Project Qualification Guide
Which TECH Clean California program or associated partner program is your project eligible for? While this guide does not cover all application requirements and program rules, we are highlighting key requirements so you can easily determine project-level qualifications.
Instructions: Start at question 1, and the guide will take you through the questions relevant to you and your customer. Not all questions on this page will apply to all projects.
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1.
Does your customer live in California?
The equipment must be installed in-state for a California resident in order for the project to qualify for a TECH incentive.
2.
From which utility does your customer receive their electricity?
Need help determining which utility your customer receives electricity from? View these customer bill examples for an idea of what to look out for.
3.
What type of equipment are you installing?
4.
What type of existing water heating system are you replacing?
5.
Is your customer a residential or commercial customer?
Residential vs Commercial
Residential: any project in which there is one heat pump water heater per household. Projects are either Single Family or Multifamily
Commercial: any non-residential project. Projects are either Small Business Unitary or Large Commercial Unitary, depending on the equipment installed.
6a.
Is your customer a single family or a multifamily customer?
Single family vs. multifamily
Single family: A single dwelling unit is owned by the customer. It may be part of a building (e.g. condo, townhouse, campus), but if the system being replaced is only serving that one unit (i.e., it is not a central system), the customer is considered “single family.”
Multifamily: Most often applicable to larger projects where multiple units are being replaced at once, the building is managed by a central entity, and/or the replacement involved is a central system. However, if the system being replaced is only serving one dwelling unit (i.e., it is not a central system), then the customer is considered “single family.”
6b.
Is your customer a small business or a large
commercial customer?
Small Business vs Large Commercial
Small Business Unitary: Small Business Unitary heat pump water heater installations are those that meet the requirements for Residential Unitary system installations—including equipment, installation, and JA13 load-shifting requirements—but that serve a customer on a non-residential time-of-use (TOU) rate.
Large Commercial Unitary: Large Commercial Unitary heat pump water heater installations serve one non-residential customer but do not meet the Small Business Unitary installation definition above and do not serve multifamily residential buildings.
7.
What type of existing space heating system are you replacing?
Questions 7–12 will help determine whether you qualify for both TECH and BayREN incentives.
8.
What type of equipment are you installing?
BayREN only layers unitary, in-unit heat pump water heating system installations with TECH at the moment.
9.
What type of existing water heating system are you replacing?
Gas or propane water heater replacement
9a.
Is your customer a residential or commercial customer?
Residential vs Commercial
Residential: any project in which there is one heat pump water heater per household. Projects are either Single Family or Multifamily
Commercial: any non-residential project. Projects are either Small Business Unitary or Large Commercial Unitary, depending on the equipment installed.
Gas or propane water heater replacement
10.
Is your customer a single family or a multifamily customer?
Single family vs. multifamily
Single family: A single dwelling unit is owned by the customer. It may be part of a building (e.g. condo, townhouse, campus), but if the system being replaced is only serving that one unit (i.e., it is not a central system), the customer is considered “single family.”
Multifamily: Most often applicable to larger projects where multiple units are being replaced at once, the building is managed by a central entity, and/or the replacement involved is a central system. However, if the system being replaced is only serving one dwelling unit (i.e., it is not a central system), then the customer is considered “single family.”
HP HVAC system installations
11.
Is your customer a single family or a multifamily customer?
Single family vs. multifamily
Single family: A single dwelling unit is owned by the customer. It may be part of a building (e.g. condo, townhouse, campus), but if the system being replaced is only serving that one unit (i.e., it is not a central system), the customer is considered “single family.”
Multifamily: Most often applicable to larger projects where multiple units are being replaced at once, the building is managed by a central entity, and/or the replacement involved is a central system. However, if the system being replaced is only serving one dwelling unit (i.e., it is not a central system), then the customer is considered “single family.”
Single-family HP HVAC system installations
12.
What type of existing space heating system are you replacing?
Results
Your project will fall into one of the following categories:
Qualifies for TECH HPWH incentives
Incentive: $3,100+
—while incentives are available. Please see our budget table, which is regularly updated with TECH incentive budget details.
- Eligible products: NEEA Tier 3 and above
- TMV installation requirement: Yes
Qualifies for TECH Large Commercial HPWH incentives
Incentive: $700/kWh – $50,000
—while incentives are available. Please see our budget table, which is regularly updated with TECH incentive budget details.
- Eligible products: Individually installed ENERGY STAR® Commercial WH V 2.0 (or later), ganged-together JA13 compliant or ENERGY STAR® Commercial WH4 V 2.0 (or later).
- TMV installation requirement: Yes
Qualifies for TECH heat pump HVAC incentives
Incentive: $1,000
—while incentives are available. Please see our budget table, which is regularly updated with TECH incentive budget details.
- Product types supported: Unitary package/split, mini/multisplit
- Maximum incentives per project (incentive is based on # of outdoor units): 2
- Minimum equipment efficiency requirements: Title 24 code minimum + AHRI-tested
- Furnace backup conditions: Furnace backup is allowed if part of an existing AHRI-matched system (not to be installed with the new system).
Qualifies for TECH + BayREN HPWH incentives
Incentive: $3,100+ from TECH + 1,000 from BayREN
—while incentives are available. Please see our budget table, which is regularly updated with TECH incentive budget details.
- Eligible products: NEEA Tier 3 and above
- TMV installation requirement: BayREN does not require TMV installation, but to receive the TECH incentive, TMV installation is required.
Does not qualify for TECH program incentives
Customers must reside in California for the project to qualify for TECH incentives. Additional terms and conditions apply—
- For HPWH installations, TECH does not support HPWH to HPWH conversions, and incentives are currently only available to SoCal Gas customers. Incentives may be available from Central Coast Community Energy or other regional programs.
- For HP HVAC installations, TECH does not support HP to HP conversion or heat pump add-ons.
- Furnace back-up is allowed if the furnace is part of an AHRI-matched system and was installed separately.
- TECH is not currently offering incentives for multifamily projects.
Additional incentives and/or tax credits may be available.
Please refer to the following pages for more information:
Incentive Finder
The Switch Is On’s guide to available incentives and programs
Rewiring America IRA Guide
Rewiring America’s guide to Inflation Reduction Act incentives
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