Comments on: California Solar Series: Los Angeles, Part One http://www.getsolar.com/blog/california-solar-series-los-angeles-part-one/3279/ Get the latest news on solar homes, solar panels & renewable energy Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:47:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Sunset Beach Solar » Great series on California solar incentives and rebates! http://www.getsolar.com/blog/california-solar-series-los-angeles-part-one/3279/comment-page-1/#comment-1841 Sunset Beach Solar » Great series on California solar incentives and rebates! Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:46:49 +0000 http://www.getsolar.com/blog/?p=3279#comment-1841 [...] Part one deals with the Southern California Edison and LADWP incentives and part two focuses on the city utilities of Vernon,  Azusa, Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank. [...] [...] Part one deals with the Southern California Edison and LADWP incentives and part two focuses on the city utilities of Vernon,  Azusa, Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank. [...]

]]> By: Margaret Collins http://www.getsolar.com/blog/california-solar-series-los-angeles-part-one/3279/comment-page-1/#comment-1821 Margaret Collins Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:21:16 +0000 http://www.getsolar.com/blog/?p=3279#comment-1821 Al, that's an excellent point, and thank you for bringing it up. It's a bit more complicated than just gross vs. net, however. Here's how I understand it (keeping in mind I'm not a tax attorney or an accountant): The federal tax credit can be taken on the gross cost, but then you owe tax on the amount of the credit. If you take the 30% on net cost, you pay no tax on the amount of the credit. So the choice depends on your tax bracket--it can make more sense for people to take the credit on the gross amount and pay tax on it, as it usually works out to still be a higher amount. Most solar calculators and simple estimates you'll find do use 30% of gross as a rule of thumb--this lovely tax stuff tends to come into play only with professional calculators and full solar quotes. Al, that’s an excellent point, and thank you for bringing it up. It’s a bit more complicated than just gross vs. net, however. Here’s how I understand it (keeping in mind I’m not a tax attorney or an accountant):

The federal tax credit can be taken on the gross cost, but then you owe tax on the amount of the credit. If you take the 30% on net cost, you pay no tax on the amount of the credit. So the choice depends on your tax bracket–it can make more sense for people to take the credit on the gross amount and pay tax on it, as it usually works out to still be a higher amount.

Most solar calculators and simple estimates you’ll find do use 30% of gross as a rule of thumb–this lovely tax stuff tends to come into play only with professional calculators and full solar quotes.

]]> By: Al Rosen http://www.getsolar.com/blog/california-solar-series-los-angeles-part-one/3279/comment-page-1/#comment-1820 Al Rosen Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:04:09 +0000 http://www.getsolar.com/blog/?p=3279#comment-1820 I believe that the federal tax credit is 30% of the net (after rebate) cost, not 30% of the gross (pre-rebate) cost. I believe that the federal tax credit is 30% of the net (after rebate) cost, not 30% of the gross (pre-rebate) cost.

]]> By: California Solar Series: Los Angeles, Part Two | GetSolar.com Blog http://www.getsolar.com/blog/california-solar-series-los-angeles-part-one/3279/comment-page-1/#comment-1819 California Solar Series: Los Angeles, Part Two | GetSolar.com Blog Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:02:31 +0000 http://www.getsolar.com/blog/?p=3279#comment-1819 [...] offered by the municipal utilities of Vernon, Azusa, Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank. Check out Part One of our LA coverage for details of SCE and LADWP solar rebates and for a review of [...] [...] offered by the municipal utilities of Vernon, Azusa, Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank. Check out Part One of our LA coverage for details of SCE and LADWP solar rebates and for a review of [...]

]]> By: Margaret Collins http://www.getsolar.com/blog/california-solar-series-los-angeles-part-one/3279/comment-page-1/#comment-1815 Margaret Collins Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:57:17 +0000 http://www.getsolar.com/blog/?p=3279#comment-1815 We certainly wouldn't mind a transparent tracking tool for LADWP solar projects! I haven't yet been able to find one. However, you should be able to email <mailto:Renewables@ladwp.com>Renewables@ladwp.com for current info. We certainly wouldn’t mind a transparent tracking tool for LADWP solar projects! I haven’t yet been able to find one. However, you should be able to email Renewables@ladwp.com for current info.

]]> By: ECD Fan http://www.getsolar.com/blog/california-solar-series-los-angeles-part-one/3279/comment-page-1/#comment-1814 ECD Fan Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:25:54 +0000 http://www.getsolar.com/blog/?p=3279#comment-1814 Do you know how to track reservations and installations under the LADWP program? Tracking the CSI is quite easy (see http://www.californiasolarstatistics.ca.gov/reports/ ), but LADWP is a mystery. Do you know how to track reservations and installations under the LADWP program? Tracking the CSI is quite easy (see http://www.californiasolarstatistics.ca.gov/reports/ ), but LADWP is a mystery.

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