2023 Solar Incentives Guide for La Crescenta Montrose, CA - Tax Credits & Rebates

In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in La Crescenta Montrose.

You'll learn about:

  • Local & State Solar Incentives
  • Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2023 and beyond)
  • Ways to optimize your solar investment

Solar installers are experts in maximizing your solar tax credits and rebates.
Get a free quote from one of our trusted La Crescenta Montrose solar installers to see how much you can save.

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated March 14, 2023

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We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in La Crescenta Montrose?

Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems and Solar Plus Storage System

Incentive Type:
Property Tax Incentive
100% of system value; 75% of system value exemption for dual-use equipment

Western Riverside Council of Governments - Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) Financing Program

Incentive Type:
PACE Financing
Eligible products can be financed for up to 25 years, depending on the useful life of the eligible product.
Minimum financing: $5,000
The financing may not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the market value of the property, up to the first seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000) of the property’s market value, and ten percent (10%) of the remaining value of the Property above seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000) minus any PACE assessment on the property The total amount of any annual property taxes and assessments shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the property's fair market value, determined at the time program financing is approved.

Local Option - Municipal Energy Districts

Incentive Type:
PACE Financing
Locally determined

Self-Generation Incentive Program

Incentive Type:
Rebate Program
For projects 30 kW or larger, 50% of incentive will be received up-front; 50% will be received based on actual kWh production over the first 5 years. For projects under 30kW, 100% of the incentive will be paid up front.
Incentives will step down over time. See below for incentive amounts.

Renewable Market Adjusting Tariff (ReMAT)

Incentive Type:
Feed-in Tariff

LADWP - Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Program

Incentive Type:
Feed-in Tariff
$0.17/kWh adjusted by a time of delivery multiplier
Base price will step down over time as certain MW goals are met

California Solar Initiative - Solar Thermal Program

Incentive Type:
Rebate Program
Step 1 Incentive Rates (contact utility to determine current incentive levels):
Single Family Residential Incentives:
Systems that displace natural gas: $29.85 per estimated therm displaced
Systems that displace electricity or propane: Funding has been exhausted
Commercial/Multifamily Incentives:
Systems that displace natural gas: $20.19 per estimated therm displaced
Systems that displace electricity or propane: $0.42 per estimated kWh displaced *** Note, funding has been exhausted in this category for SCE and PG&E
Solar Pool heating: $5.00 per estimated therm displaced

Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

Incentive Type:
Personal Tax Credit
30% federal tax credit for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033. Good for: solar water heat, solar photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal heat pumps, wind (small), fuel cells using renewable fuels.

Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/


Solar incentives encourage homeowners to make the switch to renewable energy by providing financial incentives meant to lower the burden of solar panel installation and use. Incentives may include things like discounts, cash back or credit towards your monthly utility bill. Some incentives are handled federally, while others are offered by the California government or your utility company, county or municipality. You might qualify for any of the following types of solar incentives:

  • Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs can be sold to your utility company (or other buyers) for money that is generally considered part of your taxable income. Typically, you must meet a certain (small) threshold of energy production before your solar system qualifies for SRECs or other performance-based incentives. These kinds of incentives are typically handled at the state level.
  • Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in the amount of tax that you owe the government.
  • Tax Exemptions: Tax exemptions may come in one of two forms. First, there is sales tax exemption, which is applied when you purchase solar panels. The second is property tax exemption. This allows you to ignore the value added by your solar system when calculating property tax for your home.
  • Rebates: A rebate is a partial refund credited to your account after you've paid for your solar system. These may be offered by your local utility company, your state or your county. The cash back that you get from the rebates is normally applied before tax credits are calculated.
  • Net Metering: You may be able to sign a net metering agreement with your La Crescenta Montrose utility company. This agreement may apply to all or a percentage of the excess electricity your solar panels generate. They will then deduct this value from your monthly utility bill.

Federal Solar Incentives

When thinking about solar incentives, you probably think of federal incentives first. The solar incentive that you may be most familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which gives you a credit on your taxes equal to a percentage of the cost of your solar system.

The ITC can be credited towards the value of a solar system installed on your primary or secondary residence in the United States. The solar panels have to have been installed after January 1, 2006 on a property you own for you to claim the credit. Originally, the ITC covered 30% of all installation costs (panels, equipment, labor and accessories), although the amount has fluctuated slightly over time between 26-30%. The installation date of your solar system will determine what percentage you are eligible for. There is no cap on the amount you can claim.

To know exactly how much the ITC could save you, contact your local La Crescenta Montrose solar panel installer.

The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, added more provisions to the ITC (as well as renaming it to the Clean Energy Credit). The new Clean Energy Credit is valid until 2035. Homeowners can now receive a 30% credit for solar systems installed between 2022 and 2032. This new credit will then decrease annually until the date of expiration. The program expansion also makes credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim, beginning in 2023.

More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. The easiest way to understand how the new Clean Energy Credit might apply to you is to reach out to your local La Crescenta Montrose solar panel company with your questions.

State & Local Solar Incentives

Some solar incentives may be offered at the local or state level. Like with federal incentives, these may include tax credits, rebates and more. Incentives might be handled by the state of California, or by your county or municipality. Certain incentives might only be available for a limited time, while others are ongoing.

Next Steps for Installing Solar in La Crescenta Montrose

The nationwide use of solar energy has gone up significantly in the last 15 years, in part due to the growth in the number of solar incentives. You might receive these incentives from the California government, the federal government or your local utility company. When you're prepared to make the change to solar energy, reaching out to your local La Crescenta Montrose solar panel installation expert is an excellent place to start.

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EcoWatch's La Crescenta Montrose, CA Solar Incentives FAQs

My home already has solar panels. Do I qualify for any incentives?

Your best bet is to talk to someone from the company that installed your system — or get in touch with a local La Crescenta Montrose solar installer — to better understand which incentives you may qualify for. If your solar panels were installed after January 1, 2022, you likely qualify for the newly increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. Systems installed between 2006 and 2021 may qualify for a tax credit of 26-30%.

How much can I save annually on my electric bill if I install solar panels on my La Crescenta Montrose home?

Once you add solar panels to your home in La Crescenta Montrose, you can anticipate savings of about $1,692.94 per year, or about $32,165.93 over 20 years.

What are some environmental benefits of adding solar panels to my home?

Solar energy is renewable — by changing where you get your energy, you help reduce the strain on our planet's resources. Solar panels can also lower your home's CO2 emissions by 250 pounds a year, or around 5,000 pounds over 20 years.

Can I receive incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?

The order in which incentives are applied might vary depending on which incentives you receive but typically yes, you can claim multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Speak to your solar installer or a local tax professional to make sure you are claiming all possible incentives and applying them in the correct order.

Can I use both solar and another type of renewable energy to power my home?

You can power your home with multiple types of renewable energy, or a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy. Be sure to discuss your ideas with your local La Crescenta Montrose solar installer. They can help you as you plan for your project and educate you on the various incentives that you may or may not qualify for.

Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert's opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.

Solar incentive research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.

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