Customer Step-by-Step Process for Participating in BWP’s Solar Rebate Program
STEP 1 – COMPLETE AN ENERGY AUDIT FOR YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS
All solar PV installations are required by the State of California to first complete an energy efficiency audit of the home or business on which the solar system will be installed. Audits conducted over one year prior to rebate application must be redone. Energy efficiency audits are available for BWP customers from the following sources:
Residential Customers – Click here to link to BWP’s Home Energy Analyzer. Complete either the simple or detailed version of this online audit and print out the recommendation page(s). Your installer will need to provide a copy of the Home Energy Analyzer recommendations signed by you and submit that document with your rebate application. Residential Customers may also call for a complimentary in-house water, electric and natural gas audit by calling the Green Home House Call number at 1-866-365-7358.
Small Commercial Customers under 250,000 kWh use per year (about $3,000 per month). A facility audit may be obtained for free by calling BWP’s Business Bucks hotline at 1-877-290-2590. The operator can tell you if your business qualifies for this program. Your installer will need to provide a copy of the Business Bucks audit recommendations signed by you and submitted with your rebate application.
Large Commercial Customers - Must hire an independent energy auditor to survey the planned solar building site. Your installer will need to provide a copy of the audit recommendations signed by you and submitted with your rebate application.
STEP 2 – DETERMINE ENERGY NEEDS AND APPROPRIATE SIZE OF SOLAR SYSTEM
California law requires that solar systems be sized to meet only the load of the building. At least one year of electric billing history is necessary to properly size your solar system. If you haven’t saved your utility bills, this information is available from BWP customer service operators at 818-238-3700. Be sure to consider reductions in your usage that may result from future conservation efforts. To determine how long it will take for your system to pay for itself and compare financing options, please click here to visit the BWP Clean Power Estimator and follow the instructions found there.
STEP 3 – FIND A SOLAR INSTALLER
A qualified solar PV contractor is your key to getting the most productive solar energy system for your home or business. The installer can help you determine what type and size of solar power system is right for you and your building site. A qualified installer will help guide you through the solar rebate application process. Customers may opt to design and install their own PV system but should carefully read the BWP Solar Rebate Program Guidelines and Solar Power Installation and Rebate Instructions before making this important decision. Proper design and installation of solar PV systems requires many specialized skills.
The California State License Board lists the following information on their web site. Only contractors with the license classifications listed below are authorized to perform solar PV construction or installation. Those without any of these license classifications are NOT authorized to perform this type of work.
"A" – General Engineering contractors are authorized to install solar energy systems.
"B" – General Building contractors are authorized to install solar energy systems within the definition of B&P Code Section 7057, since a solar energy system constitutes the use of two unrelated building trades or crafts as required by Section 7057.*
Specialty Classifications
C-10 – Electrical contractors are authorized to perform any solar projects which generate, transmit, transform or utilize electrical energy in any form for any purpose.
C-46 – Solar contractors install, modify, maintain, and repair thermal and photovoltaic solar energy systems. A licensee in this classification shall not undertake or perform building or construction trades, crafts or skills, except when required to install a thermal or photovoltaic solar energy system.
* § 7057 General Building Contractor (a) Except as provided in this section, a general building contractor is a contractor whose principal contracting business is in connection with any structure built, being built, or to be built, for the support, shelter, and enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or movable property of any kind, requiring in its construction the use of at least two unrelated building trades or crafts, or to do or superintend the whole or any part thereof.
It is highly recommended that you get three bids and ask for local references. The California State License Board
has posted valuable information titled “Hot tips to protect consumers from solar energy scammers” on their
website:
http://www.cslb.ca.gov/GeneralInformation/Newsroom/PressReleases/PressReleases2010/News20100510.asp
BWP does not certify or recommend PV equipment manufacturers or installers; however, these clickable internet resources
can help you locate PV installers:
In addition, the independent League of California Homeowners operates a contractor approval system that is free to the public. Contractors apply and provide proof of licenses and insurance, which the League verifies monthly. They also investigate for previous complaints, etc. The League can be contacted at (800) 692-HOME or at their web site http://www.homeowners.org/ (click on "approved contractors"). There are listings under the categories of "electrical" and "solar."
STEP 4 – APPLY FOR A BWP SOLAR INCENTIVE
Qualified contractors will handle the rebate application process for you. But it’s important to ask them questions and read all paperwork carefully.
STEP 5 – APPLY FOR BWP SOLAR SUPPORT REBATE
Once you have received your reservation confirmation letter or email, you're ready to install your system. After it’s inspected and you have a new solar net meter, you’re ready to interconnect to the utility's power grid.
Step 6 – THIRD PARTY VERIFICATION AUDIT
After you are interconnected you will be contacted by an individual working for a company named EcoMotion. BWP hired this company to meet state standards designed to help protect consumers and utilities from unscrupulous contractors. This person will need to get on your roof to conduct the third party verification audit.
STEP 7 – CLAIM YOUR BWP SOLAR INCENTIVE
Once your project is installed and operational you and your contractor must submit the Incentive Claim Form. This form allows for any last minute changes to the system and determines who shall get the rebate, you, your contractor, or some other party you designate as the Payee. Note that rebate estimates on your original contract may change, likely downward, once details like tilt, direction, and shading of solar panels is taken into account. You may want to ask your contractor to absorb any decrease in rebate as a result of them not entering sufficient information into the rebate application in the beginning.