2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Pico Rivera, CA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Pico Rivera.
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.
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Pico Rivera?
Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems and Solar Plus Storage System
Western Riverside Council of Governments - Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) Financing Program
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 propertyThe 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
Self-Generation Incentive Program
Incentives will step down over time. See below for incentive amounts.
Renewable Market Adjusting Tariff (ReMAT)
LADWP - Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Program
Base price will step down over time as certain MW goals are met
California Solar Initiative - Solar Thermal Program
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
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
Solar incentives are designed to make renewable energy usage more affordable through financial incentives for those who install solar panels on their homes. Incentives could include things like discounts, cash back or credit on your utility bill each month. Some incentives are offered federally, while others are handled by the state of California or by your utility company, county or municipality. Types of solar incentives might include:
- Rebates: Rebates, or cash back after a purchase, are usually applied before any solar tax credits are calculated. These rebates can be provided by your local utility company, by your county or by your state.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): Generally, solar systems that produce over a specific (usually small) amount of electricity will qualify for SRECs or other performance-based incentives. SRECs and similar incentives are typically provided by your state government. You can sell SRECs to your utility company or another buyer, and this is usually considered part of your taxable income.
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are effective at the time of purchase for your solar panels. Property tax exemptions allow you to ignore the value added by your solar system when you calculate how much property tax you need to pay.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits lower, dollar-for-dollar, the amount of income tax you owe the federal government. Tax credits are different from tax deductions.
- Net Metering: You may be able to sign a net metering agreement with your Pico Rivera utility company, that may 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
- 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
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
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 specified percentage of your solar system's cost.
The ITC applies to the value of a solar system installed on your primary or secondary residence in the United States. The solar panels must have been installed after January 1, 2006, on a property owned by you for you to be eligible for the credit. The ITC originally paid out 30% of all costs (panels, labor, equipment and accessories), although the total amount has fluctuated slightly over the years between 26-30%. The amount you qualify for will depend on when your solar system was installed. There is no cap on the claim amount.
Your local Pico Rivera solar panel installer can provide more information about the ITC and how it applies to your situation.
In August 2022, the ITC (now called the Clean Energy Credit) was expanded and extended by the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act. Homeowners can now qualify for a credit of 30% of the total costs of solar system installation for projects started after January 1, 2022, and completed before the end of 2032. The percentage will then begin to decrease on a yearly basis until the Clean Energy Credit expires in 2035. Beginning in 2023, it will also be easier to get credits for energy storage systems under this new program.
Click here to learn more about the new Inflation Reduction Act. Your local Pico Rivera solar panel installers are the best people to answer your questions regarding the new Clean Energy Credit and how it will apply to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also provided at the state and local level. Similar to federal incentives, these could include rebates, tax credits and more. These incentives — which might be handled by the state of California, or by your county or municipality — may be offered on an ongoing basis, or for only a limited time.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Pico Rivera
There are a number of different solar incentives: those offered by local utility companies, those offered by the federal government and those provided by the California government, to name a few. The use of solar energy has increased tremendously in the last 15 years, partially due to these incentives. If you're prepared to make the change to solar energy, getting in touch with your local Pico Rivera solar panel installation expert is a great first step.
EcoWatch's Pico Rivera, CA Solar Incentives FAQs
How do I know if I qualify for certain solar incentives?
In most cases, solar incentives apply to:
- a new solar panel system
- installed on property you own
- within the U.S.
- within the date range specified by a particular incentive.
Specific incentives, including those given out by the California government or by your county/municipality, might have additional qualifications. Talk to your local Pico Rivera solar installer to find out what incentives your project may qualify for.
If my house already has solar panels, can I still claim incentives?
If your solar panels were installed after January 1, 2022, you may qualify for the newly 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 year it was installed. Reaching out to the company that installed your system, or any local Pico Rivera solar installer, can help you understand what incentives you can apply for.
How long until the federal solar tax credit ends?
The federal solar tax credit, formerly known as the ITC and now titled the Clean Energy Credit, is scheduled to end on January 1, 2035. The current 30% credit will end in 2032, replaced by a 26% credit in 2033 and a 22% credit in 2034.
Can I get any financial incentives when I add solar panels to a rental property, vacation home or commercial property?
Many solar incentives apply to a property located within the United States that you own; most secondary residences fall under this distinction. There may be other solar incentives available for commercial properties, depending on the details. We recommend reaching out to your local solar installer and/or tax professional to better understand what incentives may apply to your specific situation.
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.