Become a SOMAH eligible contractor and grow your business by connecting with property owners who want to go solar.

SOMAH contractors are:

  • Helping property owners achieve energy independence
  • Reducing electric bills for tenants in affordable housing
  • Providing rewarding career paths to job seekers

More than 3,500 properties across California encompassing nearly 255,000 individual households qualify for benefits under this program.

Success Tips for Contractors

Become a SOMAH Eligible Contractor

To be eligible as a SOMAH contractor or subcontractor, you must:

  • Have an active A, B, C-10 or C-46 license from the California Contractors State License Board.
  • Complete a 1-hour online contractor eligibility training.
  • Hire eligible job trainees for each new SOMAH project, follow job training requirements and meet trainee wage requirements (including AB 2143).
  • Remain in good standing with the SOMAH Program.
  • While not required, we recommend solar installation contractors receive certification from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).

Find a Contractor Training

Property Requirements

To be eligible for a SOMAH incentive, a property must:

  • Have at least five units.
  • Be deed-restricted low-income residential rental housing, including but not limited to manufactured and mobile home properties
  • Satisfy one of the following:
    • 66% of the property residents have incomes at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI)
      OR
    • Property is located in a defined disadvantaged community (DAC) that scores in the top 25% of census tracts statewide in the CalEnviroScreen including property that is located on tribal land and is federally recognized*
      • OR
    • The property is owned by a California Native American tribe
      OR
    • The property is rental housing property that is owned by a public housing authority or public housing agency
  • Be an existing housing property or retrofit (with Certificate of Occupancy)
  • Have separately metered units
  • Be a utility or community choice aggregator (CCA) customer (with VNEM) in the following utility territories:
    • Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
    • Southern California Edison (SCE)
    • San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)
    • PacifiCorp
    • Liberty Utilities

*Learn how to successfully reserve an incentive for a tribal project by visiting the Tribal Affordability Requirements Guide.

More about the SOMAH Program

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Incentives & Finance

For current information on available funds, incentive rates and costs, visit the Incentives & Finance resource page.

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Resource Library

Visit our Resource Library to learn more about the SOMAH Program. Read blogs, watch the latest videos or download brochures, toolkits and more!