California Center for Sustainable Energy

The creation of a statewide incentive program for residential and commercial solar water heating ( SWH) systems took a big step forward when the Energy Division of the California Public Utilities Commission released its positive recommendation on July 15, 2009. The program is being formed as part of the California Solar Initiative and will be called the CSI-Thermal Program because it will provide financial incentives for both SHW and other types of Solar Thermal systems. The Energy Division plan would set aside $300.8 million for direct financial incentives for consumers and another $37.5 million for market facilitation.

The CCSE-administered SWH Pilot Program in the SDG&E service territory, began in July 2007, is proud to have served as a model that demonstrated the cost-benefits that are a basis for the staff proposal to proceed with a statewide SWH program.

Energy Division staff members and Administrative Law Judge Dorothy Duda will hold a workshop on August 3, 2009, to discuss the staff proposal with interested members of the public. Parties may file comments on the proposal no later than August 12, 2009. If approved, the CSI-Thermal Program will start accepting applications on January 1, 2010.