Abstract-GUIDELINES FOR CALIFORNIA SOLAR

According to Senate Bill 1, this document presents Guidelines for solar energy system incentive
programs in California.
Senate Bill 1 is the culmination of the Governor’s Million Solar Roofs Initiative, expanding upon
the California Solar Initiative and the New Solar Homes Partnership. This legislation requires
the California Energy Commission to establish eligibility criteria, conditions for incentives and
rating standards to qualify for ratepayer‐funded incentives provided by the Energy
Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission and publicly owned electric utilities.
Three specific expectations to be met to qualify for ratepayer‐funded incentives are required by
SB 1:
• High quality solar energy systems with maximum system performance to promote the
highest energy production per ratepayer dollar.
• Optimal system performance during periods of peak demand.
• Appropriate energy efficiency improvements in new and existing homes and
commercial structures where solar energy systems are installed.
Keywords
Senate Bill 1, SB 1, Million Solar Roofs Initiative, California Solar Initiative, CSI, New Solar
Homes Partnership, NSHP, California Energy Commission, Energy Commission, publicly
owned utilities, investor‐owned utilities, California Public Utilities Commission, CPUC, solar,
solar energy systems, solar energy system incentive programs, electricity generation,
photovoltaic, solar panels, PV Calculator, energy efficiency, guidelines, eligibility criteria, conditions for
incentives, rating standards,benchmarking, retrocommissioning, HERS rating, field
verification, energy audit, PMRS