Solar*Rewards

Minnesota customers, are you considering a solar power system to produce renewable energy for your home or business? We can help. Solar*Rewards® offers incentives and rebates for installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.

Reduce your energy bill by producing your own renewable energy. In addition, if you do not consume all of your PV production, the excess generation will be credited on your bill.

Currently, the state of Minnesota also offers an additional rebate if you buy solar panels involving Minnesota manufacturers. See Minnesota Bonus Rebate Program for more information. Other rebates, grants or tax credits may be available.

We must have done our Home Energy Audit or Turn Key Energy Assessment in the last three years on the property where you plan to install the system. Assessments and audits by other organizations do not qualify.

Solar*Rewards Program Status

Xcel Energy is no longer accepting new application submittals for the Solar*Rewards and Minnesota Bonus programs as there is an ample supply of reviewed projects to fully allocate the current budgets.

A new solar bill passed during the 2013 Minnesota legislative session. We will be working with the Minnesota Department of Commerce to interpret the legislation and outline next steps. We will provide additional details on this website once additional information is available.

The following table indicates actual Solar*Rewards program performance as of date indicated. This table will be updated monthly.

¹ MN Bonus payments represent 20 percent of the total listed. Total payment is made over five years.

When you install solar panels through our Solar*Rewards program, you can:

• Reduce your energy bill with your own renewable energy.
• Get a one- time rebate to offset installation costs (other rebates and benefits may also be available).
• Receive credit for excess energy production on your bill.
• Help the environment.

When we buy your excess energy, it’s added to the grid which reduces emissions. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a 3.5 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system produces enough clean energy reducing the usage of fossil fuels and preventing emissions equal to a car driving an average of 6,208 miles.

Rebates

When you qualify and install a solar PV system through our Minnesota Solar*Rewards program, you’ll receive our one-time incentive payment of $1.50 per installed watt (W) for your system.

¹ Funds committed have been paid out to customers, funds reserved have been guaranteed to customers through a Solar*Rewards Acknowledgement Letter.

² Additional budget dollars represent 2011 projects and rebates that are being process in 2012.

Other rebates and benefit programs may also be available to you:

• The Minnesota Bonus PV Solar Rebate Program offers rebates for solar PV systems that involve Minnesota manufacturers. See Minnesota Bonus Rebate Program for more information.
• The state and federal government also offer other rebates, grants and tax credits. Visit the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security for more information.

Reimbursement

When your system produces excess energy, you’ll earn credit on your bill. When your total bill credit amount reaches more than $25, we’ll automatically send you a check for that amount. A credit of less than $25 will be rolled over to your next monthly bill.

As a part of the Solar*Rewards contract, the customer agrees to convey all of the Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) or similar green attributes produced by the system to Xcel Energy for the 20-year term of the contract.

A Renewable Energy Credit (REC), also known as renewable energy certificate or "greentag", is an environmental commodity that represents the added value, environmental benefits and cost of renewable energy above conventional methods of producing electricity. Xcel Energy will record the RECs produced by your system using a PV production meter.

To qualify, you must:

• Be an electric residential or business customer of Xcel Energy in Minnesota.
• Get preapproval on your solar project from us prior to purchase and installation.
• Install photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that produce electricity. Solar water heating systems do not qualify.
• Own the PV system and the property/building on which the system will be installed.
• Agree to connect your system to our electrical grid.
• Have done our Home Energy Audit (residential customers) or Turn Key Assessment (business customers) with us in the last three years on the planned installation property.
• Sign a 20-year contract.
• Install a system that produces between 0.5 and less than 40.00kW. Systems 40.00kW or more do not qualify.

Preapproval Phase

1. Verify your planned system meets all eligibility requirements (see above).
2. Choose an installer.
   • Your installer can complete the application for you or you can designate them in it.
   • Installation contractors must first register at xcelenergysolarrewards.com. We must approve their registration request. It may take up to five business days to process.
3. Register and complete the online application at xcelenergysolarrewards.com.
4. Download and complete the application fee form. Include an application fee of $250 by check and mail it to us – see where to send materials below.
5. Submit a valid line diagram, site plan and testing procedure for pre-approval via email, fax, mail or upload online – see where to send materials below.
6. Application review and pre-approval
   • Once reviewed, we update your application status online and you will be notified by email of pre-approval. This may take up to two weeks after receiving all documents.
   • If your application is declined the Application Fee will not be returned to you unless the associated engineering costs (including, but not limited to approving the line diagram, site plan and testing procedure) have not yet been incurred for the application.

Post-Approval Phase

7. Sign and send back your acknowledgment letter via email, fax, mail or upload online –  see where to send materials below.
8. Complete installation and perform ‘Final Submission’ online. During Final Submission you must enter all the serial numbers of the panels and inverters. Entering 0001-0050 is not acceptable.
9. Submit final documentation via email, fax, mail or upload online – see where to send materials below.
   • Itemized invoice with actual installation costs, customer’s address, and kW.
   • Documentation of all necessary town / municipal / county inspections.
   • Proof of customer’s $300,000 minimum liability insurance at the install address.
10. Schedule installation of production and bi-directional meter and testing. You will receive an email on how to schedule the meter installation/system witness test.
11. Download and submit the final contract and M-RETS form via email, fax, mail or upload online. Your rebate check should be processed in about 30 days after receipt of final documents. See a sample contract.

Send all application materials to:

Your solar panel system must:

• Receive preapproval prior to proceeding with purchase and installation.
• Have photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that produce electricity. Solar water heating systems do not qualify.
• Be installed on a property/building that you own.
• Produce between 0.5 and less than 40.00kW. Systems 40.00kW or more do not qualify.
• Must be connected to the grid.
• Have panels listed on the California Energy Commissions (CEC) list.

See the Who qualifies section above for additional requirements.

Installation Contractors

You can use the installer of your choice or install the system yourself. Confirm that your installer understands our installation requirements and agrees to our guidelines. Some resources to find installers include:

For questions on the Solar*Rewards program, email SolarProgramMN@xcelenergy.com.

For questions about solar energy systems, options and installations, please contact your contractor.

For additional information about solar energy systems and our program, see our FAQs

If you are an installation contractor and would like an installer account, please complete our online application at xcelenergysolarrewards.com. You will then be able to complete an application for your customer.

Additional rebates, grants and tax credits for solar energy systems:

• Minnesota Bonus Rebate program
• Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security