Owners and operators of community and other types of public swimming pools soon will be able to take advantage of rebates for installing solar pool heaters under a new portion of the California Solar Initiative-Thermal Program.

In mid-August, the California Public Utilities Commission approved the additional rebates for solar pool heaters at commercial and government facilities, schools, multifamily housing and locations operated by nonprofit organizations. Swimming pools at single-family homes are not eligible for the rebate program.

Advantages of Solar Pool Heating

According to a Department of Energy website, pool owners can significantly reduce heating costs by installing a solar pool heater. The systems are cost competitive with both gas and heat pump pool heaters, and they have very low annual operating and maintenance costs. Best of all, solar heating causes no pollution, as it is a renewable energy source, thus greatly reducing a facility’s carbon footprint.

Rebate Program Details

The rebate will start out at $7 per estimated therm displaced per year and decline over the life of the program. System incentives will be paid as a one-time payment based on the incentive derived through a new online calculator. Solar pool systems with a signed-off permit date of January 1, 2013, or later are eligible to apply for the incentive.

Administrators of the CSI-Thermal Program anticipate implementing this new aspect of the program by the end of the year. CCSE administers the program in the San Diego Gas & Electric service territory. Check our CSI-Thermal commercial website later in the year for more details.

The full text of the CPUC final decision is available online.