Assembly Bill (AB) 2143, enacted in 2022, mandates that large customer-sited renewable energy facilities, including solar and associated battery storage, must pay prevailing wages to construction workers and apprentices when enrolling in specific tariffs, starting January 1, 2024.

Contractors must maintain and submit certified payroll records to the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) semi-annually. Violations may result in loss of access to net metering or net billing tariffs.

You can access more information about AB 2143 on the CPUC’s official website , including answers to frequently asked questions.

Exemptions
AB 2143 will not apply to projects that  fall under any of the following categories:

1. Residential facilities that will have a maximum generating capacity of 15 kilowatts or less of electricity, or that will be installed on a single-family home.
2. Projects that are already a public work under existing law. Find out  what qualifies a public works project.
3. Facilities that serve only a modular home, a modular home community, or multi-unit housing that has 2 or fewer stories.

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) offers additional guidance on Prevailing Wage Determinations and Classifications.

Compliance
In order to comply with this law, contractors must submit trainee/employee payroll records that adhere to prevailing wage to the Solar-Utilities Reporting, Guidance, and Education (SURGE) Compliance Portal. GCAP Services (a CPUC contractor) will be collecting payroll records and ensuring compliance with AB 2143 on the Commission’s behalf.

To learn more about the AB 2143 compliance process from GCAP Services, read the notes from SOMAH’s February 2024 Public Forum or visit the SURGE website.  

If you have any questions on AB 2143 compliance, contact GCAP Services at info@cpucsurge.org. 

The SOMAH PA will receive aggregated consumption data from investor-owned utilities (IOUs), on the property owners behalf, which will be included on the Reservation Request Package Approval Notice.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development deemed most HUD properties eligible for SOMAH. However, some HUD-funded properties are ineligible. Find out if your property is eligible by completing the Affordability Prescreen form.

Property eligibility requirements are outlined in the SOMAH Program Handbook. Find out if your property is eligible by completing the Affordability Prescreen form.

The program serves multifamily affordable housing in California in the following investor-owned utility (IOU) territories: Liberty Utilities, PacifiCorp, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE).

The SOMAH Program status fluctuates depending on funding and application volumes. Please visit: Funding status (California DG Stats)

No. Submitted projects receive an active reservation on a first-come, first-served basis if funding is available.

Yes, tenant meter numbers are required. For SDG&E, tenant meter numbers are required during the Reservation Request Package Milestone. For SCE and PG&E, the tenant meter numbers are required during the Proof of Project Milestone stage.

Track A is for property owners who want technical assistance and support services to help assess their property’s solar potential and/or identify eligible contractors. Track B is designed for property owners who do not require technical assistance to submit a project reservation and have identified an eligible contractor. The project bidding process is required for Track A and optional for Track B.

The number of trainees and required work hours depends on the size of the installation. Refer to the Job Training Eligibility webpage.

While the SOMAH Program Handbook does not have any restrictions other than the eligibility criteria, contractors are required to follow all local, state and federal labor laws.

SOMAH's Technical Assistance and Support Services are designed to provide hands on support to participating property owners and their contractors. Examples of Technical Assistance and Support Services include: identifying energy efficiency opportunities, assisting in achieving net zero energy targets, providing coordination and referrals to other clean energy programs, tenant education support, and solar feasibility assessments.

Trainees are paid directly by contractors and not from SOMAH Program funds.

VNEM is utility metering arrangement that allows energy from a single solar system to be shared virtually among multiple tenant accounts.

Contractors are only required to hire trainees to work on the project for the required number of work hours based on the system size. However, many contractors may opt to keep trainees on staff for additional projects or hire the trainee as a permanent employee.

There are no exceptions to the job training requirement. The SOMAH PA will help facilitate hiring eligible job trainees if needed.

SOMAH incentives are posted online on CalSOMAH.org.

Learn more: Incentives & Finance 

Any PV module on the California Energy Commission’s list of eligible equipment that shows up in the EPBB Calculator with a Performance Test Conditions (PTC) rating is eligible for SOMAH.

Contractors will receive Job Training Portal login information via email within three business days after attending the Contractor Eligibility Training webinar and submitting their contact information. Email questions to workforce@calsomah.org.

Eligible costs cover the solar energy system and its ancillary equipment. Please refer to the SOMAH Program Handbook.

Contractors are required to enter each job opportunity in the SOMAH Job Training Portal and begin recruitment at least 30 days before installation begins. However, the contractor can choose to keep the job posting hidden and recruit trainees by other means (e.g., direct outreach to a job training organization or recruitment of tenants). 

If the two positions are the same (e.g., PV installer), then only one job posting can be entered in the Job Training Portal. If not the same, then two job postings should be entered.

Contractors may be able to provide transportation for job trainees. Trainees should work directly with the hiring contractor.

Yes, the entire cost of carports built to hold solar panels is eligible under the SOMAH Program, including materials and labor.

Job training can include PV installation, project design and engineering or PV commissioning and maintenance. These categories are based on the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners’ Photovoltaic Specialists Job Tasks Analysis.

Yes, existing employees can qualify as SOMAH job trainees so long as they meet the eligibility criteria. The individual must be either: Currently enrolled in an eligible job training program, recently graduated from an eligible job training program within 12 months of the installation start date or be a tenant whose primary residence is the SOMAH property.

While the map is a great indicator of eligible properties, there may be additional eligible properties not reflected in the map. If you have questions regarding property eligibility, please reach out to us.

The Job Trainee Intake Form can be submitted online or by email to workforce@calsomah.org. The form is available as a PDF in Appendix M of the SOMAH Program Handbook.

Contractors are required to pay SOMAH job trainees at the contractor's entry level or temporary worker wage or 1.4x the minimum wage of the city in which the SOMAH project is located, whichever is higher.

