Pasadena Clean Power Estimator

The Pasadena Clean Power Estimator is an online tool designed to help you determine the estimated AC capacity and energy output of your PV system (based on type and angle of PV panels, inverter type, and shading). Based on your input, it will also calculate your estimated energy cost savings and the estimated rebate amount you could receive from the Pasadena Solar Initiative. Calculate your savings now...

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PSI Incentive Details

Depending on the size of the solar power system you install, you could be eligible for one of two rebate incentive types: 

1. Incentive rates are based on CEC-AC Watts and are expected to remain at current levels for all solar applications received and approved by December 31, 2008, but may be reduced at any time prior to application approval.

2. The EPBB incentive amount is calculated using Pasadena's Clean Power Estimator using a Reference System South facing, 2:12 (10 degrees) roof pitch, and no shading.

3. Incentive rate for qualifying non-profit and government applicants (host customers).

Expected Performance Based Buydown (EPBB)

For PV systems up to 100 kW CEC-AC, customers will receive a one-time payment at the applicable EPBB rate once the installation is completed and approved as follows:

EPBB Payment = System AC Rating x Design Factor x PSI Payment Rate

The System AC Rating and Design Factors will be determined using  Pasadena's Clean Power Estimator,  which factors in system design (type and angle of panels, inverter type, and shading) to determine the estimated AC capacity and  energy output.

Example:   

Non-profit customer installing a 50 kW CEC-AC system:

EPBB Incentive Payment = 50,000 Watts x $4.00/Watt

EPBB Incentive Payment = $200,000

Performance Based Incentive (PBI)

Customers installing PV systems greater than 100 kW CEC-AC and up to 1,000 kW CEC-AC will receive with five annual PBI payments based on actual metered energy output of solar power produced during each of the first five years of operation. Once the reservation is confirmed, the incentive rate will remain fixed during the 5-year payment period.

PBI Incentive Payment = Annual measured output (kWh) x PSI Payment Rate

Example:   
Commercial customer installing a 200 kW AC system:  

Customers will be able to estimate their annual energy output and corresponding incentive payment amounts using Pasadena's Clean Power Estimator.

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Application Process for the PSI Rebate

 

STEP 1 – FIND AN INSTALLER

A qualified PV system installer will be able to assist you in determining if solar is right for you and guiding you through the PSI application process. However, customers may opt to design and install their PV system and/or submit a PSI Application on their own. Customers should check the PSI Program Requirements before deciding to install their own system.  

While PWP does not certify or recommend PV equipment manufacturers or installers, these internet resources may help you locate potential PV installers:

• California Energy Commission registered vendor database

• California Solar Energy Industries Association

• Electric & Gas Industries Association

• FindSolar.com

STEP 2 – DETERMINE ENERGY NEEDS AND APPROPRIATE SIZE OF SOLAR SYSTEM

Speak to a solar vendor or installer to determine what kind and size of solar power system is right for you. Be sure to consider any potential reductions in your energy usage that may result from the required energy audit.

STEP 3 – INSTALLER REGISTRATION

To participate in the Pasadena Solar Initiative (PSI) program, the installer (or customer if it is a self-installation) must first register with PWP and obtain access to the online Pasadena Solar Initiative Online Application system. Please ask your installer to call the AnswerLine at 626-744-6970 to request access to the program.

STEP 4 – SUBMIT PSI APPLICATION

The solar installer (or customer) must submit an application:

·  Click here for the PSI On-Line Application (Program registration required before access.)

STEP 5 – MAIL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO PWP

After completing the on-line application, print a copy of the application. The solar installer (or customer) mails the following documents for installation approval:

a)       Printed version of the Online PSI Application, signed by installer and customer

b)       Single Line Diagram. Please read carefully below: 

·         For systems equal to or lower than 10,000 Watts AC, print a copy of the Generic PV System Electric Diagram on a 11x17 sheet of paper and complete all the required information in the drawing. For a sample of a completed form, click here. If you have trouble printing this form, please call the Answerline at 626-744-6970 and we’ll mail you a copy.

·         If proposed solar installation is different than the Generic PV System Electric Diagram or it has additional equipment such as batteries, please provide your own single line diagram.

