About the

California Solar Initiative

Providing incentives for all Californians to Go Solar!

The California Solar Initiative (CSI) provides incentives for solar technologies in the investor-owned utility territories of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison Company (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).

This 10-year public program began in 2007, and as of January 1, 2012, more than 670 megawatts (MW) of new solar at more than 61,000 sites have been installed with cash incentives from the CSI program. Year after year, the solar market expands in California, and costs for solar systems have declined dramatically.

Did You Know?

  • Since the CSI Program began, the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has decreased as much as 27% in the residential sector and 17% in the non-residential sector.

  • Residential solar only comprises about 30% of the megawatt capacity of the CSI program. Commercial, nonprofit, and government installations comprise the remaining 70% of the state’s solar capacity.

  • More than 40% of CSI residential solar systems are third-party owned through solar leases or Power Purchase Agreements, which makes solar affordable to more households.

Not only have panel costs decreased, but new financing models like third-party owned systems and solar leases have drastically reduced the up-front costs of going solar. Since the beginning of the CSI program in 2007, the solar industry has seen significant growth in third-party owned systems. Third-party owned systems allow customers who can’t afford the capital costs of solar to receive the benefits of solar through a lease or a Power Purchase Agreement.

Now, solar thermal technologies such as solar water heating systems that displace both electricity or natural gas are eligible for rebates from the CSI program.

Making Solar Better

The CSI program also fosters improved solar technologies with a $50 million Research, Development and Demonstration program. Already, promising new technologies have been delivered that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of solar power.

One of the additional benefits of going solar is Net Energy Metering, which credits customers for the energy they produce at full retail value. Virtual Net Energy Metering allows energy credits generated from a single solar system to be allocated to multiple meters in the same building, letting building tenants benefit from solar energy. Net Surplus Compensation is a special annual payment method for a system owner’s unused solar energy.

CHECK IF YOU QUALIFY

To qualify for the free eligibility review, you must meet 3 requirements. Please answer the questions truthfully.

NEXT

Copyrights 2026 | RATEWISE LLC