Golden State Solar Guide
Serving all of Northern California
Design My System
Design My System

Solar for your Northern California home

An honest, no-pressure read on whether solar — and a battery — makes sense for your home: the real savings, backup power for outages, and which incentives actually apply to you.

The Northern California solar build-out — press play
Service area
Shaded = the 40-county region we serve. Toggle on the utility-scale plants (then press play to watch them appear by the year each came online, from OpenStreetMap + EIA) or the 39,121 rooftop & distributed arrays. Wondering what your roof could do? Try the Rooftop Designer.
Why solar makes sense here
Among the nation’s highest power bills
PG&E rates keep climbing, so every kilowatt-hour your panels make pays back faster here.
NEM 3.0 makes batteries pay
Exported power earns far less now — a battery lets you use your own solar at night.
Backup for PSPS & wildfire season
A home battery keeps your lights, fridge and Wi-Fi running when the grid goes down.
Incentives, honestly (2026)
The 30% federal buyer credit ended after 2025; SGIP and lease/PPA options may still help.
What today’s rules mean
NEM 3.0 — net billing
Since April 2023, PG&E credits exported solar far below the old NEM 2.0 — so the value is in using your own power, ideally with a battery.
Federal tax credit — ended for buyers
The 30% residential credit ended after 2025 for homeowners who buy; a lease/PPA can still use the federal business credit through 2027.
California SGIP — battery rebate
Can help fund a battery — mainly for wildfire/PSPS, medical-baseline and lower-income homes.
Programs change and depend on your home & utility — a specialist confirms what applies to you. Not financial or tax advice.
Counties we serve across Northern California
San Francisco Bay AreaAlameda · Contra Costa · Marin · Napa · San Francisco · San Mateo · Santa Clara · Solano · Sonoma
Greater SacramentoSacramento · Placer · El Dorado · Yolo · Sutter · Yuba · Nevada
North Bay & Wine CountryNapa · Sonoma · Lake · Mendocino
North CoastHumboldt · Del Norte · Trinity · Lake · Mendocino
Sierra Foothills & Gold CountryAmador · Calaveras · Tuolumne · Mariposa · Nevada · El Dorado · Placer
Northern San Joaquin ValleySan Joaquin · Stanislaus · Merced
Sacramento Valley & Far NorthButte · Glenn · Colusa · Tehama · Shasta · Siskiyou · Lassen · Plumas · Modoc
Central Coast (North)Santa Cruz · Monterey · San Benito

Northern California solar FAQ

Is solar still worth it in Northern California under NEM 3.0?

For many homes, yes. PG&E's rates are among the highest in the country, so the solar you use directly still saves a lot. Under NEM 3.0 the power you export earns less, so the strongest setup pairs panels with a battery, so you use your own energy in the evening instead of selling it back cheaply.

Do I need a battery?

It isn't required, but under NEM 3.0 a battery is usually where the value is. It stores daytime solar for evening use and keeps essentials running during PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) and other outages.

What happened to the 30% federal solar tax credit?

For homeowners who buy a system, the 30% federal residential tax credit ended after 2025. A lease or power-purchase agreement (PPA) can still use the federal business credit through 2027, and California's SGIP program may help fund a battery for eligible homes. A specialist can confirm what applies to you.

What is NEM 3.0 / net billing?

NEM 3.0 is PG&E's Net Billing Tariff, in effect since April 2023. It credits the solar power you export to the grid at a much lower rate than the old NEM 2.0 - which is why using your own solar, ideally with a battery, matters more now.

Will solar keep my power on during a PSPS or outage?

Only if you have a battery (or a hybrid system designed for backup). For safety, standard grid-tied solar shuts off during an outage; a battery is what keeps your lights, fridge and Wi-Fi running.

Am I in PG&E territory?

Most of Northern and Central California is served by PG&E, but some areas have their own utilities: municipal utilities like SMUD (Sacramento), Redding, Roseville, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Alameda and Lodi, and irrigation districts like Modesto (MID) and Turlock (TID). See the PG&E territory map above.

How much does solar cost?

It depends on your roof, your usage, and whether you add a battery. Use the Rooftop Designer for a ballpark estimate from your address, and a licensed installer for a firm quote.

Are you a solar installer?

No. Golden State Solar Guide is an independent information resource. We help Northern California homeowners understand their options and connect with local professionals - we don't sell or install systems ourselves.

Solar by Northern California city

SacramentoElk GroveFolsomRosevilleReddingChicoSanta RosaNapaStocktonModestoDavisWoodlandVacavilleFairfieldYuba CityAuburnGrass ValleyEurekaOaklandBerkeleyFremontConcordWalnut CreekLivermorePleasantonVallejoPetalumaSan RafaelSan JoseSan FranciscoSunnyvaleHaywardAntiochRichmondDaly CitySan MateoTracyMantecaMercedParadiseOrovilleMarysvillePlacervilleSonoraWillitsArcataFortunaRed BluffAndersonColusaCitrus HeightsRancho CordovaSanta ClaraPalo AltoAlamedaLodiTurlockHealdsburgUkiahTruckeeSouth Lake TahoeSusanville

Popular guides

NEM 3.0 Explained (California, 2026)PG&E Solar Buyback Rate in 2026SGIP Battery Rebate in California (2026)Cost of Solar in Northern California (2026)Is Solar Worth It in Northern California? (2026)Solar Battery Backup for PSPS Outages (Northern California)SMUD Solar Rules in Sacramento (2026)

See if solar is right for your Northern California home

Share a few details and a specialist will get back to you with a free, no-obligation look at whether solar makes sense for your roof, your PG&E bill, and your local sun. We’ll also tell you if a battery for PSPS backup is worth it.

  • We only contact you about solar for your home
  • Free and no obligation
  • We never sell your information. We share it only with the local specialist you ask us to connect you with

Golden State Solar Guide is an independent guide, not a solar installer. We give you honest information, then connect you with a vetted, licensed local solar professional if you want one. You’re never obligated to buy.

Independent & free Licensed local pros No spam · no pressure
Request a free solar check
How do I get my PG&E usage or bill?

Best — a full year of usage (Green Button):

  1. Sign in at pge.com ↗.
  2. Open Energy Usage Details (under “All usage and rates tasks”).
  3. Click Green Button — Download My Data, choose “Export usage for a range of days,” pick the last 12 months, and download it. PG&E gives you a CSV or a .zip — either one works here, just upload it as-is.

Or a recent bill (quicker): on the dashboard, open Billing → All billing tasks → Billing & Payment History → View Bill PDF. A photo of a paper bill works too.

Upload either here — a year of usage lets us size every option to your real consumption. Stuck? See PG&E’s usage-download guide ↗, or skip it and we’ll estimate from your address.

Green Button CSV or .zip, a bill PDF, or a photo. We share it only with the specialist who reviews your home.
We use your details only to talk with you about solar. We never sell your information.