California Public Utilities Commission California Solar Initiative: Program Handbook

The California Solar Initiative (CSI) is overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC or Commission) and provides incentives to customers in investor-owned utility (IOU) territories of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). These three utilities represent about 68 percent of California’s electric load. The CSI provides cash back for solar energy systems for existing homes, as well as existing and new commercial, industrial, government, non-profit, and agricultural properties – within the service territories of the three above-listed IOUs. The CSI has a budget of $2,167 million over 10 years, and the goal is to reach 1,940 megawatts (MW) of installed solar capacity by 2016. This goal includes 1,750 MW from the general market (GM) CSI program, which provides incentives for photovoltaic (PV) and other solar electric generating technologies. The goal also includes 190 MW from the two low-income residential incentive programs, the Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Program and the Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) Program.