Key Details
The Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) Program is a California Solar Initiative strategy. It is administered across the whole state by GRID Alternatives (GRID), a non-profit solar contractor.
The SASH incentive was accessible to low-income homeowners in the service areas of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E). However, the program is now closed to new applicants throughout the state.
The SASH Program was created to fill a need for a comprehensive low-income solar initiative. The program is designed to not only provide financial incentives but also to encourage or provide energy efficiency, workforce development, green job training, and extensive community engagement with low-income communities.
Californians with low incomes can take advantage of the SASH incentive, which offers solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at no cost or at a greatly reduced cost.
With the passage of Assembly Bill 217, the SASH Program has been extended beyond its initial expiration date of 2016. The law also provided new money and new program goals. The Commission set new requirements for energy efficiency programs, workforce development, and incentives in Docket No. D.15-01-027.
The Commission also passed Resolution E-4719 on June 25, 2015, which creates a new TPO model for SASH using AB 217 funds. The TPO model is compliant with D.15-01-027. The model is built to maximize household savings while also providing customer protection. With an extra $54 million thanks to Assembly Bill 218, the SASH Program accepted incentive reservations until December 31, 2021.
The final installations began in early 2022. With the passage of D.15-01-027, the SASH program was reauthorized with an extra $54 million in funding, bringing the total to $108 million. The new program is referred to as "SASH 2.0."
Interested persons can check out the SASH Program Handbook or the Program Administrator's website for more information.
The primary objective of SASH 2.0 is to ensure that low-income single-family homeowners have affordable access to solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The system is expected to produce a combined capacity of at least 15 MW (CEC-AC).
Another goal of the SASH 2.0 program is to reduce electricity consumption and associated bills without increasing homeowners' out-of-pocket costs. The SASH Program helps low-income homeowners save money on energy costs while bolstering local economies. This will be achieved by leveraging local green-job training and workforce development programs.
The SASH 2.0 Program offers rebates to qualified homeowners to reduce the out-of-pocket price of installing a solar electric system. By doing this, it is expected that solar systems will become more accessible to individuals who have lower incomes.
GRID Alternatives is in charge of the SASH 2.0 program. Across the three Investor-Owned Utility ("IOU") regions of Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), GRID Alternatives is the sole statewide Program Manager for the SASH 2.0 Program (SDG&E).
Interested parties are responsible for completing and submitting the SASH 2.0 Program application. Applicants also function as the Program Manager's primary point of contact throughout the application process.
Additionally, the SASH 2.0 Program Manager will work directly with the Applicant to assist them in completing the application and gathering the necessary documentation.
The SASH 2.0 Program incentive is restricted to low-income homeowners and excludes commercial and other non-residential projects.
Outside applications and submissions will not be accepted by the Program Manager.
--
To be eligible for the SASH 2.0 Program, applicants must satisfy the minimum requirements listed below:
In addition to the above requirements, applicants for incentives under the SASH 2.0 Program must satisfy a few additional conditions. Please visit the website of the California Public Utilities Commission for additional information on these requirements.
The only technologies that qualify for incentives from the SASH 2.0 Program are photovoltaic systems. Solar hot water systems and other non-PV technologies are not qualified for the SASH 2.0 Program incentive.
The system size that qualifies for SASH 2.0 Program incentives will be chosen to have the least effect on electricity costs. The maximum system capacity will be 5kW. (CEC-AC). 1kW CEC-AC is the barest minimum system capacity.
Installations must reach a minimum performance requirement of 85% of the Design Factor (DF) based on a modified Estimated Performance Based Buydown (EPBB) calculation in order to receive financial incentives from the SASH 2.0 Program.
The system is not eligible for the SASH 2.0 Program incentive if the modified Design Factor is less than 85%. The rebate sum is unaffected by the Design Factor.