California Solar Initiative: Transforming the Market for Solar Energy

1. March 13, 2009 California Solar Initiative PV Cost WorkshopCPUC

2. Why do we care about costs? What costs do we care about?

3. Energy Action Plan: “Loading Order” Energy efficiency Demand response Distributed generation Renewable generation Cleanest available fossil resources Source: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/electric/energy+action+plan/

4. CSI Overview • Goals • Transform Market for Solar Energy • Install Solar MW - 1,940 MW by the end of 2016 (15%+ now installed or planned) • Budget • $2.167 billion over 10 years • Incentives • Based on system performance • Available to Residential, Commercial, Government, Non-Profit • Upfront incentive or paid over time based on performance • Offered in all IOU-territory customers (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E) • Program Components • General market program – rebates - $1,940 M • Low Income Programs - $216 M • Single-Family Affordable Solar Housing (SASH) • Multifamily homes – Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) • Research and Development (RD&D) Program - $50 M • Solar Water Heating Pilot - $3 M

5. Incentives decline as demand grows

6. CSI Evaluation Plan Overview • July 29, 2008: ACR established the Program Evaluation Plan for the CSI • Budget: $46.7 million • Goals: • Utilize a standardized process for evaluating programs and reporting results • Provide credible and objective information on program impacts and performance • Provide policy and program related information to ensure achievement of CSI program goals • Produce an accurate assessment of future opportunities to further goals of SB 1 • Low income, SWH and RD&D programs not included in the Plan

7. Elements of the Evaluation Plan • Progress Reports • Prepared by CPUC staff on a quarterly or regular basis • Program Evaluation Reports and Studies • Conducted by external contractors • Managed by Energy Division Staff • Annual Program Assessments (required by SB 1) • Prepared by CPUC staff • Informed by evaluation and progress reports as appropriate • First Annual Program Assessment to be completed by June 30, 2009

8. Cost Effectiveness Evaluation • Mission: To compare resource options as part of utility resource planning and to assist in measuring and evaluating the effectiveness of DG incentive programs in general and CSI specifically • “Market transformation” as a goal means lower costs in the market • If cost is a target, it should be measured

9. CA Doubled Solar Installations in 2008 • 2008 was a very strong year • 158 MW at 8,200 projects installed in investor-owned utility (IOU) territories • Compares to 78 MW in 2007 • California has greater than 65% of nation’s installed solar, with over 42,000 customer-owned sites • Future demand expected to be strong • CSI program received record number of new applications in December 2008 - highest month on record • CSI program completed more installs in Jan/Feb 2009 than any other months on record • CSI program represents $5 billion investment in solar technology in CA • Every $1 of CSI spurs $6 in private investment in solar Source: CCSE monthly progress report, 12/08

11. CSI incentive payments and total solar project costs

14. Total Capacity of CSI Applications by Program Administrator

15. Total Number of CSI Applications by Program Administrator

16. Total number of applications per month by customer sector, January 2007 – February 2009

17. Total amount of MW in applications per month by customer sector, January 2007 – February 2009

18. Public Reporting • Power Clerk https://csi.powerclerk.com/ • California Solar Statistics http://www.californiasolarstatistics.ca.gov/