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The State of California will help you build an alternative energy system for your home or business. Through their Renewable Energy Rebate Program they will pay up to one half of the total cost or $2.60 per rated watt, whichever is less. This great system allows qualified California residents, whose proposed site must be interconnected with one of the following utility companies: Pacific Gas and Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, or Southern California Edison, to dramatically reduce their electricity costs. When combined with energy conservation, time-of-use metering, state and federal tax breaks, electric bills can be reduced to zero.
The philosophy behind the program is sound. The rebates are for homes that are connected to the grid already. The solar or wind systems produce power during the day (solar) and serve the needs of the homeowner with any extra power going back out into the grid, helping reduce overall power needs during peak daytime periods. At night, the electricity comes from the grid.
If the system produces more power than needed during the day, the electric "credit" is used at night. A properly designed system will produce enough power for one day with credits rolling to the next day and beyond. The good news is that if the sky is cloudy, the homeowner won't be without power; they will just pay for the extra power taken from the grid. And some power companies have "time of use" metering. That means that the power that a homeowner may receive "credits" at the more expensive daytime rates and can "buy back" at night when rates are typically lower. Power "credits" that come from over-production in summer can be used the next winter too!
This is not a "back-up" system. Because it is tied closely to the grid, if the grid goes down so do most of the systems unless they are designed with extra, more expensive, battery components. So if you live where the power is stable, just expensive, the battery less system is for you. If you are in the country where power is less reliable think about the systems with battery back-up.
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| Here are the steps to apply for an Energy Rebate.
1. Decide if you are eligible for state rebates. Your proposed site must be interconnected to one of the following utilities: Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric or San Diego Gas & Electric. Do you have room to put a solar or wind system on your home or in your yard? Do you have good sunshine and a clear view of the Southern sky? Will other homeowners complain about your proposed installation? Will your local building department allow your installation? Can you afford the cost of one of these system? They can cost between $15,000 and $30,000 even after rebates and income tax credits. Financing info is available from the CEC.
2. Call us at 800 / 472-1142 and discuss the program. We have sold many of these systems and can help you decide which equipment you need and how large a system you will need or can afford. Look at our sample grid-intertied systems to familiarize yourself with what is and what is not included and installation options.
3. Click here to go to the California GO SOLAR website and read how the incentive process works. It includes lots of information and contacts for further information and all the forms that you need to apply for a rebate.
4. To apply you need to have a purchase agreement with Wholesale Solar and an installation agreement with an installer of your choice or you can choose to self install. Both need to be signed and sent in along with your R1 rebate application. We can help you fill out the required forms and figure the amount of rebate you will be requesting. You then mail in the request forms and attached agreements to the CEC.
5. The CEC will review your application and send you an R2 Rebate Payment Claim Form. This says that if your system is installed and meets all the required building and electrical inspections in 6 months from the date of issue of the Claim form you will qualify for the rebate amount that is on the R2 Claim Form
6. Purchase the equipment, apply for required building permits and electrical inspections from your energy company and install the system. When it is fully installed and working with proper permits, you submit the Claim Form and get paid by the CEC.
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