Program status by utility

Utility

Status

Funding last released

Liberty Utilities

Open to applications

October 2020

PacifiCorp

Open to applications

September 2020

PG&E

Open to applications

February 2021

SCE

Open to applications

February 2021

SDG&E

Open to applications

February 2021

Read more about SOMAH funding status.

 

Waitlist

We recommend applicants in waitlisted utility territories to apply now in order to assure their position in line for future funding. Doing so may lock in the incentive rate available at the time of the application submission.

The SOMAH Program Administrator may close an individual utility waitlist at any time to preserve funding for future years and avoid excessive wait times. Waitlists are updated regularly and include the project application number, project size and requested incentive.

  • Current application data can be found within the SOMAH Working Dataset.
  • The SOMAH waitlists are public and updated weekly.
  • Each utility’s waitlist may exceed the next funding cycle’s incentive budget, so some applications may remain on the waitlist for more than a year.
  • As funding becomes available, applications will be moved off the waitlist in the order they were received. Project applications received after funding is exhausted will be added to a waitlist.
  • SOMAH stakeholders will be alerted when new funds are available by territory.

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Track A applications

Track B applications
  • Applicant submits a technical assistance request online via PowerClerk.
  • Applicant receives a SOMAH project number (XXX-SOMAH-XXXXX) and is placed on the waitlist in order of submittal time and date.
  • Applicant may receive Upfront Technical Assistance and participate in the multiple bid process while on the waitlist.
  • Once applicants receive an approved upfront technical assistance request, they have 90 days to submit their Reservation Request Package even if their application remains on the waitlist.
  • As funding becomes available through current funding attrition and reconciled funds or future funding cycles, the SOMAH PA will move each waitlisted project into Reservation Request Review in the order it was received.
  • Applicant submits the SOMAH Reservation Request online via PowerClerk with all required documents.
  • Applicant receives a SOMAH project number (XXX-SOMAH-XXXXX) and is placed on the waitlist in order of the submittal time and date.
  • As funding becomes available through current funding attrition and reconciled funds or future funding cycles, the SOMAH PA will move each waitlisted project into Reservation Request Review status in the order it was received.

SOMAH incentive rate by tax credit funding and tenant/common area allocation

TAX CREDITS

$ per AC Watt Incentive

ITC

LIHTC

Tenant

Common

2019-2020

2020-2021

2019-2020

2020-2021

No

No

$3.20

$3.04

$1.10

$1.04

Yes

No

$2.25

$2.14

$0.80

$0.76

No

Yes

$2.25

$2.14

$0.80

$0.76

Yes

Yes

$1.60

$1.52

$0.60

$0.57

According to the SOMAH Program Handbook, incentive levels will be reduced annually starting July 1, 2020, by either 5% or based on the National Renewable Energy Lab’s cost analysis (whichever is less). Applications submitted prior to the incentive step-down will lock in the incentive rate that is available at the time of the application submission.

Decision 17-12-022 (section 4.1, pages 39-43) discusses SOMAH’s incentive structure and decides that, “under the structure adopted here, incentive levels will decrease by the annual percent decline in residential solar costs as reflected by the National Renewable Energy Lab reports, or 5% annually, whichever is less.”

Given the Decision’s direction that incentives decrease annually, SOMAH’s first-year incentive levels expire on June 30, 2020, and new incentive levels for the program’s second year will go into effect on July 1, 2020, the anniversary date of the program launch. This timeline for the step-down is described in the SOMAH Program Handbook, Section 3, Incentive Structure.

Review Analysis

The program will continue to operate until 2029 with renewed annual funding of up to $100 million per year from the California Climate Investments initiative. Funds originate from cap-and-trade auction proceeds deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and used to further the state’s objectives to decarbonize and curb climate change.

Collections for each funding cycle are expected to be available between December and February, and the funds for each utility territory may be released at different times. Collections are based on each utility’s Energy Resource Recovery Account (ERRA) or Energy Cost Adjustment Clause (ECAC). For budget information and current available funding, please visit California Distributed Generation Statistics.

CaliforniaDGstats

SOMAH program’s year-one funding almost fully subscribed in first day

Since opening on July 1, 2019, SOMAH has received more than 250 applications for $157 million in funding representing over 78 megawatts (MW) of proposed solar power generating capacity. Nearly 90% of proposed capacity is allocated to directly benefit tenants. This initial application activity shows great interest in multifamily affordable solar and is a tremendous first step toward reaching SOMAH’s 10-year goal of installing 300 MW of solar generating capacity.

Read the waitlist news release

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