## C4 Photovoltaic Mandate

Question

The 2019 PV requirements are often referred to as the “PV mandate.” Is this requirement truly a mandate?

Answer

The word “mandate” does not precisely describe the 2019 Standards PV requirement, as it implies a rigid and inflexible set of requirements. Builder and homeowner choice and flexibility are essential parts of the building energy efficiency standards approach. Builders can use more energy efficiency, demand-responsive measures, thermal storage, and battery storage technologies to reduce the PV size by 40 percent or more, while maximizing the benefits to the homeowners, the grid, and the environment. If first costs are the main concern, PV lease arrangements with little or no upfront cost may be used to comply with the energy standards PV requirements. In the future, when approved by the Energy Commission, community-shared solar options may be an alternative to onsite PV systems. Exceptions to the PV requirement exist for specific instances in which a house may be built in an area of insufficient solar availability or where electricity rates are uncommonly low.