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CPS Energy - Solar PV Rebate Program

Incentive Type
 Utility Rebate Program
State
 Texas
Eligible Tech.
 Photovoltaics 
Applicable Sectors
Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Institutional, Must be CPS Energy Customer 
Incentive Amount
 $3.00/W AC watt standard, may be altered based on inspection results 
Max. Incentive

 Residential: $30,000 or 50% of cost; 
Non-residential: $100,000 or 50% of cost 
Eligible System Size
Not specified, special considerations apply to systems larger than 100 kW 
Equip Requirements


 PV modules and inverters must be listed on the California Energy Commission (CEC) website; 
Warranties: Installer 1 year, PV Module 20 years, Inverter 5 years 
Installation Requirements


 Systems must be grid connected and installed by a CPS Energy registered installer (must have NABCEP certification within 2 years); Systems should be South oriented with at least 260 square feet of unobstructed space. 
Program Budget
 Expected to be ~$2.5 M per year (PV and SWH); may be adjusted according to demand 
Ownership of
Renewable Energy Credits
CPS Energy, unless RECs required for LEED certification 

Funding Source
 Save for Tomorrow Energy Plan (STEP) 
Expiration Date
STEP extends through 2020, annual program year expiration dates may apply 
Website
 http://www.cpsenergy.com/ 



Summary: 
CPS Energy, San Antonio's municipal utility, offers rebates to customers who install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on their homes or property. The standard rebate is $3.00 per watt AC, but final rebate levels will be determined upon a final inspection from the utility. Unfavorable shading, angles or direction may influence the final rebate amount. The rebate is available to all CPS Energy customers and there are no explicit size limitations. CPS Energy will offer special considerations for systems larger than 100 kilowatts (kW), but such systems remain eligible for rebates. The maximum rebate for residential systems is $30,000 or 50% of the invoice cost, whichever is less. For non-residential systems the maximum rebate is $100,000 or 50% of the invoice cost.  
 
On an individual basis, rebate eligibility will be determined by a pre-inspection of the site. In order to ensure that rebated systems are efficient, safe, and productive, numerous equipment and installation requirements will apply. System owners are responsible for obtaining all applicable permits and permissions required to install and operate the system and all work must be performed in accordance with all applicable federal, state, local, and manufacturer's codes and standards. For condominium developments wishing to work under the commercial rebate limitations, the electrical connection must occur through a commercial meter. CPS publishes interconnection guidelines for systems smaller than 25 kW. Rules for larger systems will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Rebate recipients will be required to sign an agreement handing over all of the renewable energy credits (RECs) produced by the system to CPS Energy unless the RECs are required for LEED* certification.  
 
The CPS Energy PV rebate program is funded out of the larger Save for Tomorrow Energy Plan (STEP) which also offered assistance for solar thermal systems and residential and commercial energy efficiency improvements. The solar rebate portion (PV and SWH) is expected to have a budget of roughly $2.5 million per year through 2020, although this could vary from year to year. Click here for additional information on the STEP program as a whole. For further information on the solar rebate program please consult the website listed at the top of this page.  
 
 
*Click here for more information on the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.


Contact: 
Public Information - CPS Energy Efficiency Rebates
CPS Energy
Mail Drop 340117, PO Box 1771
San Antonio, TX 78296-1771
Phone: (210) 353-2728 
Fax: (210) 353-5707
Web Site: http://www.cpsenergy.com

For more questions, please visit our website at: www.NovastarEnergy.com
Or call us, at: 210-853-5330