Rebates!
The federal tax credit is gone, but two new rebates can save you money!
The federal tax credit — 30% of the total cost of a solar/storage system — foolishly was allowed to expire at the end of last year. However, customers in Pasadena Water & Power (PWP) territory have a new residential solar rebate available to them, and some SCE customers can take advantage of a rebate for adding storage batteries to their systems. Here’s the scoop on both.
Pasadena Residential Solar Rebate
For systems that receive Permission to Operate (PTO) after January 1, 2026, PWP is paying $0.60/Watt based on the DC nameplate rating of the system. To qualify, the system must be customer owned; leased systems or systems operating under a Power Purchase Agreement do not qualify.
Solar installation in PWP territory
Once the system is installed and you have received PTO, you can fill out a rebate request application on PWP’s portal. You will need the following information:
Name, phone number, email & home address of the account holder
PWP account number
System size (DC nameplate Watts)
Number of panels
Inverter manufacturer and model
Contractor name and license number
Building permit number and fees paid
PTO date
Purchase price
Whether solar only, or solar and storage
Whether the account participates in an income-qualified program (which increases the rebate to $1.00/Watt)
Upload the following documents:
Final paid-in-full invoice
Signed installation contract
Signed interconnection agreement
PTO letter
Pasadena says that the rebate will be paid by check in six to eight weeks. You can access PWP’s website describing the program by going here:
SCE Territory — Clean Power Alliance “Sun Storage Rebate”
For some customers in SCE territory, the generation side of their electric bill is provided by an organization known as Clean Power Alliance (CPA). In the Run on Sun service area, the cities of Altadena, Alhambra, Arcadia, La Canada, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, and South Pasadena are all served by CPA. (To determine if CPA serves your address, you can check your bill under the “generation” portion which will either say SCE or CPA.)
Battery storage system installation in CPA territory
All CPA customers who install a battery storage system — such as an Enphase Energy 5P or 10C — qualify for a baseline incentive of $750, regardless of system size. However, homes that are located “inside areas that are often affected by Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events” can earn an extra $1,250 for a total rebate of $2,000! You can determine whether you qualify for the additional rebate by entering your address on their mapping tool. Click here to access CPA’s Reliability+ map. Many addresses in the above listed cities qualify for the increased rebate including all of Altadena, La Canada, and Sierra Madre.
The program also offers increased incentives for customers receiving the Medical Baseline allowance, and those who participate in CARE or FERA bill assistance. Click here to see CPA rebate page.
The rebate application is more complicated than the PWP portal. After asking for account holder and contractor information, the customer is asked to “add equipment” which calls for details about the battery storage system that might be foreign to the average homeowner. Here’s a quick guide to what is asked for and what to enter:
Battery Type:
This is a drop down that has several choices:
Battery only if this is just a free-standing battery with no solar. Integrated means both the battery and related inverters are integrated into the system — if you have an Enphase battery, that is the correct choice.
Battery Make:
This should be straight-forward, but it is not. In particular, Enphase shows up twice, once as Enphase and the second time as Enphase Energy. If you have an older Enphase battery, choose Enphase. If you have a 5P battery, choose Enphase Energy. If you have a 10C, also choose Enphase Energy, but for model select “Battery model NOT on list”. (This is odd, since the 10C is on the CEC’s approved list, but CPA has not caught up with the addition.)
Battery Quantity:
This is straight-forward — enter the number of battery units installed.
Energy Capacity
This is the capacity of the battery unit times the number of those units installed. For example, if you have two Enphase 5P batteries installed, the energy capacity is 5 kWh (capacity of a 5P) x 2 = 10kWh.
Roundtrip Efficiency %
Not sure why they are asking for this, since battery make and model answers this question, but it is on the battery data sheet. If you don’t have the data sheet you can find it online or ask your installer.
Solar PV
Select either New or Pre-existing.
CEC-AC Rating (kW):
Again, not sure why they are asking for this, but if you have a copy of your net metering application, it appears there (on the current form it’s on page 2). Otherwise, your installer can provide you with this information.
That’s a lot for the average homeowner to figure out, but for anywhere from $750 to $2,000 back, it is time well spent.
Rebate funds are limited and distributed on a “first come, first served” basis. If allocated funds are fully reserved when you apply, you will be added to a wait list so applying as soon as possible it the right thing to do. Once your application is approved, you have up to 18 months to finish the installation. After the battery system is installed, you submit a claim form to collect your funds, in four to six weeks.
Questions?
Give us a call: 626-793-6025 or email us at info@runonsun.solar — we’re happy to help!