A solar installation in the Inner Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco. Photo courtesy of the SF Dept. of the Environment

GoSolarSF
Bringing Solar Power to San Francisco Residents & Businesses

To encourage more installations of solar power, the City and County of San Francisco is offering incentives to City residents and businesses to install solar power on their properties.  The incentive program, GoSolarSF, coupled with the California Solar Initiative, a rebate program sponsored by the State of California, and federal tax credits, could pay half the cost or more of a solar power system installed in San Francisco.

Who Is Eligible

Basically, anyone or any business that is on a meter and pays an electricity bill will be eligible for an incentive payment from the City.  If you qualify to receive a rebate through the California Solar Initiative and your “Confirmed Reservation Notice” is dated on or after December 11, 2007, you will qualify for San Francisco’s incentive payment.  For the first year, non-profit organizations can apply, and non-profit, multi-unit residences will be eligible for the program on a whole-building basis.  If you’re a renter, you will need to follow the State’s rules and work with your landlord to install solar power.  

How Much Can You Get

GoSolarSF offers incentives ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 for residents and up to $10,000 for businesses.  Low-income residents can qualify for an additional $5,000.  For the first year of the program, non-profit organizations and multi-unit, non-profit residential buildings can also qualify for substantial payments.  San Francisco incentive payments will not be more than the net cost of a solar installation after federal and state incentives. 

How Much You Save

In San Francisco, a typical 2.5 kilowatt (kW) residential solar installation would cost about $25,000.  Depending on the level of incentive, the cost of this system could be cut in half.  Low-income residents could save 60% - 70% and pay between $7,000 and $10,000 for solar power.  Businesses and non-profits could save well more than half the cost of their systems.  

Want to Find Out More?

For more information about GoSolarSF and how you can qualify for a San Francisco solar incentive, visit www.sfwater.org/gosolarsf or email gosolarsf@sfwater.org.  You can also call us at (415) 554-3289.  For more information on the California Solar Initiative, visit http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/.  For more information on solar activity in San Francisco, visit http://www.sfsolarmap.org/.  To learn about the solar potential at your address, visit the SFPUC Power Enterprise’s Solar Monitoring page.