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PUC to pilot $3 million solar incentive program; Earth Hour outreach planned March 29
Summary
SFPUC staff said it will run a $3 million pilot solar energy incentive program offering $3,000–$5,000 residential payments and up to $10,000 commercial payments using funds allocated in the operating budget; staff also outlined Earth Hour outreach and compact-fluorescent giveaways timed for March 29.
San Francisco's Public Utilities Commission on March 11 approved moving forward on a pilot solar energy incentive payment program using $3 million allocated in the mayor's energy-conservation funding, and described citywide Earth Hour outreach planned for March 29.
Barbara Hale, Assistant General Manager for Power, said the pilot will piggyback on the California Solar Initiative: customers with reservation dates after the mayor's program announcement who complete state and PG&E steps and sign required city agreements would be eligible for PUC incentive payments once their systems are installed and performing. Hale described residential incentive ranges of roughly $3,000 to $5,000 and up to $10,000 for commercial systems. Applications were targeted to be available March 24 with completed applications accepted beginning March 31.
Commissioners asked whether the Board of Supervisors could block use of the funds or require changes. Staff said the Transbay/solar revenues and the pilot allocation were available and that the city attorney had advised the pilot could proceed using allocated funds; however, the broader loan program component of the solar plan would require voter approval to reallocate bond proceeds for seismic retrofit.
Separately, Hale outlined the PUC's plans for Earth Hour on March 29, 8—9 p.m. PT. The PUC will lead Pacific time-zone outreach, send a newsletter to about 160,000 water customers, coordinate municipal facility participation (excluding public-safety lighting), and distribute 2,000 compact fluorescent bulbs in partnership with PG&E.
What happens next: staff will begin accepting pilot applications at the end of March and continue outreach; commissioners asked staff to return with outreach plans and to coordinate with other city offices on budget presentation and accounting of related revenues.
