Commercial solar rebate
A rebate for nonresidential electricity customers installing 50 kW–1 MW solar systems to supply their premises in Santa Clara.
Această oportunitate este disponibilă momentan în limba engleză.
Choose a payment after installation of $0.75 per watt of the CEC-AC design-corrected system rating, or $0.30 per kilowatt-hour generated, paid quarterly for two years. The watt-based calculation uses the module output and inverter efficiency, adjusted for system design. Once a payment is made, you cannot switch options.
Projects preapproved after 1 January 2026 that are completed and receive Permission to Operate by 31 December 2026 receive a 30% bonus rebate. This deadline applies to the bonus; the underlying programme takes preapproval applications until funds run out.
The system must produce energy for at least five years after completion. If it is removed or stops producing, you must repay a prorated share of the rebate. You cannot sell its renewable energy credits, which represent the renewable attributes of the electricity.
Eligibility
- You must be a Silicon Valley Power nonresidential electricity customer, with the installation in the City of Santa Clara utility service territory. The system must solely offset electricity used at that site, and you must intend to operate it there for its useful life.
- The minimum system size is 50 kW. The 1 MW cap applies per customer, including previously rebated PV systems. The rebate is limited to a system supplying up to 80% of annual electricity use on the meter it serves.
- Use a California-licensed C-10 electrical or C-46 solar contractor, obtain the required permits and comply with building and electrical codes. The system must connect to the grid and carry a minimum ten-year warranty against breakdown or unusual degradation. Modules and inverters must appear on the California Energy Commission eligible-equipment list; modules must be certified to UL 1703 and inverters to UL 1741, the equipment safety standards specified in the rules.
- Provide a shading analysis for every array, or photos showing an unshaded site. Arrays between 300° and 60° are excluded. A design factor below 90% reduces the qualifying system rating used to calculate the rebate.
- Meet Silicon Valley Power’s engineering and operating requirements for grid connection. An experienced professional electrical engineer must prepare or supervise the interconnection design. Provide the accessible, lockable disconnect required by the engineering rules and accept future performance inspections.
- A licensed third party must provide a commissioning test report verifying operation and anti-islanding protection, which prevents the solar system from continuing to energize a disconnected utility circuit. Provide an on-site emergency contact available around the clock, an operating description updated after design changes, and shutdown notices: at least five working days before a planned shutdown, or immediately after an emergency loss of generation.
- For a single-phase connection on a shared secondary supply, the engineering rules cap generation at 20 kVA. A dedicated transformer instead limits single-phase generation to its nameplate rating. On a centre-tapped 240 V service, the imbalance between the two sides must not exceed 6 kVA. These connection limits apply alongside the rebate’s 50 kW minimum.
How to apply
- Statut
- Deschis continuu
- Condițiile sesiunii de finanțare
- Preapproval is first come, first served until funds are exhausted; a waiting list applies once funding is reserved.[^c2][^c3]
- Install within six months of preapproval. The 30% bonus requires preapproval after 1 January 2026 and completion with Permission to Operate by 31 December 2026.[^c1][^c2]
Before starting installation, submit the Commercial Solar Rebate Program application and required attachments to savemoney@siliconvalleypower.com, with the subject “Commercial Solar Rebate Program - ”, or mail it to Silicon Valley Power, 881 Martin Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050. Keep email attachments to 5 MB combined. Include the electric bill, equipment and installation contract, warranty, annual generation calculations, system layout, shading evidence and a W-9 signed within the last three months; include payment authorization if paying the installer.
Preapproval reserves funding on a first-come basis until funds are exhausted; a waiting list begins once funds are reserved. Approval is at Silicon Valley Power’s discretion. Install within six months of rebate preapproval.
After rebate preapproval, submit the Generating Facility Interconnection Application >10 kW through PowerClerk. Obtain Silicon Valley Power’s interconnection preapproval before applying for building permits. The connection process requires an interconnection agreement and written authorization before connecting; applicable fees and, where further review is needed, study costs may apply.
After completion and Permission to Operate, submit final rebate documents within 30 days, including the final building permit, paid invoice and commissioning test report. For quarterly payments, send production data within ten business days after each quarter ends; missing that deadline forfeits that quarter’s payment.