Sunprint
At a glance
If you're a PG&E, SCE or SDG&E customer who qualifies for CARE or FERA and lives in a disadvantaged community, you can get a 20% bill discount backed by solar built elsewhere, through DAC-GT. Most other households can't join a community solar project for savings in 2026. The CPUC created a Community Renewable Energy program for that in 2024, but its June 2026 decision says no funding is available, after the U.S. EPA ended California's Solar for All grant in August 2025.
Which option fits you
You qualify for CARE or FERA and live in a disadvantaged community
20% off your bill. The CPUC says you may already be enrolled: look for the DAC-GT discount on your bill.
You get your power through Clean Power Alliance, a community choice provider
A 20% discount from a local solar project in a disadvantaged community. Clean Power Alliance still runs this program.
You want 100% renewable power and don't qualify for the discounts
You stay on your rate and pay the program's cost. It's about cleaner power, not a lower bill.
You want a community solar bill credit, like in other states
California adopted a Community Renewable Energy program in 2024, but it has no funding to launch.
You own your home and have a usable roof
Usually the only option here that lowers your bill without income limits.
DAC-GT: the 20% discount
The Disadvantaged Communities Green Tariff lets income-qualified customers who can't put solar on their own roof benefit from larger solar projects and get 20% off their bill. You qualify if you meet the CARE or FERA income rules and live in a disadvantaged community, which the CPUC defines mainly as the top 25% of census tracts in the state's CalEnviroScreen pollution and vulnerability ranking. It's open to residential customers, not only homeowners.
In June 2024 the CPUC moved the Community Solar Green Tariff's remaining capacity into DAC-GT and widened which areas count as disadvantaged communities. From July 1, 2026, a 2025 state law (AB 1207) changed how it's paid for: the utilities now fund it from the public purpose surcharge on bills instead of greenhouse gas allowance proceeds.
What happened to the Community Solar Green Tariff
CSGT was California's closest thing to classic community solar: a local project of 1.38 MW or less, sponsored by a local government or nonprofit, giving nearby residents in disadvantaged communities 20% off. It was created in 2018 and began enrolling customers in 2022, with 3.37 MW of capacity in total. In June 2024 the CPUC ended most of it, keeping legacy projects, to cut down on overlapping programs as a 2022 law (AB 2316) required. Clean Power Alliance, the community choice energy provider, still runs its CSGT program; in April 2026 the CPUC marked the opening of a 1.32 MW Clean Power Alliance project on a warehouse roof in Carson.
The Green Tariff: cleaner power, not savings
The Modified Green Tariff is open to PG&E, SCE and SDG&E customers who buy their power from the utility. You stay on your usual rate, and the utility "tops off" your supply to 100% clean energy with new renewable projects in its own territory. The CPUC designed it so participants pay the program's costs, so it doesn't lower your bill. Statewide it's capped at 562 MW, and each utility's tariff sets enrollment, waitlist and capacity rules.
The new Community Renewable Energy program, on hold
The CPUC adopts a Community Renewable Energy program under state law, with details to come later.
The U.S. EPA notifies the CPUC that it's ending California's Solar for All award. The state is challenging that in court.
The CPUC finalizes the program's details but finds no funds available, and drops the plan to have other customers fund a bill credit adder.
If outside funding is found, each utility must file a plan with the CPUC. Low-income customers would be enrolled automatically to fill 51% of each project's capacity.
Until then, there's no open community solar subscription for most California homes. Be wary of anyone selling one as a state program.
If you can use your own roof
For homeowners, rooftop solar remains the option that cuts your own bill without income limits, though under net billing the savings come mostly from power you use at home. Our is solar worth it in California? guide and net billing explainer show how that works, and free solar panels covers no-cost programs for income-qualified homeowners.
What a free quote call gets you
- One verified local installer
- The installed price for your roof
- Your payback years from that price
- Free, with no obligation
See what solar could save you
About a minute, and no phone number needed. If the number looks good, a free quote call gets you the exact price.
Common questions
Is there community solar in California?
Only in limited forms. Income-qualified customers in disadvantaged communities can get a 20% discount through DAC-GT, and Clean Power Alliance still runs a Community Solar Green Tariff program. The CPUC adopted a broader Community Renewable Energy program in 2024, but its June 2026 decision found no funding available to launch it.
Who qualifies for DAC-GT?
PG&E, SCE and SDG&E area customers who meet the CARE or FERA income rules and live in a disadvantaged community, mainly the top 25% of census tracts in CalEnviroScreen. The CPUC says you may be enrolled automatically, so check your bill for the discount.
Can renters get community solar in California?
Yes, if they qualify for DAC-GT: it's open to residential customers, not only homeowners. There's no general community solar subscription for renters who don't meet its income and location rules.
Does the Green Tariff save money?
No. The Modified Green Tariff tops off your power to 100% renewable, and the CPUC designed it so participants pay its costs.
Why hasn't California launched its new community solar program?
The CPUC's June 2026 decision says no funds are available after the U.S. EPA ended California's Solar for All award in August 2025. If outside funding is found, the utilities must file implementation plans.
Related guides
- California solar calculator
- Free solar panels in California
- California solar incentives
- Is solar worth it in California?
- Average electric bill in California
- NEM 3.0 (net billing) in California
Program rules, capacity and funding change; check your utility's or community choice provider's page for current enrollment. This page explains the programs; it isn't an offer to enroll you. Sources: CPUC: Solar in Disadvantaged Communities · CPUC: Community Solar Green Tariff · CPUC: Modified Green Tariff · CPUC Decision 26-06-006 (June 2026) · CPUC: Low Income Solar Programs. Reviewed October 2026.
Next guideSolar leases in California →