California Solar Initiative
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The California Solar Initiative Rebates

California Solar Initiative rebates vary according to system size, customer class, and performance and installation factors. The subsidies automatically decline in "steps" based on the volume of solar megawatts confirmed within each utility service territory. The figure below shows the schedule for rebate decline over time. To find the currently applicable rebate level in your area, check the CSI Statewide Trigger Tracker.

graph from CPUC


There are two incentive paths available to consumers: Expected Performance Based Buydown and Performance Based Incentive.


Expected Performance Based Buydown (EPBB)

Owners of solar systems less than 50 kilowatt (kW*) may apply for an up-front cash rebate known as the Expected Performance Based Buydown (EPBB)**. Program Administrators calculate a customer's rebate using the expected performance of the owner's system based on equipment ratings and installation factors such as geographic location, tilt, orientation and shading. Customers receive their incentive payment in a lump sum after their system in fully installed and interconnected.

Click here to go to the CSI EPBB/PBI Calculator


Performance Based Incentive (PBI)

Customers with solar systems between 50 kW* and 1 MW must* apply for the Performance Based Incentive (PBI) structure. PBI incentives are a five-year stream of fixed monthly payments determined by the actual output of the system, as metered and reported to the utility. After January 1, 2010, all systems greater than 30 kW must choose the Performance Based Incentive structure. The PBI incentive path is available at any time to ANY size system.

The table below shows the effect of prices as these step declines occur, with current prices in the three territories highlighted in yellow. Residential and commercial incentives are the same price in each step; however, local governments and other tax-exempt organizations receive a slightly higher incentive because cannot qualify for Federal Investment Tax Credits on their solar systems.

The table below shows the rebate levels available at various steps, and information on currently applicable step in your region is available at the California Solar Initiative Trigger Tracker.

graphic of table