Suntrek Industries of Irvine, California is always very interested in what is going on legislatively in the State of California and would take this time to inform its clients and potential clients that one should always ask us what the potential economic benefits and tax incentives and government programs that are available for solar energy systems.

Recently in California, Assembly Bill #1470, aka AB1470, was amended by a member of the legislature to place a surcharge on non-core (non-residential) gas (natural) customers to pay for a program that would give rebates to residential customers who swap out (replace) their hot water heater in the home.  The assembly bill would allow any California resident who makes below 300% of the federal poverty level to qualify for a monetary rebate if and when they replace their gas hot water heater with a solar gas water heater.  The assembly bill specifies that the program would spend up to $250,000,000 over 10 years. The California assembly bill is opposed by PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric), Calpine (electric company), and CIPA (California Independent Petroleum Association). CIPA, PG&E and Calpine believe that there are already existing incentives for more efficient hot water heaters in existing law.  The California Assembly Bill 1470 would create an increase in gas transmission charges for non-core customers, which translates to a tax on business customers.