In January 2007, California began an unprecedented $3.3 billion effort to install 3,000 MW of new solar over the next decade, and transform the market for solar energy by reducing the cost of solar generating equipment. Part of this effort is the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) California Solar Initiative. It is the largest customer-side solar rebate program in the country, with a $2.2 billion budget and a goal of 1,940 MW of solar capacity by the end of 2016 for the general market and low income solar programs. The assistance of CSI has helped customers install 620 MW of power in 2013 — up 73 percent from 2012, according to the CPUC’s 2014 Annual Program Assessment.
An estimated 2,139 MW of solar capacity was installed on the customer side of the meter at 227,141 customer sites in the large investor-owned utility service territories through the end of the first quarter of 2014. Of that, the California Solar Initiative General Market Program has installed 1,455 MW, or 83 percent of its 1,750 MW program goal, with another 225 MW, or 13 percent of the goal, reserved in pending projects.
Solar adoption on the customer side continues to grow and demonstrates the program’s success. In fact, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) have reserved and installed enough solar capacity to reach their residential sector goals.
PG&E and SDG&E territories have achieved the most installations in the non-residential sector (commercial, industrial, government, non-profit, and agricultural properties), having met or nearly met 100 percent of their non-residential installation goals.
Source:Fierceenergy.com
