On September 30th, 2013, the SSREIP ended the incentive for commercial PV systems and wind incentives for all customer categories. On December 31st, 2014, the SSREIP ended the incentive for residential PV systems, both standard and leasing. As of January 31st, 2015 the Efficiency Adder was no longer available for solar reservations. The Special Category PV incentive remained in effect until funding ran out mid-2015, at which point the incentive was retired. The micro-hydro incentive was retired on June 30th, 2015 for all customer categories.
All systems must be installed in Vermont by a qualified Reserving Partner through Renewable Energy Vermont (except for micro-hydro systems, which did not have a Reserving Partner program).
Installation was not permitted to begin prior to reservation approval. If installation began before the reservation for the incentive was approved, the incentive was not paid.
All projects on buildings older than 50 years, and/or with ground disturbance (footings, trenching, etc.), must be in compliance with the State Historic Preservation Act. The Final Project Documentation and Incentive Request required a letter of compliance from the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation Act for such projects.
Only grid-connected PV systems were eligible for incentives. All new systems were required to include the components necessary to result in a functional, independent system. Upgrades to existing systems were also eligible, but to be eligible, an upgrade must include new modules with a rated output of at least 1 kW. All systems must comply with all applicable requirements of the current version of Vermont Public Service Board Rule 5.100.
Solar PV incentives were designed for systems that would generate at least 1,000 kWh/year per kW of rated DC capacity installed. Systems designed to a produce a lower number of kWh/year were eligible for a lower, pro-rated incentive payment.
See table below for historic solar electric incentive structures.
Special Category Pilot Program: On January 1st, 2014 the SSREIP launched a pilot program to expand the Special Customer category to include the low-income-verified owners of High Performance Mobile Home Replacement Units. In order to be eligible for the Special Customer category in this Pilot Program, beyond standard SSREIP requirements, the mobile home replacement must be located in a non-profit mobile home park registered and approved by the Renewable Energy Resource Center. In order to be registered and approved, the non-profit mobile home park owner must submit documentation of their low-income verification structure. Group net-metered installations were not eligible for the Special Customer Pilot Program. End-users in the Special Customer Pilot Program were not eligible for the Efficiency Adder.
Special Category Community Solar: As of July 25th, 2014 entities in the Special Customer Category were eligible to purchase solar capacity or output of off-site, group net metered systems (less than 500 kW in size) of up to 10 kW and receive the normal Special Customer incentive. These incentive payments were made directly to the Special Category customer.
Electric Vehicle Adder: As of July 25, 2014 the SSREIP piloted a public electric vehicle charging station (level 2 or higher) adder of $1,000 for PV systems installed by Special Customers. The program was limited to 10 systems (first come, first serve).
Only grid-connected wind systems were eligible for incentives. All new systems were required to include the components necessary to result in a functional, independent system. All systems must comply with all applicable requirements of the current version of Vermont Public Service Board Rule 5.100.
See table below for historic wind incentive structures.
Only grid-connected micro-hydro energy systems were eligible for incentives. All new systems must include the components necessary to result in a functional, independent system. All micro-hydro systems must comply with state and federal laws for hydroelectric systems. Upgrades to existing systems were eligible and may include: Upgrades or equipment improvements to generating and water handling equipment, permitted changes to intakes, penstock, or raceways resulting in increased energy output.
Micro-hydro systems were incentivized at $1.75 per 3ft-gallon/minute up to $8,750 for residential and commercial/industrial customers, and at $3.50 per 3ft-gallon/minute up to $17,500 for Special Category customers.
