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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Most of Northern and Central California is served by PG&E, but some cities run their own municipal utilities (for example SMUD in Sacramento, plus Redding, Roseville, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Modesto, Turlock, Alameda and Lodi). See the PG&E territory map above.
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.
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.
Share a few details and a Golden State Solar Guide specialist will get back to you with a free, no-obligation look at whether solar — and a battery for PSPS backup — makes sense for your roof, your PG&E bill, and your local sun.