Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH)

The Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) programme (www.cpuc.ca.gov/General.aspx?id=3043 https://gridalternatives.org/what-we-do/program-administration/sash) is one of the California Solar Initiative’s (CSI) two low-income solar programmes. GRID Alternatives (GRID), a non-profit solar contractor, is the statewide Program Administrator for the SASH programme. The SASH incentive is available to qualifying low-income homeowners in the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) service territories.

The SASHis uniquely designed to be a comprehensive low-income solar programme. In addition to providing incentives, SASH is structured to promote or provide energy efficiency, workforce development and green jobs training opportunities, and broad community engagement with low-income communities. There is no other solar programme in California that has such a diverse range of benefits for low-income communities. It is truly a first-of-its-kind solar programme. The SASH incentive provides low-income families with free or low-cost solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that significantly reduce household energy expenses and allow families to direct those savings toward other basic needs. GRID Alternatives’ volunteer-based installation model has proven to be a highly efficient model that makes solar affordable for low-income homeowners while also creating valuable job training opportunities. In addition to being the primary installer for SASH, GRID provides education on and access to energy efficiency programs that further reduce a household’s energy consumption and expenses. In implementing the programme, GRID Alternatives provides opportunities for local volunteers to assist with installations, engage their communities, and to participate in CA energy programs. GRID has trained over 44,030 volunteers and job trainees in California to help promote and install solar in low-income communities since the inception of the programme. GRID requires its volunteers to participate in a solar orientation programme that educates these potential solar adopters about solar PV and energy efficiency.

Recent highlights and milestones include a total of 9,264 PV systems have been installed and interconnected. 55 projects have incentives reserved and are awaiting installation or interconnection; 105 applications are under review. In total these projects have encumbered approximately $132.3 million in incentives and represent almost 30 MW of solar capacity. The SASH has referred over 10,250 low-income homeowners to the utilities' Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) programmes.

Eligible applicants must:

• Receive electrical service from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), or San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E),  
• Own and live in their home,
• Have a household income that is 80% or below the area median income (AMI),
• Live in a home defined as “affordable housing” by California Public Utilities Code 2852.

The SASH offers one incentive level of $3 per watt. The funding of the project reaches $108M with D.07-11-045 and the reauthorized SASH program with $54M in additional funding through D.15-01-027. The programme provides direct economic benefits to participating families and adds value to the industry with green job training and broad consumer education. Each SASH project contains a workforce development component and provides opportunities for job trainees and volunteers to get hands-on experience installing solar systems.