2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Montebello, CA - Tax Credits & Rebates

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

You'll learn about:

  • Local & State Solar Incentives
  • Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2024 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 Montebello solar installers to see how much you can save.

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated February 03, 2024

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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 Montebello?

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.

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

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

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.

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

Local Option - Municipal Energy Districts

Incentive Type:
PACE Financing
Locally determined

Renewable Market Adjusting Tariff (ReMAT)

Incentive Type:
Feed-in Tariff

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 are intended to encourage people to switch their home over to renewable energy by providing incentives meant to lower the financial burden of solar panel installation and use. You may qualify for several kinds of incentives, including cash back, discounts or monthly utility bill credits, depending on your situation. Certain incentives come from your specific utility company, county or municipality, some from the state of California and others from the federal government. Categories of solar incentives include:

  • Rebates: A rebate is a partial refund given after you've purchased your solar panels. Rebates might be offered by your local utility company, your county or your state. The rebates are usually applied before tax credits are calculated.
  • Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs are credits that can be sold to your utility company (or other buyers) for money that is generally considered part of your taxable income. Generally, a certain (small) threshold of energy production must be met before your solar system is eligible for SRECs or similar performance-based incentives. Incentives like these are generally handled by your state government.
  • Tax Exemptions: Your solar panels could qualify for exemptions on both sales and property tax. Sales tax exemptions are applied at the time of purchase. Property tax exemptions allow you to ignore the value added by your solar panels when calculating property taxes on your home.
  • Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of income tax that you owe the federal government. (A tax credit is different from a tax deduction.)
  • Net Metering: You can sign a net metering agreement with your Montebello utility company that will apply to all or a percentage of the excess electricity that is generated by your solar panels. Your utility company will then subtract this value from your utility bill each month.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0

  • Most efficient panels on the market
  • National coverage
  • Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
  • Great warranty coverage
  • Expensive
  • Customer service varies by local dealer

Best Regional Coverage

Momentum Solar

★★★★★
4.5

  • Great warranty coverage
  • Representatives are experts on local policies
  • Concierge service ensures steady communication
  • Slightly limited service offerings

Best for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0

  • Expansive service area
  • Many financing options
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

Federal Solar Incentives

Federal incentives are the type of incentives that you are most likely to have some knowledge of. A federal incentive that most people are likely familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This is a tax credit for a given percentage of the cost of your solar system.

The ITC applies to the value of a solar system installed on your primary or secondary residence in the United States. The solar system has to have been installed after January 1, 2006, on a property you own for you to claim the credit. Initially, the ITC applied to 30% of all system costs (panels, equipment, labor and accessories), although the amount has fluctuated over the years 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.

Speaking with your local Montebello solar panel installation expert is the best way to understand how the ITC could apply to your situation.

In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act expanded and extended the ITC, now dubbed the Clean Energy Credit. The new Clean Energy Credit extends until 2035. Homeowners can now apply for a 30% credit for solar systems that began installation on or after January 1, 2022, and will be done by December 31, 2032. The credit will then be decreased by a few percentage points every year until the date of expiration. Starting in 2023, it will also be easier to obtain credits for energy storage systems under the new laws.

More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Montebello solar panel company can answer your questions and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit may apply to you.

State & Local Solar Incentives

Not all solar incentives are federal; rebates, tax credits and more may be offered at the local or state level. Some incentives are ongoing, while others are offered for only a limited time. Local solar incentives may come from your county or municipality, or from the California government.

Next Steps for Installing Solar in Montebello

The large number of available solar incentives has contributed greatly to the increase in the nationwide adoption of solar energy over the last 15 years. You may receive solar incentives from the federal government, the California government or from your local utility company. Speak with your local solar panel installer today to learn more and to save the most money possible on solar panels for your Montebello home.

EcoWatch's Montebello, CA Solar Incentives FAQs

I already have solar panels. Does my system qualify for any incentives?

If your solar system was installed after January 1, 2022, you may qualify for the recently increased 30% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. If you had your system installed between 2006 and 2021, you might qualify for a tax credit between 26% and 30%, depending on the exact installation date. Talking to the company that installed your solar system, or any local Montebello solar installer, can help you understand what incentives you qualify for.

What are some of the environmental benefits of switching to solar energy?

You can decrease your carbon footprint by 250 pounds of CO2 annually when you install solar panels. This adds up to roughly 5,000 pounds in 20 years. In addition, solar power is a renewable energy source, which means that switching your home over lessens the drain on our planet's resources.

How long until the federal solar tax credit ends?

The Clean Energy Credit (formerly named the federal solar tax credit, or the ITC), is scheduled to end on January 1, 2035. Currently set at 30%, the credit will drop to 26% in 2033 and to 22% in 2034.

If I switch my appliances out for ones that use solar energy, are there any incentives that I can claim?

With the passage of the new Inflation Reduction Act, there are a number of new financial incentives to encourage you to make eco-friendly improvements to your home. More details on these incentives, including information about incentives for purchasing new appliances, can be found here.

Can I qualify for incentives both towards the initial cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?

Yes, you can receive both rebates and tax credits towards the cost of solar panels. Depending on precisely which incentives you are receiving, they may apply in a different order. Be sure to speak with your solar installer or a local tax professional to ensure that you are claiming the correct incentives and getting the most money possible.

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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