Solar Incentives

Use Solar Incentives to find solar incentive programs, inspect incentive requirements, and identify the customer or system data needed to determine eligibility.

Solar incentives are programs offered by cities, states, utilities, and other entities to encourage the installation of distributed solar. Use location inputs such as ZIP code, state, address, or LSE to search for incentives, then use applicability data to determine what customer or system details are required.

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Solar incentive data requires special permissions and is available only under specific circumstances for Enterprise customers using Switch.

These incentives fall into a few broad categories:

Category	Description
Rebates	Cash payments. Usually, the size of the rebate is related to the size of the project, but rebates can also be fixed payments.
Bill credits	Similar to rebates, but applied directly to your energy bill.
Tax credits	Credits that can be applied to your local, state, or federal taxes, depending on the program.
Discounts	Subsidized prices for various project materials.

This page outlines the data definitions and basic operations for solar incentives. For a more in-depth guide, see Finding and calculating solar incentives.

Get Solar Incentives

Search incentives by location, project type, customer class, date, and applicability inputs.

Get One Incentive

Retrieve one incentive by incentiveId.

Get Incentive Applicabilities

Retrieve applicability keys and metadata for a market.

Accessing solar incentives

To access incentives, you need special permissions on your account. Contact [email protected] to learn more.

Data definitions

An Incentive object consists of a set of properties describing how to calculate the incentive amount, along with a list of applicabilities that specify what kinds of customers the solar incentive applies to.

Incentive

The Incentive object has the following data structure.

Name	Type	Description
incentiveId	Integer	Arcadia ID of the solar incentive.
masterIncentiveId	Integer	"Master" ID for this incentive. Tracks a single incentive across multiple versions.
eligibility	Eligibility	One of `ELIGIBLE`, `INELIGIBLE`, or `COULD_BE_ELIGIBLE`. If an incentive has any applicabilities that the user has not supplied any values for and none of the already-supplied applicabilities make the user `INELIGIBLE`, `eligibility` will be set to `COULD_BE_ELIGIBLE` and `requiredData` will be populated with the additional information that is required.
requiredData	List of Applicability	If an incentive has formula-based applicabilities and the user does not provide all of the required information for that applicability, `eligibility` will be set to `COULD_BE_ELIGIBLE` and `requiredData` will be populated with the additional information that is required.
incentiveName	String	The name of the incentive.
projectType	String	The type of project that this incentive applies to. Always `solarPv`.
incentiveType	String	The type of incentive. Can be a `rebate`, `billCredit`, `taxCredit`, or `discount`.
state	String	If applicable, the state where this incentive is available.
lseId	Integer	The Arcadia ID of the LSE by whom the incentive is managed.
lseName	String	The name of the LSE providing the incentive.
lseCode	String	The shortcode for the LSE providing the incentive.
customerClass	String	The class of customer that is eligible for this incentive. Our solar incentives are residential.
startDate	Date	The date when the incentive became or will become effective.
endDate	Date	The date when the incentive expires.
isExhausted	Boolean	`true` or `false`, depending on whether there are incentive funds remaining.
jurisdiction	String	The entity type that offers this incentive. In the case of a tax credit, this is also used to determine if the incentive applies to state or federal taxes.
quantityKey	PropertyKey	The quantity by which to multiply the incentive rate.
rate	Decimal	The rate by which to multiply the applicable quantity.
rateUnit	String	The type of rate for this incentive. Can be `COST_PER_UNIT` or `PERCENTAGE`.
quantityKeyCap	String	The maximum quantity key (e.g. `systemSizeAc`) that is eligible for this incentive. For example, if `quantityKey=systemSizeAc`, the value of this field is 50, and the system size is 60, then the first 50 kW of the system is eligible for the incentive.
paymentCap	Integer	Maximum dollar amount, in USD, of this incentive.
percentCostCapKey	PropertyKey	Quantity key that's used to calculate the percent cost cap.
percentCostCap	Decimal	The maximum portion of the system cost that can be covered by the incentive.
paymentDuration	Integer	The duration of the incentive is in years. Will be `1` if this is a one-time, up-front incentive.
incentivePaidTo	String	The party to whom the incentive is paid.
projectTypeExclusive	Boolean	Indicates if more than one incentive from this LSE/jurisdiction can be used for a customer for this `projectType`. `true` means only one incentive from the LSE/jurisdiction can be used. `false` means more than one incentive from the LSE/jurisdiction can be used.
summary	String	Free text field describing the incentive. Designed to be used in a user interface as a general overview.
requirements	String	Free text field describing the requirements for the incentive. Designed to be used in a user interface to give an overview of incentives' requirements.
applicabilities	List of Applicability	A list of applicabilities. Applicabilities are used to determine whether the customer is eligible for this incentive.

