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Questions and Answers
The NSHP/CSI CEC PV Calculator is the tool used to estimate the incentive you would receive in the New Solar Homes partnership rebate program or the California Solar Initiative program.
The calculator can be downloaded here:
http://gosolarcalifornia.com/nshpcalculator/download_calculator.html
On the same page, you must also download the "Updated Modules/Inverters List" after you download the calculator.
There is also a tutorial found at the page-link above.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Helpful hints for a good contract
One of the reasons ERP, NSHP and CSI applications are often put on hold is because inexperienced contractors have trouble writing a sound labor contract with protections for the purchaser. Below are 8 details which, if included on a contract will help keep your incentive process from being stalled.
8 details:
1. Contractor's name, address and license number.
2. Description of the work which specifically menions the panels or turbines involved and their application.
3. Statement about how and where to file complaints.
4. Notice about how and when a customer can cancell.
5. The terms of payment broken down into dollars and cents.
6. Total price (price after incentive and before if contractor plans on collecting the incentive).
7. Approximate start and finish of the project.
8. Other legal notices.
More information about writing a good labor contract can be found here: www.cslb.ca.gov
8 details:
1. Contractor's name, address and license number.
2. Description of the work which specifically menions the panels or turbines involved and their application.
3. Statement about how and where to file complaints.
4. Notice about how and when a customer can cancell.
5. The terms of payment broken down into dollars and cents.
6. Total price (price after incentive and before if contractor plans on collecting the incentive).
7. Approximate start and finish of the project.
8. Other legal notices.
More information about writing a good labor contract can be found here: www.cslb.ca.gov
NSHP-4 Cheat Sheet
Through working with the CEC in the past, we've discovered a lot of tips with the NSHP-4 form. Below is a cheat sheet to help you understand the registration process.
Remember you must use this form for both the NSHP, CSI and ERP programs.
Any questions please post a comment.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Registered Retailers and Installers
Becoming a registered retailer is a lengthy process but for good reason. In the end, the game is about protecting the consumer.
The California Solar Initiative, New Solar Homes Partnership and Emerging Renewable Program all require companies who sell or install the PV panels to register with the California Energy Commission.
This is the process:
1. Download NSHP-4 Retailer Registration form found here.
2. Fax or mail it to the contacts at the bottom of the form.
3. Wait for the 2nd or 16th of the month (when the CEC updates their online directory) to see your listing appear at GoSolarCalifornia.com's retailer search.
From experience, the California Energy Commission will call, email or fax your business if there is any problem with the way you filled out the form. If you don't hear anything it's probably good but be sure and check their retailer search directory before you call.
If you turn in your form and don't see your listing in their directory after the closest update date, your form may not have reached them and you should definitely call.
Their energy hotline is: 1-800-654-4405
As of now, there are 3 types of listings on the GoSolarCalifornia.com website:
"Retail Yes/Install No"
This means you have a Board of Equalization Sales/Use tax permit number and you are eligible to buy PV equipment at wholesale and retail that equipment. It also means you don't have a contractor's license and are not installing PV equipment.
NOTE: If you are a contractor working in fixed-price contracts who buys PV equipment from a distributor and pays the distributor sales-tax then you are NOT considered a retailer for the purposes of the Retailer Registration. In this situation you are considered by the State of California to be the consumer of those products. As long as you don't mark up the equipment in your contract you do not need a Sales/Use tax permit and you are not a retailer.
The retailer would be the distributor you purchased the panels from and on any incentive forms, this business should be listed as the retailer.
"Install Yes/Retail No"
This type of entry means you are strictly a contractor. You must have a contractor's license that is type A, B, C-10 or C-46 to qualify to be included as "Install Yes" on the GoSolarCalifornia.com database.
More information about getting a contractor's license can be found here: www.cslb.ca.gov
"Retail Yes/Install Yes"
This means you have both a Contractor's license of the appropriate type and a Sales/Use tax permit and you can both install PV systems and buy PV equipment at wholesale.
The California Solar Initiative, New Solar Homes Partnership and Emerging Renewable Program all require companies who sell or install the PV panels to register with the California Energy Commission.
