CSI Program Components

The Go Solar California campaign has a statewide goal to install 3,000 MW of new, solar electricity capacity by 2016 - moving the state toward a cleaner energy future and helping lower the cost of solar systems for consumers.

The Go Solar California statewide budget is $3.3 billion over 10 years, and it has three distinct program componentseach with a portion of the statewide budget and solar installation goals, as shown in the Table below:

• The California Solar Initiative provides solar incentives to customers in investor-owned utility territories of Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric.  These three utilities represent about 75-80% of California's electric use. The California Solar Initiative provides cash back for solar for existing homes and existing and new commercial, industrial, government, non-profit, and agricultural properties. This program component has a budget of $2,167 million over 10 years, and the goal is to reach 1,940 MW by 2016. This goal includes 1,750 MW from the general market program and 190 MW from the low-income residential incentive program.
• The California Energy Commission advances solar in new home construction, through its New Solar Homes Partnership. This program component is authorized $400 million over 10 years, with a goal of 360 MW.
• The Publicly Owned Utilities (POU) component requires each municipal utility to offer an equivalent incentive program, an aggregate commitment of $784 million over 10 years, toward a goal of 660 MW.

Table. California Solar Initiative by Program Component, 2007-2016