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How Solar Water Heating Works
Solar water heaters—also called solar hot water systems—can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home or business. They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use, (the sun) is free. Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. Most solar water heaters require a well-insulated storage tank. Solar storage tanks have an additional outlet and inlet connected to and from the collector. In two-tank systems, the solar water heater preheats water before it enters the conventional water heater. In one-tank systems, the back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank.
Current Rebate Amounts
Rebates are available to qualifying customers for the installation of eligible equipment in retrofit or new construction applications. Rebates are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please read all program requirements carefully.
| Facility Type |
Current Rebate Amount |
| Residential |
$14.50/therm or the lesser of 30% of system cost or $3,000 |
| Small Business |
$14.50/therm or the lesser of 30% of system cost or $7,500 |
| Schools, Religious, Non-Profit, and Public |
$19.00/therm or the lesser of 50% of system cost or $30,000 |
Application Process
- Before purchasing or installing your system, complete and submit the Rebate Reservation section of Application
- Within 12 months of Southwest Gas’ reservation approval, purchase and install solar system with a Qualified Contractor* and submit the Rebate Claim Package portion of the program application
After issuing a request for proposals or other solicitation;
- Before purchasing or installing your system, complete and submit the Rebate Reservation section of Application
- Submit within 90 days of Southwest Gas’ reservation approval the Phase 1 Proof-of- Progress Checklist documenting the installation progress
- Submit within 270 days of Southwest Gas’ reservation approval the Phase 2 Proof-of-Progress Checklist
- Within 30 months of Southwest Gas’ reservation approval, purchase and install solar system with a Qualified Contractor* and submit the Rebate Claim Package portion of the program application
Be sure to submit all required documents at each step of the application process. Customers that fail to submit required steps or reply to Southwest Gas’ request for additional information within stated deadlines will lose their rebate reservation and have to reapply at the currently available rebate levels.
Program Requirements
- Must be a Southwest Gas customer in the state of Nevada
- If gas service provided by NV Energy in northern NV (Reno area), customers may be eligible under NV Energy’s gas solar water heating rebate program. For more information visit www.nvenergy.com/renewablegenerations
- Must have gas water heating
- Customers with electric water heating may be eligible under one of NV Energy’s electric solar water heating rebate programs. For more information visit www.nvenergy.com/renewablegenerations
- Equipment must be used to heat domestic hot water (e.g. no solar pool heaters)
- Equipment must be purchased and installed on or after January 1, 2011
- Equipment must consist of new and unused materials
- Equipment must be installed in conformity with the manufacturer’s specifications and all applicable codes and standards
- Equipment must be installed by a Program Qualified Contractor*
- System must have an OG-300 certification or an OG-100 certification or similar certification which is appropriate for the specific type of property and is issued by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation. OG-100 systems also require the stamp or seal of registered professional engineer
- Must utilize a two-tank storage system (note: one-tank storage systems may be eligible but are subject to additional requirements)
- Collectors must be installed to face not more than 90˚ from true south
- Solar Collectors must be installed such that shading does not impact annual performance more than 25% within the first 5 years
- Must be installed with a tilt angle between 15° and 60° as measured against the horizon
- Solar collectors must have manufacturer’s warranty of at least 10 years that covers against defects and undue degradation
- Storage tank(s) must a manufacturer’s warranty of at least 5 years
- Systems must have a workmanship warranty of at least 2 years that covers the installation of the solar thermal system, including labor and materials
*For more information on how to select a Qualified Contractor click here.
Solar Water Heating Resources
E-mail us at: solarwaterheating@swgas.com, or call toll-free at 1-855-743-1603.