Applicability

The Applicability object has the following data structure. Applicabilities are used to determine whether a customer is eligible for an incentive. Customers must meet all applicabilities on an incentive to be eligible for that incentive.

Name	Type	Description
applicabilityKey	String	The name of the variable that this applicability applies to. Examples include `systemOwnership`, `azimuth`, and `tilt`.
displayName	String	A user-presentable name for this applicability.
description	String	A user-presentable description of what this applicability represents.
requiredValue	String	If there is a single value that is allowed for this applicability, it will show up here. For example, if `systemOwnership` requires `host`, it will be here.
minValue	Decimal	For numeric applicabilities, the minimum allowed value.
maxValue	Decimal	For numeric applicabilities, the maximum allowed value.
operator	String	For formulaic applicabilities, the relationship that must be true for this applicability relative to its `quantityKey`. For example, `estimatedFirstYearkWh` might have a `quantityKey` of `110percentAnnualConsumption` and an operator of `<`. This indicates that the estimated first-year production of the solar power system must be less than 110% of the customer's annual consumption.
quantityKey	String	For formulaic applicabilities, a pointer to a `PropertyKey` that holds the formula defining this applicability.
choices	List	For applicabilities with a fixed set of choices, the list of available choices.

Get Solar Incentives

Search for incentives and return a list of Incentive objects.

Resource URI

GET /rest/v1/incentives

Request parameters

Name	Type	Description
projectType	String	Restrict the search to the given project type.
incentiveType	String	Restrict the search to the given incentive type.
defaultIncentives	String	Return the incentives that are available to most people, where "most people" is defined as incentives that match the defaults for their respective applicabilities.
applicabilities	String	Get Solar Incentives accepts an arbitrary list of `key=value` pairs representing inputs for the different applicability keys. Inputs do not cause the list of incentives to be filtered, but the eligibility status for each incentive is set depending on the applicability key values. For example, if a user inputs `?tilt=7&azimuth=180`, then incentives that require a system with a tilt of 7 degrees and an azimuth of 180 degrees will be set to `ELIGIBLE` if those are the only applicabilities. If additional applicabilities exist, depending on key values, `eligibility` may also be `INELIGIBLE` or `COULD_BE_ELIGIBLE`. Available applicabilities for a given area are returned by Get Incentive Applicabilities. See the how-to guide for an example of how to use this endpoint.
customerClasses	String	`RESIDENTIAL`, `GENERAL`, or `SPECIAL_USE`. The type of customer.
countryCode	String	Restrict the search to the given country.
lseId	Integer	Restrict the search to the given LSE.
state	String	Restrict the search to the given state.
zipCode	String	Restrict the search to the given ZIP code.
addressString	String	Restrict the search to the given `addressString`.
effectiveOn	Date	Get only those incentives that are available as of the specified date.
fromDate	Date	Get incentives that are available after a certain date.
toDate	Date	Get incentives that are available before a certain date.
isExhausted	Boolean	Get incentives that are exhausted (or not).

Example

This example retrieves a list of solar rebates for ZIP code 95448 that were effective on November 5, 2015, and are not exhausted.

