California Solar Initiative - Multi-Family Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Program

Summary

Note: This program is currently closed. 

The California Solar Initiative (CSI), enacted by SB 1 of 2006, provides financial incentives to customers in investor-owned utility (IOU) territories of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued Decision 08-10-036 in October 2008, establishing a $108 million solar incentive program for the Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) program.

The Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Program provides higher incentives to offset the project costs of installing solar on multifamily affordable housing buildings in California. The goal of the MASH program is to incorporate high levels of energy efficiency and high performing solar systems to help enhance the overall quality of affordable housing. Customers participating the MASH program may participate in virtual net metering (VNM). 

MASH Track 1:
Provides fixed rebates based on the size and expected performance of the system installed. Incentives range from $1.90 - $2.80 per watt depending on whether common area load or tenant load is offset.

MASH Track 2:
Status: Closed
On July 20, 2011 the CPUC issued Decision 11-07-031, which affected the MASH program in a number of ways. One of the changes shifted all remaining Track 2 funds to Track 1.

These incentive amounts are based on expected performance. Incentives are awarded to owners or operators of existing multifamily affordable housing that meets the definition of low-income residential housing in Pub. Util. Code § 2852. In general, a multifamily housing complex fits the definition if it is financed with low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, or local, state or federal loans or grants.

To ease the integration of these systems, the CPUC asked that PG&E, SCE and SDG&E adopt "virtual net metering" tariffs which allow participants to allocate the kWh credits associated with the system across multiple accounts at one site. Contact your utility for more information.

MASH Program Administrators:

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Website: http://www.pge.com/lowincomesolar/
E-mail: solar@pge.com
Phone: 877-743-4112
Mailing Address:
PG&E Solar and Customer Generation - MASH
PO Box 7433
San Francisco, CA 94120

Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE)
Website: http://energycenter.org/index.php/incentive-programs/multifamily-affordable-solar-housing
Email: MASH@energycenter.org
Phone: 858-244-1177
Mailing Address:
9325 Sky Park Court, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92123-1502

Southern California Edison (SCE)
Website: http://www.sce.com/mash
Email: CSIGroup@sce.com
Phone: 800-799-4177 (General Questions) or
866-584-7436 (Program Administration)
Mailing Address:
Attn: MASH Program Manager
SCE Customer Solar & Self-Generation
Southern California Edison
P.O. Box 800
Rosemead, CA 91770-0800