Over the past few months the California Energy Commission has reported a substantial increase in the number of rebate reservation applications received for New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP) funding. Due to this surge in program activity, the amount of monies requested will exceed current program funding.

The California Energy Commission will hold a hearing on November 16, 2011 to address the shortfall in program funding. At present, commission staff is proposing to establish a waiting list for the NSHP and criteria for processing rebate reservation applications. If the staff recommendations are adopted at the upcoming hearing, incomplete rebate reservation applications will not be added to the waiting list and will be returned to the applicant. Builder applicants with incomplete applications would be permitted to re-apply for program funding by submitting a new rebate reservation application. However, the new rebate reservation application would be subject to any new requirements adopted, including any declining rebate levels.