The City of Palm Desert is dedicated to taking steps to help ensure a prosperous energy future for residents.  By focusing on changing habits, retrofitting equipment and creating awareness, the City wishes to set a positive example by showcasing just how easy it is to conserve.

The City, with help from its supporters, has become an energy saving resource for businesses, homeowners, and visitors.  Saving energy doesn't have to be difficult.  In fact, we want to make sure that the information you need to save energy is readily available to make it as easy as possible.

Ways to Save

Rebates and incentives are a great way to save both money and energy.  You can find a list of agencies that offer these programs here.

PACE Programs

The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) manages a regional Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program.  Through this program PACE providers, such as Ygrene, give residential and commercial Palm Desert property owners access to 100 percent financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation building improvements.

This program requires no upfront costs and is repaid through annual property taxes for a period of up to 20 years.  Eligibility is based primarily on property value and equity, rather than credit score. The program covers hundreds of improvements, from solar electric and hot water systems to energy-efficient air conditioning units and water-efficient irrigation systems.

To learn more about PACE or to find additional qualified PACE provides, please call CVAG at (760) 346-1127.

Desert Community Energy (DCE)

Desert Community Energy, or DCE, offers ratepayers a choice in electricity providers and in the type of electricity they use. DCE was formed by the cities of Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Cathedral City and is a community choice aggregator (CCA) as certified by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Its purpose is to provide residents and businesses with cleaner, competitively priced electricity while retaining local control, reinvesting revenues and encouraging local job creation, and helping participating cities meet their climate action goals.

To learn more about Desert Community Energy, call (855) 357-9240. Click here for tips on how use less energy and save money by changing the time of day you use energy: English or Español.

Solar Program 

California is a world leader in renewable energy generation. Solar and wind power, as well as other emerging technologies, are transforming California by helping the state's economy, reducing the reliance on imported energy, and decreasing air pollution.

California Assembly Bill 2188 has been passed directing all local jurisdictions to provide a streamlined and expedited permitting process for qualifying solar electric and domestic hot water projects.  The specific goal of AB2188 is to develop 12,000 mega-watts of small-scale, localized, renewable electrical power (often called "distributed generation") and the reduction in natural gas usage by promoting the use of solar water heating systems.

Striving to be a leader within the Coachella Valley, the City of Palm Desert has implemented a streamlined permitting process to promote both solar electric and domestic hot water permitting. Solar photovoltaic (PV) streamline permits are available for systems under 20kw with battery backup and main panel upgrade. Please review this informational handout for qualifying systems. Note: EV chargers are separate permits. Please click here for more information.

• Information about the installation of solar can be found on this page.

Please note that solar permits will only be accepted electronically using the process outlined below: 

For electronic submittal of Solar, please submit the following digitally using the process outlined below. Please note that only the home-owner, licensed solar contractor, or electrician can pull the permit and plan review will not begin until all fees are paid.

• Application
• Declaration
• Plans (please ensure AC rating for solar is provided)
• Structural Calculations, if applicable
• Signed solar contract (or purchase agreement)

Digital Plan Submittal

Include the permit type and address in the subject line. Make sure all are consistent with file naming. Once your documents are processed, you will receive a download receipt. Please allow 1-3 business days for processing, and anticipate a telephone call or email with further instructions. Note: we cannot accept files over 200MB. Please compress these files before submission.