California’s Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing Program

The SOMAH program will provide up to $100 million in rebates annually for the next decade to put solar on multifamily affordable housing in California, while allowing tenants to access the benefits. Enacted by 2015’s AB 693 and adopted through a CPUC decision in 2017, SOMAH gives tenants access to credits under a virtual net metering tariff. Qualifying systems receive incentives initially set at a base rate of $3.20 per watt for the portion of PV systems serving tenants and $1.10 per watt for the portion serving common areas, though these incentives decline annually. SOMAH is funded through California’s cap-and-trade greenhouse gas program.