The Benefits of Solar Energy in California

California is the highest solar energy producer in the nation, generating about 33% of all solar power produced in the United States. Beyond the Golden State’s year-round sunny climate, solar energy is a great clean energy source for your home for many reasons beyond being good for the environment.

Natural Disaster Resilience

As wildfires grow more rampant in California, local governments and utility providers have adjusted to adapt to these new realities through planned power outages, especially during the fire season. With a solar storage system, you can keep your home running during these mandated power shutoffs.

California-Specific Solar Rebates and Tax Credits

On the federal level, you can get up to a 30% tax credit if you purchase a solar system between now and 2032 due to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed in August 2022. Read more about how the IRA can benefit your home’s solar system here (include hyperlink).

The Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)

The SGIP is a great financial incentive for homeowners interested in supplementing their solar panels with a battery storage system. This program offers rebates to homeowners (and businesses) that cuts the cost of a solar storage system by up to one-third. Rebates vary based on the solar storage capacity and your utility company.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved an additional $675 million in funding in January 2020, extending the program until 2024. This totals over $1 billion in financial incentives available to homeowners and businesses through SGIP. However, the incentive amount decreases as more homeowners install solar storage systems, so the sooner you apply for SGIP, the higher rebate you will receive.

The Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) Program

California’s SASH program provides financial incentives to homeowners who get electricity from PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E in qualifying low-income single-family households. It aims to make solar energy systems more accessible to a broader group of interested homeowners and offers one incentive of $3 per watt.

The SASH program also offers training courses in low-income areas to help residents build the skillsets needed to succeed in well-paying jobs in the solar power sector.

California Net-Metering

On top of all the benefits listed above, you can enroll in a local net-metering program with your utility provider. Any excess energy your solar system generates that your home doesn’t use can be sent back to your local power grid. Through net metering, you essentially sell your surplus energy back to your utility company to receive credits which you can apply to your future energy bills.

With a solar system powering your home in sunny California, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint while saving money and boosting your home’s resiliency to power outages and utility rate spikes. There could be even more incentives depending on your area; contact US Solar and find out how to install solar energy into your home today!