The Shrinking Home Energy Rebates
by David Wells
what’s not.
Solar Tax Credits are not diminishing. These
H
are offered by the state and federal government to taxpaying residents who install specific energy- producing devices in their homes. Arizona’s Solar Tax Credit is 25% of the cost of installation, up to $1,000. The Federal Tax Credit is 30% of the cost of your energy efficiency measures, with no upper limit. There are some provisos, so check with the Department of Energy’s DSIRE website and your tax advisor to verify eligibility for each item.
www.dsireusa.org
APS & SRP Solar Rebates are changing. The
two most popular items are solar electric (Photo-Voltaic/PV) systems and solar hot water systems. The utility incentives, paid to customers who install specific alternative energy devices in their homes, have been reduced up to 35% over the past few months, and are bound to be further reduced in the near future. SRP typically sends a rebate check six to eight weeks following installation, but
APS may withhold payment until October 2010, when new funds become available. APS:
www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=AZ04F&re=1&ee=1 SRP:
www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=AZ11F&re=1&ee=1 Solar Water Heaters. APS has reduced its incentive by one-third. Now, both
APS and SRP offer an incentive of $.50/kWh savings the first year, which usually works out to a $1,100-$1,500 rebate. Including tax credits, the net cost of a highly efficient, $7,000 solar hot water system is now a little less than $3,000, and usu- ally includes a brand new, traditional back-up water heater to replace your old one.
Solar Electric Systems (PV). Both SRP and
APS have slashed their incentives this Spring due to high customer demand and limited funds. APS cut its rebate from $3.00/W to $1.95/W. The net cost of an APS-connected 5kW electric panel system that retails for $30,000 is around $13,175. Larger PV systems get proportionately higher rebates from APS. SRP reduced its rebates from $2.70/W
to $2.15/W, with a $10,750 ceiling. The net cost of an SRP-connected 5kW electric panel system is around $12,475. The 5kW system size receives the maximum rebate for SRP- serviced homes.
Energy Efficiency Measures. Many energy-
reduction measures qualify for a 30% Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit – top- ping out at $1,500 – and some utility rebates. Here are a few useful measures that might qualify, many of which can be executed by the homeowner: solar window treatments, attic and wall insulation, HVAC duct sealing, thermal windows and doors, Energy Star appliances, solar daylighting tubes, instant hot water systems and high-efficiency AC systems.
David Wells is a partner in now2zero, a community-minded, Green Energy In- formation consultancy, helping Phoenix-area homeowners sensibly reduce their energy needs and move towards zero energy dependence. For more information, contact
now2zero.com or phone 602-680-5083.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
June 2010
7
ere’s an update on available rebates and tax credits, along with what’s changing and
©2010 now2zero
©2010 now2zero
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