Arizona's House of Representatives passed two bills which will boost energy efficiency and provide new incentives for solar photovoltaic energy. One of the two bills improves upon current state legislation that offers a tax credits for the installation of renewable energy systems. The other bill provides incentives for energy efficient appliances.

Almost 90 percent of Arizona's residents can qualify for some level of rebate or incentive from utilities in the state, according to Sean Seitz, the President of Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association. Investor-owned utilities like Arizona Public Service are required through the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) legislation to source 1.1 percent of their power from renewables -- a requirement they have partially satisfied by offering rebates for residential solar systems. Municipal utilities like Salt River Project have followed suit by voluntarily enacting similar rebates.

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), which regulates the state's investor-owned utilities, is currently reviewing options to expand the RPS standard, perhaps to as much as 5 percent by 2015 and 15 percent by 2025, according to Seitz.