Santa Clara Water & Sewer – Solar Water Heating Program

Program Overview

Implementing Sector Utility
Category Financial Incentive
State California
Incentive Type Leasing Program
Web Site http://santaclaraca.gov/index.aspx?page=1046
Administrator City of Santa Clara Water & Sewer Utility
Utilities City of Santa Clara
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies Solar Water Heat, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Solar Pool Heating
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Local Government, Residential

Summary

In 1975, the City of Santa Clara established the nation’s first municipal solar utility. Under the Solar Water Heating Program, the Santa Clara Water & Sewer Utilities Department supplies, installs and maintains solar water heating systems for residents and businesses. In addition, the city has also installed solar energy equipment for a number of its own facilities.

Solar equipment is available from the city for heating swimming pools, process water and domestic hot water. The hardware (solar collectors, controls and storage tanks) is owned and maintained by the city under a rental agreement. The renter pays an initial installation fee and a monthly utility fee. For solar pool heating systems, the installation cost is $4,128 plus $242 per panel. There is a monthly service charge for all systems based on the number of panels. Pool systems are billed a monthly service charge for six billing cycles per year (generally from April to September), although the system is available for use all year.

Contact

Organization:
City of Santa Clara Water & Sewer Utility
Address:
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
Phone:
(408) 615-2000