This is the process:
1. Download NSHP-4 Retailer Registration form found here.
2. Fax or mail it to the contacts at the bottom of the form.
3. Wait for the 2nd or 16th of the month (when the CEC updates their online directory) to see your listing appear at GoSolarCalifornia.com's retailer search.
From experience, the California Energy Commission will call, email or fax your business if there is any problem with the way you filled out the form. If you don't hear anything it's probably good but be sure and check their retailer search directory before you call.
If you turn in your form and don't see your listing in their directory after the closest update date, your form may not have reached them and you should definitely call.
Their energy hotline is: 1-800-654-4405
As of now, there are 3 types of listings on the GoSolarCalifornia.com website:
"Retail Yes/Install No"
This means you have a Board of Equalization Sales/Use tax permit number and you are eligible to buy PV equipment at wholesale and retail that equipment. It also means you don't have a contractor's license and are not installing PV equipment.
NOTE: If you are a contractor working in fixed-price contracts who buys PV equipment from a distributor and pays the distributor sales-tax then you are NOT considered a retailer for the purposes of the Retailer Registration. In this situation you are considered by the State of California to be the consumer of those products. As long as you don't mark up the equipment in your contract you do not need a Sales/Use tax permit and you are not a retailer.
The retailer would be the distributor you purchased the panels from and on any incentive forms, this business should be listed as the retailer.
"Install Yes/Retail No"
This type of entry means you are strictly a contractor. You must have a contractor's license that is type A, B, C-10 or C-46 to qualify to be included as "Install Yes" on the GoSolarCalifornia.com database.
More information about getting a contractor's license can be found here: www.cslb.ca.gov
"Retail Yes/Install Yes"
This means you have both a Contractor's license of the appropriate type and a Sales/Use tax permit and you can both install PV systems and buy PV equipment at wholesale.
Renewable Incentives In California
There are three main state-wide incentive programs. To be eligible for any of these you must be a customer of either PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, or BVE. This is because the customers of these invester owned utility companies are the ones providing funding for the programs.
In addition, all systems approved for incentives through these programs must be tied to the energy grid.
CSI- (California Solar Initiative) here.
This program from the California Public Utilities Commission and deals with retrofitting Solar PV systems on homes government and businesses.
Two types of incentive structures:
EPBI- (Estimated performance based incentive) A one time payout after completion and grid interconnection. Rudimentarily, the payment comes to a dollar amount times the number of peak watts the system generates.
To estimate the CSI EPBI incentive amount in your area, go here: csi-trigger.com
PBI- Performance based incentives are based on what the system generates in operation.
NSHP- (New Solar Homes Partnership) here.
This program is specifically for residential homes in current construction. The home must meet energy efficiency standards 15% better than the current CA Title 24 requirements. The incentive is EPBI and calculated through the NSHP Calculator.
ERP- (Emerging Renewable Program) here.
This program is only for customers interested in wind or fuel cell renewable systems. The program is administered by the California Energy Commission. The incentive is an EPBI calculated on initial system peak watt rating and adjusted by the inverter specifications.
For more detailed information on these programs. See my other entries.
In addition, all systems approved for incentives through these programs must be tied to the energy grid.
CSI- (California Solar Initiative) here.
This program from the California Public Utilities Commission and deals with retrofitting Solar PV systems on homes government and businesses.
Two types of incentive structures:
EPBI- (Estimated performance based incentive) A one time payout after completion and grid interconnection. Rudimentarily, the payment comes to a dollar amount times the number of peak watts the system generates.
To estimate the CSI EPBI incentive amount in your area, go here: csi-trigger.com
PBI- Performance based incentives are based on what the system generates in operation.
NSHP- (New Solar Homes Partnership) here.
This program is specifically for residential homes in current construction. The home must meet energy efficiency standards 15% better than the current CA Title 24 requirements. The incentive is EPBI and calculated through the NSHP Calculator.
ERP- (Emerging Renewable Program) here.
This program is only for customers interested in wind or fuel cell renewable systems. The program is administered by the California Energy Commission. The incentive is an EPBI calculated on initial system peak watt rating and adjusted by the inverter specifications.
For more detailed information on these programs. See my other entries.
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