GET /rest/v1/incentives?zipCode=95448&projectType=solarPv&customerClasses=RESIDENTIAL&effectiveOn=2015-11-05&isExhausted=FALSE

{  
  "status": "success",  
  "count": 2,  
  "type": "Incentive",  
  "results": [  
    {  
      "incentiveId": 3158839,  
      "masterIncentiveId": 3158839,  
      "eligibility": "ELIGIBLE",  
      "tariffCode": "None",  
      "incentiveName": "Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit",  
      "lseId": 100281,  
      "lseName": "State of California Incentives",  
      "serviceType": "SOLAR_PV",  
      "customerClass": "RESIDENTIAL",  
      "startDate": "2006-01-01",  
      "endDate": "2016-12-31",  
      "isExhausted": false,  
      "projectType": "solarPv",  
      "incentiveType": "taxCredit",  
      "rate": 30,  
      "rateUnit": "PERCENTAGE",  
      "documents": null,  
      "jurisdiction": "federal",  
      "quantityKey": {  
        "keyName": "systemCostMinusIncentives",  
        "displayName": "System Cost After Incentives",  
        "description": "Cost of the solar system after incentives, rebates and tax credits"  
      },  
      "quantityKeyCap": null,  
      "state": "CA",  
      "percentCostCap": null,  
      "percentCostCapKey": {  
        "keyName": null  
      },  
      "paymentCap": 0,  
      "paymentDuration": 1,  
      "incentivePaidTo": "tenantOrOwner",  
      "projectTypeExclusive": false,  
      "applicabilities": [],  
      "summary": "Established by The Energy Policy Act of 2005, the federal tax credit for residential energy property initially applied to solar-electric & solar water heating. Other key revisions included an 8-year extension of the credit to 12/31/2016; the ability to take the credit against the alternative minimum tax; & the removal of the $2000 credit limit for solar-electric beginning in 2009. The credit was further enhanced in February 2009 by The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, which removed the maximum credit amount for all eligible technologies placed in service after 2008. A taxpayer may claim a credit of 30% of qualified expenditures for a system that serves a dwelling unit that is owned & used as a residence by the taxpayer. If the installation is at a new home, the "placed in service" date is the date of occupancy by the homeowner. Expenditures include labor costs for on-site preparation, assembly or original system installation, & for piping or wiring to interconnect a system to the home.",  
      "requirements": "A taxpayer may claim a credit of 30% of qualified expenditures for a system that serves a dwelling unit that is owned & used as a residence by the taxpayer. Expenditures include labor costs for on-site preparation, assembly or original system installation, & for piping or wiring to interconnect a system to the home. The bill extends the 30% ITC for residential solar property for eight years through December 31, 2016."  
    }
  ]
}

Get One Incentive

Retrieve one incentive by incentiveId.

Resource URI

GET /rest/v1/incentives/{incentiveId}

Request parameters

Name	Type	Description
populateDetails	Boolean	Whether to include the applicabilities.
populateDocuments	Boolean	Whether to return link(s) to the relevant document(s).