The project bidding process is required for Track A and optional for Track B. In Track A, the host customer must obtain multiple project bids and select a contractor before submitting a Reservation Request. It is not required to select the lowest bid and applicants are encouraged to take other factors into consideration such as local hiring, experience with SOMAH and VNEM, etc.

Contractors can post a public job opportunity, browse the resume bank, use the Directory of Eligible Job Training Organizations or use client recommendations and referrals.

You may request standard TA online at any point after the Reservation Request Package has been submitted.

You can access the Directory of Eligible Job Training Organizations is available online. The directory can be filtered by location or keyword, and each entry includes contact and website information.

The SOMAH Program does not require certain skills or certifications. However, each contractor may have different preferences and requirements.

SOMAH job trainees can participate in solar system installation, project design and engineering or system commissioning and maintenance.

Yes, a resume is not required to participate in job training opportunities. Contractors can work directly with job training organizations to place job trainees on SOMAH projects.

Eligible trainees can sign up for the SOMAH Job Training Portal by completing the Job Trainee Intake Form. Then, trainees can upload their resumes to the Resume Bank and apply for open job opportunities using the Job Search tool.

Language options may vary by contractor. However, the SOMAH PA team cannot guarantee that training will be offered in languages other than English.

The work schedule will vary on the needs of the contractor and the project.

Eligible programs include California Community College or other PV training programs offered to the public by local government workforce development programs, community nonprofits, private enterprises or the electrical workers union. Requires 40+ hours of instructional and/or hands-on PV installation and design training. Career technical education programs related to green building or design offering 40+ hours of instruction are also eligible.

The trainee should work directly with the hiring contractor to arrange an appropriate work schedule.

Project application data, including contractor company information, can be found on the California Distributed Generation Statistics website. The SOMAH PA team will facilitate connections between contractors and eligible job training organizations based on the contractor's needs.

Individuals must be currently enrolled in an eligible job training program, recently graduated from an eligible job training program within 12 months of installation start date or a tenant whose primary residence is the SOMAH property. They must also complete the SOMAH Job Trainee Intake Form to participate.

The Job Trainee Intake Form can be submitted online by the trainee here. The trainee may also submit a PDF version of the Intake Form, which can be found in Appendix M of the SOMAH Program Handbook, by email to workforce@calsomah.org.

Your property owner and construction team will share information about how construction may affect your common areas. It is important that you feel safe on site.

With a TOU rate, utility electricity prices vary depending on the period of the day in which energy is consumed. Higher prices are charged during utility peak-load times.

Power will be turned off for a short amount time during solar installation. You will be notified in advance and given enough time to prepare for the brief power outage.

Your property owner and construction team will share information about how construction may affect your home and community spaces.

Yes you can. Contact the contractor installing solar at your building. This information can be found on the Job Training flyer. Ask what jobs and volunteer opportunities are available at your building.

Some highlights to share with your property manager and landlord: 

•    SOMAH saves on energy costs, reducing the overall costs of powering the building and keeping energy costs stable even when utility rates fluctuate.
•    SOMAH provides up to 100% of the funding for solar installation on qualifying buildings. 
•    SOMAH automatically enrolls tenants into Energy Saving Assistance Program (ESA) to help further reduce tenants' energy use. 
•    SOMAH benefits tenants as well as owners, through bill credits and cleaner air.
•    SOMAH supports economic opportunity and growth in your community, creating jobs and developing solar careers.
•    SOMAH can help your building and your neighborhood go carbon-free, contributing to a healthier community and planet.

Go to CalSOMAH.org to learn more.

SOMAH Program benefits include:

Benefits for property owners

• SOMAH incentives may cover the full cost of the materials and installation for the portion of the solar PV system that offsets tenants’ electricity needs.
• Solar PV can help reduce and stabilize energy costs for eligible multifamily buildings.
• The SOMAH Program offers a suite of no-cost technical assistance services to make the process of installing solar easier.

Benefits for tenants

• SOMAH provides financial benefits to tenants - tenants will receive credits on their electricity bills to help them live more affordably.
• SOMAH provides job-training opportunities.
• SOMAH automatically enrolls tenants into an Energy Saving Assistance Program to help further reduce energy use.

Benefits for the community

• Solar PV installations can help improve air quality by reducing reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation.
• SOMAH provides job training opportunities and builds capacity in the clean energy economy.

No, your rent will not increase. The SOMAH Program guarantees no costs are passed to the tenants.

Your bill reduction will vary based on the amount of energy your building's solar system produces, the amount of energy you use and your utility rate.

If the power goes out, your solar panels will be turned off. This is for the safety of utility and emergency workers.

Property owners are required to inform tenants of job training opportunities at their property. Tenants can contact the SOMAH contractor directly or sign up for the SOMAH Job Training Portal by completing the Job Trainee Intake Form to search for job openings.

You will start seeing savings on your utility bill after as soon as the solar system is providing power your building.

After the solar panels are installed, your property owner will automatically sign you up to receive credits.

Project duration will vary. Your property owner and contractor will provide a project timeline before construction starts.

Tenants are not responsible for any costs and rent will not increase due to having solar.

Although solar panels can be attached to the roof, damage to the roof is unlikely. If you do notice a leak, report it to your property owner.

Individual job placement data is not public information. You can work with your student or graduate to self-report this information or work with the contractor who hired your student to request this information.

Feedback and suggestions regarding job training opportunities and workforce development can be emailed to workforce@calsomah.org. You can also provide at the quarterly public forum or to the SOMAH Job Training Organization Task Force.

Program data is updated weekly on the California Distributed Generation Statistics website.

The job training organization can work directly with the SOMAH contractor to inquire about a site visit.

Email workforce@calsomah.org to request to add your training organization or program to the directory.