2023 Solar Incentives Guide for Vista, CA - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Vista.
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.
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Updated October 25, 2023
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Vista?
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 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
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 might include things like discounts, cash back or monthly utility bill credits. Some incentives are handled federally, while others are handled by the state of California or your utility company, county or municipality. Types of solar incentives might include:
- Rebates: A solar rebate is a partial refund after the purchase of your solar system. These may be offered by your local utility company, your county or your state. The discount that rebates offer is normally applied to the price of solar panels before tax credits are calculated.
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): In general, solar systems that produce more than a specified (normally small) amount of electricity will qualify for SRECs or similar performance-based incentives. SRECs and performance-based incentives in general are typically offered by your state government. SRECs can be sold to your utility company or another buyer, and this is usually considered part of your taxable income.
- Net Metering: Be sure to speak to your Vista utility company about signing a net metering agreement. This will allow you to receive credit towards your monthly utility bill for the value of excess energy your solar panels generate. You might receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions (not deductions) in the amount of tax that you owe the federal government.
- Tax Exemptions: These might come in the form of property tax exemptions, which let you ignore the value of your solar system when paying property tax on your house. You could also look for exemptions on sales tax at the time of purchase.
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Federal Solar Incentives
Federal incentives are the type of incentives that you are most likely to have some familiarity with. The solar incentive that you may be most familiar with is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which provides a credit on your taxes equal to a percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC applies to the total cost of installing a solar system, including the panels themselves as well as labor, equipment and accessories. You can claim this credit for panels installed after January 1, 2006 on a primary or secondary residence that you own, as long as it is located in the United States. From its original value of 30% of the total cost, the credit has fluctuated slightly between 26-30%, and you may qualify for varying percentages depending on when your project was completed. There is no maximum amount you can claim.
To find out exactly how much the ITC could save you, talk to your local Vista solar panel installation expert.
In August 2022, the ITC (now titled the Clean Energy Credit) was bolstered by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Homeowners can now qualify for a credit of 30% of the total costs of solar system installation for projects that began after January 1, 2022 and will be finished by the end of 2032. This percentage will then begin to decrease yearly until the Clean Energy Credit ends in 2035. The expansion also makes it easier to get credit for energy storage systems, starting in 2023.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Vista solar panel installation experts can answer any questions you have and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit may apply to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Not all solar incentives are federal; tax credits, rebates and more may be offered at the state and local level. Certain incentives are offered for only a limited time, while others are ongoing. Local solar incentives might come from the California government, or from your specific county or municipality.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Vista
Solar incentives can come from the federal government, the California government or your local utility company. The large number of incentives available has facilitated the nationwide growth of solar energy use in the last 15 years. Contact your local solar panel installation company today to discover more about the various programs and to save the most money possible on solar panels for your Vista home.
EcoWatch's Vista, CA Solar Incentives FAQs
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 into this category. There may be other solar incentives available for commercial properties, depending on the specifics. We recommend talking to your local solar installer and/or tax professional to better understand what incentives may apply to your specific situation.
How much will a solar system save me annually on my electric bill in Vista?
Once you add solar panels to your house in Vista, you can expect to save approximately $1,637.07 per year, or approximately $31,104.39 over 20 years.
What are the environmental benefits of switching to solar energy?
You can lower your carbon footprint by 250 pounds of CO2 a year when you switch to solar panels. This adds up to around 5,000 pounds in 20 years. Solar is also a renewable energy source, meaning that switching your home over lessens the drain on our planet's resources.
Can I receive incentives both towards the initial cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order that incentives will be applied in could vary depending on which incentives you receive but typically yes, you can receive multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Check with your solar installer or a local tax professional to be sure you are claiming all possible incentives and applying them in the correct order.
Can I use a combination of solar and another type of renewable energy to power my home?
You can use multiple types of renewable energy, or a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy, to power your home. Make sure you discuss your ideas with your local Vista solar installation expert. They can help you with the plan for your project and also help you understand 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.