The Efficiency Adder was made available to solar customers who received an energy audit or installed measures recommended in the energy audit report provided by a certified contractor or auditor. Qualifying work was performed within a certain timeframe prior to reservation approval or while the reservation remained open. In 2014, the definition of qualifying work expanded to include the installation of heat pumps even if the audit report did not specifically recommend the measure, due to the technology being relatively new. The Efficiency Adder was provided at $0.15/Watt, up to $350 for residential customers and up to $450 for commercial/industrial and Special Category customers. Wind and micro-hydro systems were ineligible to receive the Efficiency Adder.
| Year | Customer Category | Calculation | Max Base Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012.1-2012.2 | Residential (Standard) | $0.65/Watt | $6,500 |
| Residential (Leasing) | $0.65/Watt | $6,500 | |
| Commercial (Standard) | $0.60/Watt | $36,000 | |
| Commercial (Leasing) | $0.60/Watt | $36,000 | |
| Special Category (Standard) | $2.25/Watt for first 10 kW $1.50/Watt for 10-60 kW |
$97,500 | |
| Special Category (Leasing) | $0.60/Watt | $36,000 | |
| 2012.3 | Residential (Standard) | $0.55/Watt | $5,500 |
| Residential (Leasing) | $0.55/Watt | $5,500 | |
| Commercial (Standard) | $0.55/Watt for first 10 kW $0.50/Watt for 10-25 kW |
$13,000 | |
| Commercial (Leasing) | $0.55/Watt for first 10 kW $0.50/Watt for 10-25 kW |
$13,000 | |
| Special Category (Standard) | $2.10/Watt for first 10 kW $1.40/Watt for 10-50 kW |
$77,000 | |
| Special Category (Leasing) | $0.55/Watt for first 10 kW $0.50/Watt for 10-25 kW |
$13,000 | |
| 2013 | Residential (Standard) | $0.45/Watt | $4,500 |
| Residential (Leasing) | $0.45/Watt | $4,500 | |
| Commercial (Standard) | $0.40/Watt | $4,000 | |
| Commercial (Leasing) | $0.40/Watt | $4,000 | |
| Special Category (Standard) | $1.50/Watt | $15,000 | |
| Special Category (Leasing) | Ineligible | N/A | |
| 2014 | Residential (Standard) | $0.25/Watt | $2,500 |
| Residential (Leasing) | $0.25/Watt | $2,500 | |
| Commercial (Standard) | Ineligible | N/A | |
| Commercial (Leasing) | Ineligible | N/A | |
| Special Category (Standard) | $1.25/Watt | $12,500 | |
| Special Category (Leasing) | $0.25/Watt | $2,500 | |
| 2015 | Residential (Standard) | Ineligible | N/A |
| Residential (Leasing) | Ineligible | N/A | |
| Commercial (Standard) | Ineligible | N/A | |
| Commercial (Leasing) | Ineligible | N/A | |
| Special Category (Standard) | $1.00/Watt | $10,000 | |
| Special Category (Leasing) | Ineligible | N/A |
| Year | Customer Category | Calculation | Max Base Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012.1 | Residential (Standard) | $1.20/kWh | $30,000 |
| Residential (Leasing) | Ineligible | N/A | |
| Commercial (Standard) | $1.20/kWh | $240,000 | |
| Commercial (Leasing) | Ineligible | N/A | |
| Special Category (Standard) | $1.20/kWh | $240,000 | |
| Special Category (Leasing) | Ineligible | N/A | |
| 2012.2 | Residential (Standard) | $1.20/kWh | $30,000 |
| Residential (Leasing) | $1.20/kWh | $30,000 | |
| Commercial (Standard) | $1.20/kWh | $240,000 | |
| Commercial (Leasing) | $1.20/kWh | $240,000 | |
| Special Category (Standard) | $1.20/kWh | $240,000 | |
| Special Category (Leasing) | $1.20/kWh | $240,000 | |
| 2012.3 | Residential (Standard) | $1.20/kWh | $30,000 |
| Residential (Leasing) | $0.90/kWh | $30,000 | |
| Commercial (Standard) | $0.90/kWh | $180,000 | |
| Commercial (Leasing) | $0.90/kWh | $180,000 | |
| Special Category (Standard) | $0.90/kWh | $180,000 | |
| Special Category (Leasing) | $0.90/kWh | $180,000 | |
| 2013 | Residential (Standard) | $1.20/kWh | $18,000 |
| Residential (Leasing) | Ineligible | N/A | |
| Commercial (Standard) | $1.20/kWh | $18,000 | |
| Commercial (Leasing) | Ineligible | N/A | |
| Special Category (Standard) | $1.20/kWh | $18,000 | |
| Special Category (Leasing) | Ineligible | N/A |
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