and affordable single-family and multi-family housing, the NSHP is a 10-year, $400 million program to encourage solar in new homes by working with builders and developers to incorporate into homes high levels of energy efficiency and high-performing solar systems.

To qualify for incentives, the residential dwelling unit must achieve at least 15 percent higher energy efficiency than the current Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Refer to the NHSP Guidebook for specific details and program requirements. The incentive is paid once the system is installed, operational and has met all program requirements.

There are four incentive levels available:

• Base Incentive: Expected Performance Based Incentive (EPBI) level starting in 2007 was $2.50/watt. The base incentive applies to custom homes, small developments (less than six homes), housing developments where solar is offered as an option, common areas of housing developments, and housing developments where solar will be installed on less than 50 percent of the homes.

• Solar as a Standard Feature Incentive: The EPBI level starting in 2007 was $2.60/watt. To qualify, a builder of six or more homes in a development must commit to a minimum of 50 percent of the residential units in the subdivision or multi-family housing development, to installing solar electric systems that meet or exceed the California Flexible Installation criteria.

In July 2007, the NSHP Guidebook was revised to include a new incentive structure to meet the needs of California’s affordable housing community.

• Residential Areas of Affordable Housing Projects: The EPBI amount starting in 2007 was $3.50/watt. This applies to affordable housing projects of all sizes.

• Common Areas of Affordable Housing Projects: The EPBI level starting in July 2007 was $3.30/watt. This incentive level applies to solar electric systems serving the common areas of affordable housing projects.

All incentives will decline over time as specific megawatt targets are achieved. Refer to the NSHP Guidebook and contact the program administrator for complete details.

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