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.
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.
What type of existing space heating system are you replacing?
Questions 6–11 will help determine whether you qualify for both TECH and BayREN incentives.
6.
What type of equipment are you installing?
BayREN only layers unitary, in-unit heat pump water heating system installations with TECH at the moment.
7.
What type of existing water heating system are you replacing?
Gas or propane water heater replacement
8.
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.”
Electric resistance water heater replacement
9.
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
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.”
Single-family HP HVAC system installations
11.
What type of existing space heating system are you replacing?
Multifamily HP HVAC system installations
12.
What type of existing space heating system are you replacing?
Questions 13–16 will help determine whether you qualify for both TECH and 3CE incentives
13.
What type of equipment are you installing?
14.
What type of water heating system are you replacing?
TECH and 3CE both support gas/propane to HPWH conversion, but only TECH supports converting from an electric resistance system. Neither program supports HPWH to HPWH conversions.
15.
What type of HVAC system are you replacing?
If you are converting from an electric resistance water heating system to a heat pump water heating system, you qualify for TECH incentives but not 3CE incentives. Heat pump to heat pump conversions are not eligible for incentives.
16.
Is the existing gas, propane, or wood-burning system being decommissioned?
3CE requires that existing gas heating systems be decommissioned after installing the heat pump system. TECH allows for furnace backup if the system is part of an existing AHRI-matched system. Installing a furnace backup yourself will disqualify you from TECH incentives.
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 electric resistance to HPWH incentives
Incentive: $1,000
—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 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.
Qualifies for TECH gas/propane-to-HPWH incentive and MAY be eligible for BayREN multifamily incentives
Incentive: $3,100 from TECH
—while incentives are available. Please see our budget table, which is regularly updated with TECH incentive budget details.
BayREN only supports unitary, in-unit replacements and cannot be leveraged for central system installations. However, you may be eligible for BayREN BAMBE program incentives for multifamily installations in the nine Bay Area counties depending on the totality of your building upgrades.
Qualifies for TECH electric resistance-to-HPWH incentive or HVAC incentive—and MAY be eligible for BayREN multifamily incentives
Incentive: $1,000 from TECH
—while incentives are available. Please see our budget table, which is regularly updated with TECH incentive budget details.
BayREN only supports unitary, in-unit replacements where a heat pump water heater is replacing a gas or propane system and cannot be leveraged for central system installations. However, you may be eligible for BayREN BAMBE program incentives for multifamily installations in the nine Bay Area counties depending on the totality of your building upgrades.
Qualifies for TECH and 3CE HPWH incentives
Incentive:
$3,100 from TECH + additional 3CE incentive
—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
3CE incentive amounts vary by both building type and customer rate type. Customers who are on CARE/FERA rates qualify for higher incentives. View Central Coast Community Energy’s Electrify Your Home flyer (note that the incentive amounts in this flyer include TECH incentives) and visit 3cenergy.org to learn more.
Qualifies for TECH and 3CE HVAC incentives
Incentive:
$1,000 from TECH + additional 3CE incentive
—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
3CE incentive amounts vary by both building type and customer rate type. Customers who are on CARE/FERA rates qualify for higher incentives. View Central Coast Community Energy’s Electrify Your Home flyer (note that the incentive amounts in this flyer include TECH incentives) and visit 3cenergy.org to learn more.
Does not qualify for TECH program incentives
Customers must reside in California for the project to qualify for incentives. Additional terms and conditions apply—
- For HPWH installations, TECH does not support HPWH to HPWH conversions
- 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.
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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