Pasadena Water and Power Shines Light on Solar Program Improvements

The City of Pasadena continues to make strides in its solar power program, with significant improvements in recent years aimed at streamlining the process for residents interested in solar installations. 

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, Pasadena Water and Power will provide an update to the City Council’s Municipal Services Committee about the solar program’s history, processes, and the most recent enhancements PWP has made, along with the Planning Department, and the Fire Department.

Pasadena’s Solar Program, which follows the Net Energy Metering (NEM) principle, is designed to enable customers to receive credits for the surplus electricity they supply to the electric grid. By being in the program, customers are allowed to qualify their renewable generating facilities, offset electric costs, and size their installations based on historical usage.

The solar program in Pasadena traces its origins back to 2008 when it was established with a paper application system and solar rebates. In 2013, the program transitioned to an online application system, PowerClerk 1.0. Solar rebates, which had been a part of the program, concluded at the end of 2017. In 2018, an upgrade to the online application portal was made with PowerClerk 2.0.

Since the program’s inception, the number of solar installations has seen significant growth, a preliminary report by PWP said. By 2022, the city boasted a total solar capacity of 23.4 megawatts. These installations have predominantly been in the residential sector, comprising 96% of all installations.

The PWP report shows the process of obtaining solar installations going through several steps, including PWP initial review, obtaining permits, customer construction, inspections, meter installation, and the Permission to Operate (PTO) request. 

This year, several key improvements were introduced, including the introduction of the Pasadena SolarApp Express, a streamlined online application process, which helps expedite the solar installation process for single-family dwellings and ADUs.

PWP has also simplified the process for solar PV inspections with a goal to improve fire inspection turnaround time.The utility has also released a comprehensive guide to educate customers about their rights, how to find a contractor, types of solar contracts, and how their bills will change.

The PWP website has been updated with a new landing page, FAQs, revised application instructions, and updated links and attachments, making it easier for customers to navigate the solar program.

For more information about the Pasadena Solar Program, visit www.PWPweb.com/solar. 

Tuesday’s meeting of the Municipal Services Committee begins at 4 p.m. at the City Council at City Hall.