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California Solar Initiative

Latest Handbook Changes

The slides for today’s presentation can be

downloaded/printed at www.pge.com/solareducation

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Objective

The purpose of this webinar is to discuss the recent changes made to the CSI program, as a result of two separate advice filings.

• California Energy Commission (CEC) guidelines July 1st, 2009 (recap)

• Process Improvement measures July 13th, 2009

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Recap: First Advice Filing

• What is it?– California Energy Commissions (CEC) guidelines for solar

incentive programs in California– Known as Senate Bill 1 (SB1)

• Goals– High quality solar systems that promote highest energy

production per ratepayer dollar– Optimal system performance during peak demand periods– Appropriate energy efficiency (EE) improvements where

solar systems are installed

• Implemented on July 1st, 2009

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Energy Efficiency Requirements: Retrofit

• Signed Energy Efficiency Disclosure Agreement– Owner acknowledgement of EE measures/tools/actions– Required for all retrofit projects– Submitted with Reservation Request documentation

• Benchmarking (Non-Residential)– Required for EPBB Existing Commercial buildings ≥ 100,000 ft2– Compares energy consumption of building to an average– Rating given. If less than 75, retro-commissioning is required before

completion

• Signed Commitment Agreement (Non-Residential)– Required if Benchmarking rating is less than 75– Commits customer to complete improvements identified in retro-

commissioning assessment– Improvements must be completed before a project is paid

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Energy Efficiency Requirements: Non-Residential New Construction

• Proof of 15% above current Title 24 Standards – PERF-1 Form Certificate signed by a Certified Energy Plans

Examiner (CEPE)– Submitted with Reservation Request

• Building Site Plan– Submitted with Reservation Request

• Copy of New Construction Building Permit– Submitted with Reservation Request

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Field Verification Certification

• Conducted by contractor as a way to ensure system is operating properly

• Contractor completes and signs Field Verification Certification Form and submits with Incentive Claim documents

• Required with the Incentive Claim Form if Reservation Request Form was received on or after July 1st, 2009

• Two methods of verification– Primary (recommended)– Secondary (for trained professionals only)

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Field Verification Certification Form

www.pge.com/csi Handbook and Forms Field Verification Certification Form

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Changes to CEC Approved Module List

• New testing method for PV Modules– Not all modules from old list on new list– New PTC (Performance Test Conditions) Ratings

• Projects received prior to July 1st, 2009 were “Grandfathered” in to old list for Reserved Equipment– Only “Grandfathered” for exact equipment. If there are equipment

changes, new equipment must be on the current list– What if changes need to be made at the time of Incentive Claim

Submittal for “Grandfathered” equipment?• EPBB: Current vs. Archived• PowerClerk

• All new Reservation Requests MUST use modules on the new list, and must use “Current” EPBB Calculator: No Exceptions

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Documents and Forms

• CSI Handbook www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/documents/csi.html

• Residential Disclosure Agreementwww.pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/solarenergy/csi/csihandbookforms/

• Non-Residential Disclosure and Commitment Agreementwww.pge.com/mybusiness/energysavingsrebates/solar/csi/csihandbookforms/

• Field Verification Tablewww.pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/solarenergy/csi/csihandbookforms/

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Resources

• Benchmarkingwww.epa.gov/EEBUILDINGS/benchmarking/submit_data.html

www.pge.com/mybusiness/energysavingsrebates/analyzer/benchmarking/

• Retrocommissioningwww.pge.com/mybusiness/energysavingsrebates/analyzer/retrocommissioning/

• CEC Eligible Equipment Listwww.gosolarcalifornia.org/equipment/index.html

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Second Advice Filing: Process Improvements

• Goals– Streamline process based on industry feedback

– Reduce the amount of required documentation

– Simplify the CSI Handbook

• Approved July 10th, 2009

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Removal of…

• Original Signature Requirement– Reservation Requests and Incentive Claims still need to be mailed

at this time

– Will accept copy’s, faxed versions, and digital signatures of mailed documents

• Utility Bill– Meter Number and Account Number required on Reservation

Request From

• AB 1407 form (GOV’T/Non-Profit Only)– Language still in the Handbook

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Removal of…

• Proof of Performance Monitoring and Reporting Service (PMRS)– Will only need to document who the PMRS provider will be on ICF– Exemption documentation still required if above the cost cap and will not be

using PMRS– PDP Contract still required for PBI projects

• Project Cost Breakdown Worksheet– Key cost elements included on the Incentive Claim Form: Modules, Inverter,

Permitting, Balance of System– Still required if using older Incentive Claim Form

• System Description Worksheet (Non-Residential >10kW)– Moved required questions to the Reservation Request From– Still required if using older Reservation Request Form

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Other Changes

• Extended Non-Residential reservation period from 12 months 18 months

• 1-Step Application– For systems that are already Interconnected– Interconnection date cannot be greater than 12 months

• Re-Format Handbook– Program Section– Technical Section

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Upcoming Webinars

• Interconnection Process Simplification: July 16th

• California Solar Initiative Workshop: July 17th

• NSHP/RNC Plan Check and Filed Verification: July 21st

• CSI Handbook Changes: July 22nd and July 29th

• Your path to Energy Savings-Existing Residential: July 23rd

• Solar System Life Maintenance: August 3rd

For more information: www.pge.com/solarclasses