California solar 101: must read before you buy solar panels

The US government wants more people to go solar: it’s a modern and green way of getting energy. This is why the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) program was developed. It allows American citizens to claim 30% of the cost of their installation as an income tax deduction. The cost here is not only solar panels, but also shipping, installation expenses and more. For example, if your system overall made you spend $10,000, the government returns you $3,000. To claim the ITC, complete all the necessary forms and submit them when filing your taxes.

When your system produces more energy than you need, you can sell the surplus into the grid and gain credits from your electric company. Usually the rates for this excess energy are close to utility rates, so in theory you can stop paying all of your electricity bills this way. The rates and conditions vary from company to company, so we recommend consulting your electric supplier.

When you add solar panels to your house in California, taxes for your property don’t change. Until 2025 new PV systems are eligible for full exclusion from taxes. You don’t have to fill any additional forms for that exclusion – it is granted automatically once your tax assessor receives a building permit. However, you might need to fill some papers when building a house with a solar system from scratch – check the details here.

The Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) is specifically designed to make solar batteries more affordable in California for low-income families. By applying for this program you get a chance to receive some money back from the cost of your energy storage. The program primarily targets California residents with low income, but you can apply even if you don't fit into this category. The size of financial incentive varies depending on your status and the size of your energy storage: from $0.20 to $0.85 per Wh. The program was about to end in December 2020, but was extended due to COVID-19 pandemic. You can check out the handbook on the website of the program to see if you’re eligible and find forms for application and all the documents there.

Single-family Affordable Solar Homes program (SASH) aims to help families with low income to go solar in California. It is suitable for 1 to 5 kW AC installations. The applicants get a one-time payment based on the size of the system: $3 per Watt. Therefore, you can get as much as $15,000 for a 5kW AC system.

To participate in the SASH program, an applicant needs:

• To be a customer of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), or San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
• Own and live in a house defined as “affordable housing” by California Public Utilities Code 2852
• Have a household income that is 80% or below of the area median income, based on the tax return for the previous year.

The program is going to expire at the end of 2021, so it makes sense to hurry up. Check the SASH handbook for all the details and find application forms here.

Since 2018, all equipment that is used for production, storage or distribution of electric power is exempted from sales and use taxes in California. That allows retailers to lower their prices for photovoltaics and lithium-ion batteries that are considered to be the new go-to type of solar energy storage. Making use of the next incentive in the list can make buying them in California an especially good deal.

To install a solar system in California, you need a building permit. However, you aren’t getting it yourself – it’s actually your solar installer who has to apply for it with a city or county agency. A solar inspector from this agency comes and inspects your home and after that it is legal to install solar panels on your house in California. 

The state has devised a fairly detailed guide to buying and installing solar in California. It covers not only the procedure of getting a permit, but also explains the rights you have as a purchaser and lists the questions that you should ask your installer before signing a contract.

There are lots of solar systems in California. To make sure that there is enough sunlight for each of them, the state passed the Shade Control Act. This paper protects your panels from the neighbor’s trees casting a shadow on your solar array. According to the act, the solar system should be placed at least 10 ft high and no less than 5 ft from the property line. Then your neighbor has to make sure that no tree grows on his land to cast a shadow that would cover more than 10% of your system between 10 am and 2 pm. If there is already a tree that grows so high that it blocks the sunlight, he has to trim it.