California Solar Incentives
With Sunrun, You Can Harness the Benefits of Solar in California
#1
California is the best state in the U.S. for solar.1
-38%
California solar panel price drop over the last five years.1
100%
CA’s electricity generation that will come from clean and renewable energy sources by 2045.2
California is well-known for its year-round sunny climate.3 But that’s just one of the many reasons to go solar in the Golden State. California also has some of the most attractive solar incentives in the country. As the nation’s leading home solar and energy storage company,4 Sunrun will help you create and store your own clean, affordable home energy while making the most out of the state’s solar incentives.
Solar Incentives, Tax Credits, and Rebates in California*
| Incentive | Value |
|---|---|
| Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)** | The 26% federal solar tax credit is available for purchased home solar systems installed by December 31, 2020.5 |
| Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) | Rebate for buying and installing a solar battery along with a rooftop panel system. Varies by utility and storage capacity.6 |
| Solar Energy System Property Tax Exclusion | Property tax exclusion on the added home value from the rooftop solar system.7 |
| Single-Family Affordable Solar Housing (SASH) | Qualified low-income households can receive a cash incentive for every kilowatt (kW) of solar power installed.8 |
| Local Utility Company Rebates (San Francisco and Sacramento only) | Cash incentives for installing solar panels in California. Varies by utility.9,10 |
Find Out If You Qualify for California Solar Incentives
Learn the Details of California Solar Incentives
Learn the Details of California Solar Incentives
Buy and install a new home solar system in California in 2020, with or without a home battery, and you could qualify for the 26% federal tax credit. The residential ITC drops to 22% in 2021 and ends in 2022.5
Average-sized 5-kilowatt (kW) system cost in California: $14,950 Approximate system cost after the 26% ITC (2020) in California: $11,06311
Buy a battery system along with your rooftop panels in California and get a rebate for your home solar battery installation.
PG&E, SCE, SoCalGas, and SDG&E customers may be eligible for this rebate, which can be as high as $200 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).6
Add a new home solar installation in California or build a house with a solar panel system, and your property taxes won’t increase until the end of 2024.7
Installing a system also helps you build home value. Approximate solar home value increase in California: 3%12
Eligible low-income households can receive a one-time up-front, capacity-based incentive of $3,000 for every kW of home solar installed.8
To qualify for SASH, the home must be occupied by the homeowner/applicant and receive electrical service from PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E.8
The household's total income must be 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less based on the most recent available income tax return.8
Through the City of San Francisco’s GoSolarSF program, residents can get a cash incentive of $100 to $2,000 per kW of home solar installed for up to 4 kW. Incentive varies by system size, location, and applicant income.9
SMUD’s solar rebate program offers a solar incentive of $300 to residential customers in Sacramento who choose to install a new home solar system.10
Start Your Solar Journey on the Right Foot
On top of all these excellent solar incentive programs, our home solar plans, with or without battery storage, in California start at $0 down. Also, with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and other utility companies’ net energy metering (NEM) programs—you can earn credits on your bill for the excess solar energy you produce.13 Net metering in California gives you more control over your energy costs.
There hasn’t been a better time to make the switch with a California solar company like Sunrun. Start by requesting a free, personalized solar quote to check if our solar solutions are a good fit for your energy needs.
Go solar today
Go solar today
Installing solar is an investment for today, next year and the long term. If you’re considering buying a home solar system, act today for a big tax incentive.
26% federal solar tax credit is available for home solar systems installed by December 31, 2020. Starting in 2021, the tax credit will step down to 22%.
DISCLAIMERS:
*Customer’s ability to monetize rebates, incentives and tax credits depends on several factors, including, without limitation, continued state subsidization of these policies, the applicable Sunrun product type and whether a customer purchases or leases a home solar system from Sunrun.
**We recommend contacting a tax professional to most accurately determine the impact of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) on your federal taxes.
Sources:
1. https://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/california-solar
2. https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/rps/
3. https://thestacker.com/stories/1463/states-get-most-sunshine#46
4. https://cleantechnica.com/2018/10/19/sunrun-ranked-as-leading-residentia...
5. https://www.seia.org/initiatives/solar-investment-tax-credit-itc
6. https://news.energysage.com/california-energy-storage-incentives-sgip-ex...
7. http://www.boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/active-solar-energy-system.htm
8. https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/general.aspx?id=3043
9. https://www.sfwater.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=14731
10. https://www.smud.org/en/Going-Green/Solar-for-Your-Home/Financing-options
11. https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-panel-cost/ca/
12. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/05/solar-power-can-boost-a-homes-value-in-t...
13. https://news.energysage.com/net-metering-2-0-in-california-everything-yo...