Solar Electric System Incentives

Incentives for installing a qualifying solar electric system. To qualify for an incentive you must:

• Install the solar electric system in a commercial or multifamily property, existing or new construction.

Solar Electric System Equipment & Property Requirements

• Select qualified models from the Solar Electric Qualified Equipment List, which can be found in the supporting documents section below.
• System capacity must be 0.5 kWDC or greater.
• System must be installed within 135 degrees of due south.
• Must be installed with a panel tilt between 5-50 degrees.
• Must have less than 15 percent obstacle shading based on analysis of an industry-accepted tool.
• Business customers classified as agricultural producers will qualify for an incentive match up to $10,000.
  Agricultural producers are defined as “businesses engaged in the production of grain, livestock, milk, poultry, fruits, vegetables, bees and honey, fish, shellfish, or other common agricultural products including greenhouses.”

Supporting Documents and Information

Solar Electric Qualified Modules

Solar Electric Qualified Inverter List

2024 Solar Electric Incentives Overview [PDF]

To be eligible to participate, the following requirements must be met:

• System must be installed on a site served by a participating electric utility.
• System must be grid-tied.
• System must be installed behind the meter.
• System and components must have a minimum of a five-year warranty.
• Incentive cannot exceed cost to customer.
• Systems purchased and installed between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, are eligible for funding under the 2024 program year only.
• The only costs eligible for incentives are materials, equipment, and external labor.
• Funding is limited and available on an annual first-come, first-served basis.
• The program is not responsible for items (i.e., applications, supporting documentation, incentive checks) lost or damaged in the mail.
• Focus on Energy will only pay one incentive for each technology per meter per calendar year. Incentives paid on this application cannot be claimed on another Focus on Energy application. Similarly, incentives can only be paid to one person or entity.
• All equipment installations are subject to verification inspection by the program to ensure the equipment is properly installed and operating. Participants must allow, if requested, the program or a program representative reasonable access to their home or business to verify the installed equipment.
• For specific equipment eligibility, please visit the "Equipment Eligibility" tab of this page.
• The system is purchased new. Resale equipment, new parts installed in existing equipment, or equipment that is leased, rebuilt, rented, received from insurance claims, received from a warranty, received from a grant, or won as a prize do not qualify.
• Equipment is installed by a professional contractor with a valid Wisconsin State professional contractor’s license, appropriate insurance, and permits.
• Equipment is installed conforming to all applicable building, local, state and federal codes, standards, ordinances and regulations, and manufacturer specifications.
• The system is installed in a property owned by the applicant, or the applicant has received permission from the property owner to install the equipment. If you do not own the property where this equipment is installed, as a residing tenant you are responsible for obtaining the owner’s permission to install the equipment for which you are applying for an incentive. Your submission of this application indicates that you have obtained this permission.
• All necessary utility service improvement costs are the responsibility of the customer.
• All necessary service improvement costs, including transformers and service lines, are the responsibility of the customer.
• System installations must be in compliance with all state, local and federal codes, standards and requirements, including any and all applicable utility standards.
• System must be installed in conformity with the manufacturer’s specifications and all applicable codes and standards.
• System owners and installers must obtain all required permits.
• If the project site is serviced by a participating Focus on Energy utility and uses a non-residential rate, the project site does not have to be owned by the applicant. The project/system equipment, however, must be owned by the applicant in order to qualify and confirmation of this ownership should be provided. System ownership must revert to the property owner after a specified period of time, not to exceed 25 years.
• In order to receive a commercial incentive, the system must be connected through a non-residential rate meter.
• Allow approximately 8-10 weeks for your completed application to be processed. Incomplete applications cannot be processed. Failure to complete the application in full and provide the required supporting documentation will either delay the payment process or result in your application being denied. Receipt of an application does not guarantee payment of an incentive.
• Focus on Energy will only pay one incentive for each piece of equipment. Incentives paid on this application cannot be claimed on another Focus on Energy application. Similarly, incentives can only be paid to one person or entity (i.e., either the resident or landlord, not both).

To be considered complete and eligible for incentives, all applications must:

• Be postmarked no later than 60 days after the installation date.
• Be signed by the purchaser (utility account holder, landlord, or applicant signing on behalf of the utility account holder) or Trade Ally.
• Include tax information for all payees
• Include itemized contractor invoice(s) or proof of purchase receipt(s) containing:
  • Billed to payee
  • Equipment make and model
  • Itemized equipment and total installed cost.
  • Total number of units installed
  • Purchase date or installation date
  • Professional contractor’s business/company name, address, and phone number
  • Balance due of zero, paid in full stamp, or payment terms
  • Photos of:
    • The entire installed solar array. This may be multiple pictures,
    • but must clearly demonstrate the number of modules installed.
    • If necessary, a diagram of the system should also be included.
    • The front of building associated with address.
    • The array with building in the background (if not possible, a diagram of system relative to the building).