·         For systems greater than 10,000 Watts AC, please provide two complete sets of drawings. Include all solar related drawings (structural, electric, etc).

c)      Two (2) copies of the Site Drawing

d)       Shading Analysis Report (Solar Pathfinder or equivalent technology)

e)      Copy of a signed contract between Customer and Installer

Mail complete application package to:

Pasadena Water and Power

Attention: Pasadena Solar Initiative

150 S. Los Robles Ave. Suite 200

Pasadena, CA 91101

STEP 6 – PWP APPLICATION APPROVAL & RESERVATION

Pasadena Water and Power staff will review application package and verify required documents for completeness and accuracy. PWP will evaluate application package and approve or disapprove the installation.  Incomplete applications will be returned. It is important to make sure application package is complete to avoid delays in your application.

When the application package is complete, a PWP Approval and Reservation Letter will be issued by PWP and send to solar installer (or customer). Installer (or customer) must bring this letter when applying for a building permit to the City’s Department of Planning and Development.

Once PWP approves the application, a rebate amount will be reserved for you for a limited time. To claim your rebate, your solar installation must be completed within 9 months of the application approval for existing facilities, and within 18 months for new construction.

Before receiving your rebate, customers are required to provide two (2) signed original copies of the Interconnection Agreement and Net Metering Agreement and an Energy Efficiency Audit (see Step 10 below). Energy efficiency audits are available free of charge upon request for facilities that will host PV systems. Contact the AnswerLine at 626-744-6970 or your Account Manager to request an Energy efficiency audit.

STEP 7 – BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION

A building permit from the City’s Department of Planning and Development is required before installing a solar system on your home or facility.

Installer (or customer) must bring PWP’s Approval and Reservation Letter when applying for a building permit from the City’s Department of Planning and Development.

 Permit Center is located at 175 North Garfield Av. Pasadena, during our business hours, (Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.). For more information in how to obtain a building permit, visit the Permit Center website or call 626-744-6646

STEP 8 – SOLAR SYSTEM INSTALLATION

The installer will work with an electrical inspector from the City’s Department of Planning and Development to make sure the installation is in compliance with local codes.

STEP 9 – SOLAR SYSTEM INSPECTION

When the solar installation is complete, a building inspector from the City’s Department of Planning and Development will verify that the system conforms to building and safety codes. Building Inspector will lock the PV system in the off position.

STEP 10 – SUBMIT INCENTIVE CLAIM FORM

After solar system has been signed off by building inspector, installer (or customer) submits the Incentive Payment Claim Form (IC) to PWP with the following supporting documents to start the solar incentive rebate process:

•  Incentive Payment Claim Form

• Copy of the Building Permit

• Two signed original copies of the Interconnection Agreement and Net Metering Agreement

• Copy of Energy Efficiency Audit Report

• Copy of the itemized final sales invoice.

STEP 11 – SOLAR INTERCONNECTION CLEARANCE

After all the required documents are submitted, PWP will replace old meter with a new Net-Meter and the system can be turned on. PWP requires a performance meter for solar systems larger than 10 kW-AC. Please refer to the PSI Program requirements for more information.

 Random inspection and testing of the system will be performed by PWP personnel to verify that the system was installed as designed and specified in the original application and the equipment functions properly.

STEP 12 – RECEIVE REBATE CHECK

Customer will receive a rebate check within 4 weeks of submitting all the required PSI program documents.

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PSI PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

All PV systems must meet requirements listed herein and Public Resource Code Section 25782 to qualify for the PSI.

Eligible Customers and Solar Energy Systems

• Any consumer taking electrical energy service from PWP under Pasadena Municipal Code Section 13.04 (“Customer”) is eligible for PSI incentives.
• Currently, only solar photovoltaic systems are eligible for financial incentives under the PSI.

Solar System Size, Location, and Ownership Requirements

·         Size: The solar energy system must be between 1kW and 1,000 kW CEC-AC and intended primarily to offset part or all of the Customer’s own electricity demand. Systems should be sized to produce no more than 100% of the Customer’s average annual energy consumption as shown on the PWP billing record for the two years previous to the issuance of the Reservation. If the customer’s account has less than two year history, the average will be calculated with available data.

      Solar systems installed under previous Solar Program qualify for additional solar capacity under PSI. New application is required and PSI requirements might apply.

·         Location: The PV system must be permanently installed on the same premises where the Customer’s electricity demand is located

·         Interconnection: The PV system must be connected to PWP’s electrical distribution grid.

