Skinny at CEC [RE-wrenches]
Dean T. Newberry
deant at dcn.org
Fri Dec 19 12:28:35 PST 2003
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Hi y'All in the Investor Owned Utility areas of Califronia.
CEC revises rebate rate for Emerging Renewables program
On December 17, the California Energy Commission approved a reduction in
the Emerging Renewables Program's residential rebate to $3.20 per watt
beginning January 1, 2004.
The rebate amount was scheduled to drop to $3.60 per watt as part of the
program's 20-cent per watt reduction occurring every six months for
systems less than 30kW. A record number of rebate applications submitted
this year has depleted the Emerging Renewables Fund faster than
expected, leading the CEC recently to consider cutting the rebate to
$3.00 per watt to stretch the rebate funds further. However, renewable
industry representatives led by the California Solar Energy Industry
Association (CalSEIA) negotiated a compromise with state officials this
week to obtain a revised rate of $3.20 per watt.
A new Emerging Renewables Program guidebook will be released in January.
The CEC plans to reexamine the entire program in more detail early next
year.
CCEnergy is working with CalSEIA to identify other sources of funding to
ensure funding for the Emerging Renewables residential rebate program
through the end of 2004. CalSEIA is also planning to push for
legislation that would lock in financial and regulatory certainty for
the solar energy industry (PV and thermal) for the next 10 years.
What this means for existing CCEnergy rebate reservations
The State spending freeze imposed by the Governor on Dec. 5 has added
further uncertainty to the rebate program's status. Although the funds
for these rebates are derived from utility surcharges and are not part
of the State general fund subject to cuts, CEC staffing resources to
process rebate applications are affected by the State budget crisis.
The situation is a bit confusing, but our understanding of pending
rebate reservations is as follows:
* Rebate reservations received before Dec. 5th (the date the
spending freeze was imposed) will be processed by the CEC as normal and
receive a rebate for completed solar system installations based upon the
current $3.80 per watt rebate rate.
* Rebate applications received by the CEC after Dec. 5 and
postmarked before Dec. 31st will be accepted and assigned a tracking
number, however, no further processing will occur until the spending
freeze is lifted. Even if these applications are processed after Jan.
1st, 2004 they will still be eligible to receive the $3.80/watt rebate rate.
The State spending freeze will be lifted when the Governor decides to do
so, however the solar industry may successfully convince State officials
that Emerging Renewables rebate funds do not come from the general fund
and are therefore exempt from the freeze.
CCenergy is monitoring the rebate program's status closely and will
provide updated information on our web site and through the CCEnergy
mailing lists.
Dan Pellegrini
CCEnergy
(415) 457-0215
cul deant
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