2024 Solar Incentives Guide for Placentia, CA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Placentia.
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 Placentia?
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 meant to help mitigate the cost of installing solar panels on your home. Financial incentives like these are designed to encourage more Americans to make the switch to renewable energy. Incentives might include things like discounts, cash back or monthly utility bill credits. Some incentives are offered federally, while others are offered by the state of California or your utility company, county or municipality. Categories of solar incentives include:
- Rebates: A solar rebate is a partial refund after the purchase of your solar panels. These could 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 calculating tax credits.
- Tax Exemptions: These might come in the form of property tax exemptions, which allow you to ignore the value added by your solar panels when calculating the taxes you pay on your home. They may also include exemptions on sales tax at the time of purchase.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits reduce, dollar-for-dollar, the total amount of tax you owe the federal government. Tax credits are different from tax deductions.
- Net Metering: Be sure to speak with your Placentia utility company about signing a net metering agreement. This allows you to get a credit towards your utility bill every month for the value of excess energy your solar panels generate. You may receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and similar other performance-based incentives might be available to you if the solar system on your home produces more than a specified (usually small) amount of electricity. Performance-based incentives are normally handled at the state level. You can sell your SRECs to your utility company or other buyers, and the money you receive in return is normally considered part of your taxable income.
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 someone says "solar incentives," you probably think of federal incentives first. A federal incentive that most people are probably familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This incentive is a tax credit for a certain percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC originally covered 30% of the total cost of solar panel installation, and has fluctuated slightly over time between 26-30%. The installation date of your solar system will determine what percentage you qualify for. The total installation cost includes the panels themselves as well as the cost of equipment, accessories and labor. There is no maximum claim amount. The ITC can be applied to solar panels installed after January 1, 2006, on your primary or secondary residence. The residence must be owned by you and in the United States.
To more fully understand how the ITC will apply to your situation, get in touch with your local Placentia solar panel installation expert and request more information.
In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act laid out new provisions for the ITC, now dubbed the Clean Energy Credit. The Clean Energy Credit is valid until 2035. Solar installation projects started after January 1, 2022, and completed by the end of 2032 may qualify for a 30% tax credit; the amount will then decrease slightly on a yearly basis until the end of the current program. Starting in 2023, the expansion will also make credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Placentia solar panel installer can answer any questions you have and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Some solar incentives are often also provided by state and local governments. As with federal incentives, these could include rebates, tax credits and more. These incentives — which may be handled by your county or municipality, or by the state of California — could be offered on an ongoing basis, or for only a limited time.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Placentia
The nationwide use of solar energy has gone up tremendously in the past 15 years, in part thanks to the increase in availability of solar incentives. You might receive these incentives from your local utility company, the California government or the federal government. Your local Placentia solar panel installer can help you learn more about which incentives you can apply for, and get you on track to switch to renewable energy today.
EcoWatch's Placentia, CA Solar Incentives FAQs
My home already has solar panels. Do I qualify for any incentives?
You should plan to talk to someone from the company that installed your solar panels – or speak to a local Placentia solar installer — to better understand which incentives you may qualify for. If your system was 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%.
What are the highest-rated solar panel installation companies near me?
To learn about the best solar panel installation companies near you, take a look at our article on the best solar companies in Placentia.
If I change out my appliances for ones that can use solar energy, are there any benefits that I can claim?
The new Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions for several incentives meant to reward homeowners who make eco-friendly upgrades. Some of these incentives include tax credits and rebates for installing new electric appliances. You can find more details about these incentives here.
What if I want to add a solar system to a vacation home, rental property or commercial property? Do I still qualify for incentives?
While we recommend talking to your local solar installer and/or tax professional to fully understand what solar incentives apply to you, many incentives can be claimed on a second home, so long as that home is in the United States and owned by you. There may be additional incentives available for commercial properties specifically, depending on the details.
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.