·         Ownership: The customer may lease the PV system or purchase its output from a third-party PV system owner/operator/installer. Please see “Additional Requirements for Third Party Ownership”

Additional Requirements for Third Party Ownership

1. The PV system is intended to be operational and operated at the expected generation capacity for a minimum of 20 years.
2. The lease or power purchase agreement (“PPA”) has a minimum initial term of 10 years
3. The lease or PPA provides the Customer an option to either (i) renew the lease or PPA for a minimum 20 year cumulative term; and/or (ii) purchase the system at the end of the lease or PPA term.
4. The lease or PPA provides Customer with reasonable assignment, transfer of ownership, or buyout option in the event the Customer property is sold before the end of the term.

PSI Application, Interconnection and Net-Metering Agreement

Beginning July 1, 2008, customers are required to obtain approval from the utility first before applying for a building permit for a solar installation. When application is approved by PWP, funds will be automatically reserved for the solar installation for a specified period.

All solar PV installations must submit two signed copies of the PWP Interconnection and Net Metering Agreement before they may be connected to the electric grid.

Solar Energy System Components and Warranty

All components in the solar energy system must be new and unused and must not have been previously been placed in service in any other location or for any other application.

All major solar energy system components, including PV modules, inverters, and meters must be included on the CEC’s Eligible Equipment Lists, which may be found on the CEC website.

All solar energy systems must have a minimum ten-year warranty to protect against defects and undue degradation of electrical generation output.

Installation

The solar energy system must be installed in conformance with the manufacturer’s specifications and in compliance with all applicable electrical and building code standards.

For information about PWP’s rules and regulations for electrical design and installation, please read about Regulation 21. For installations larger than 10 kW AC, rules and regulations governing Regulation 23 (Distributed Generation Interconnection Requirements) might apply.

All installations require submittal of electrical drawings such as single line diagram and site plan. Refer to Step 5 of the PSI Application Process for more specific requirements.

All installations are required to obtain the appropriate building permits from Department of Planning and Development located at 175 N. Garfield Ave, Pasadena CA 91101. For more information, please call at 626-744-6646 or visit the Permit Center.

PSI will reimburse permit fees paid to the Department of Planning and Development for the installation of solar systems. Reimbursement of the permit fees will be processed when installation of the system is completed as part of the rebate process. Permit fees are normally under $200.00 for residential installations.

AC Manual Disconnect

All installations are required to install a manual disconnect device that has a Visible Disconnect on the AC side of the PV system.

AC disconnect must be capable of being locked in the open position and directly accessible to PWP employees at all times.

Disconnect must be installed in close proximity to, or no more than eight (8’) feet from the utility’s electric meter, or at the discretion of the utility. If you have questions regarding the location of the AC disconnect, call PWP’s Utility Planning at 626-744-4495.

Meter Requirements

Systems larger than 10 kW AC are required to install a performance or generation meter with ± 2 percent accuracy tested according to all applicable ANSI C-12 testing protocols, and purchased from Pasadena Water and Power meter shop.  A meter socket for PV performance meter is required in all installations larger than 10 kW AC.

Systems equal or smaller than 10 kW AC can use the inverter’s built-in performance meter in lieu of a performance meter or install a performance meter at the customer’s option and expense. Eligible meters are listed at the California Energy Commission website listed above.

For all systems receiving PBI payments, the installed meter(s) must be a separate Interval Data Recording (IDR) meter(s) or a complete system that is functionally equivalent to and IDR meter recording data no less frequently than a 15 minutes. PWP may require additional meter functionality requirements to monitor large solar systems.

Meters and service panels must meet all local building and utility codes.

PWP will install a bidirectional net meter before the system is connected to the grid at no cost to the customer.

Maximizing Solar Generation

PSI provides financial incentives for high quality solar installations with maximum system performance during periods of peak electric demand.

All solar installations are required to submit a shading analysis through the use of a solar Pathfinder (a device that calculates the sun’s path throughout the year) or any equivalent technology. A shading analysis must be done for each separate solar array by placing the instrument at the center of where the array will be located and taking a reading.

Energy Efficiency Audits

All solar PV installations are required to complete an energy efficiency audit of the facility where the solar system is installed and submit the results to PWP before solar incentives are paid. Energy efficiency audits are available from PWP at no cost to its customers. Please call the AnswerLine at 626-744-6970. Large Commercial customers must contact their PWP Account Manager to schedule an energy audit.

Payment Assignment

Customer may agree to assign the PSI incentive payment a third party by completing the PSI Payment Assignment Form.

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