Example

GET /rest/v1/incentives/3163702

{  
  "status": "success",  
  "count": 1,  
  "type": "Incentive",  
  "results": [  
    {  
      "incentiveId": 3163702,  
      "masterIncentiveId": 3163702,  
      "tariffCode": "None",  
      "incentiveName": "Residential Solar Energy System Equipment Tax Credit",  
      "lseId": 100287,  
      "lseName": "State of New York Incentives",  
      "serviceType": "SOLAR_PV",  
      "customerClass": "RESIDENTIAL",  
      "startDate": "2012-08-01",  
      "endDate": null,  
      "isExhausted": false,  
      "projectType": "solarPv",  
      "incentiveType": "taxCredit",  
      "rate": 25,  
      "rateUnit": "PERCENTAGE",  
      "documents": null,  
      "jurisdiction": "state",  
      "quantityKey": {  
        "keyName": "systemCost",  
        "displayName": "System Cost",  
        "description": "Cost of the solar system in USD. ",  
        "quantityUnit": "USD"  
      },  
      "quantityKeyCap": null,  
      "state": "NY",  
      "percentCostCap": null,  
      "percentCostCapKey": {  
        "keyName": null  
      },  
      "paymentCap": 5000,  
      "paymentDuration": 1,  
      "incentivePaidTo": "tenantOrOwner",  
      "projectTypeExclusive": false,  
      "applicabilities": [  
        {  
          "applicabilityKey": "systemSizeDcW",  
          "displayName": "System Size DC W",  
          "description": "Size of the solar system in Watts DC",  
          "maxValue": 25000,  
          "quantityUnit": "W"  
        }  
      ],  
      "summary": "Enacted in August 1997, this personal income tax credit originally applied to expenditures on solar-electric (PV) equipment used on residential property. The credit, equal to 25% percent of the cost of equipment and installation, was expanded in August 2005 to include solar-thermal equipment. The solar-thermal provisions apply to taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2006. The credit is capped at $5,000 for solar-energy systems placed in service on or after September 1, 2006. In August 2012 the credit was amended yet again to allow it to be claimed for systems installed under lease or power purchase agreements (PPAs) of at least 10 years in length. For third-party owned systems, the residential homeowner may claim a tax credit in the amount of lease or PPA payments made during the taxable year, for up to 15 years.",  
      "requirements": "Systems must be new and in compliance with all applicable performance and safety standards. Electricity generation systems must be grid connected. Systems must comply with the 25 kW capacity limit on residential. The solar energy system must use solar radiation to produce energy for heating, cooling, hot water, or electricity for residential use.  The system must also be installed and used at your principal residence in New York State."  
    }  
  ]  
}

Get Incentive Applicabilities

Get a list of properties representing the universe of applicabilities, restricted by the specified parameters. Use this endpoint when entering new markets to identify what data you need to collect from customers to find and calculate incentives. This endpoint accepts many of the same parameters as Get Solar Incentives.

Resource URI

GET /rest/v1/incentives/applicabilities

Request parameters

Name	Type	Description
projectType	String	Restrict the search to the given project type.
incentiveType	String	Restrict the search to the given incentive type.
country	String	Restrict the search to the given country.
lseId	Integer	Restrict the search to the given LSE.
customerClasses	String	Type of customer. Choices are `RESIDENTIAL`, `GENERAL`, and `SPECIAL_USE`.
state	String	Restrict the search for applicabilities to the given state.
zipCode	String	Restrict the search to the given ZIP code.
addressString	String	Restrict the search to the given `addressString`.
effectiveOn	Date	Get only those incentives that are available as of the specified date. Defaults to today's date, restricting the list of applicabilities to only those on active incentives.
isExhausted	Boolean	Get incentives that are exhausted (or not). Defaults to `false`, restricting the list of applicabilities to only those on non-exhausted incentives.

Example

The following example request retrieves the applicabilities for residential solar incentives in ZIP code 95448.

GET /rest/v1/incentives/applicabilities?zipCode=95448&projectType=solarPv&customerClasses=RESIDENTIAL

{  
  "status": "success",  
  "count": 2,  
  "type": "IncentiveApplicability",  
  "results": [  
    {  
      "applicabilityKey": "systemOwnership",  
      "displayName": "System Ownership",  
      "description": "If incentive requires the system to be owned by the Host or Third Party to qualify.  ",  
      "choices": [  
        {  
          "displayValue": "Host",  
          "value": "host",  
          "dataValue": "host",  
          "likelihood": null  
        },  
        {  
          "displayValue": "Third Party",  
          "value": "thirdParty",  
          "dataValue": "thirdParty",  
          "likelihood": null  
        }  
      ]  
    },  
    {  
      "applicabilityKey": "systemSizeAcW",  
      "displayName": "System Size AC W",  
      "description": "Size of the solar system in Watts AC",  
      "quantityUnit": "W"  
    }  
  ],  
  "pageCount": 25,  
  "pageStart": 0  
}