Solar panels in San Francisco, California
San Francisco is a dense, famously foggy city where roof access and shade matter more than heat. With electricity prices climbing and the export rules tighter than they used to be, the smart question isn’t just “how much is solar?” — it’s how to size a system for San Francisco’s sun, your utility’s credit rules, and backup power. Here’s an honest, local rundown.
San Francisco is the hardest Bay Area city to generalize about, because the fog does the deciding. The Sunset and Richmond districts sit under the marine layer for much of the summer, while Bernal Heights, Potrero Hill and the Mission bake in comparison. Housing is dense, and the classic Victorian and Edwardian row houses bring steep, multi-gabled roofs, shared walls and limited usable area, so a flat-roofed rear addition is often the best surface. There is almost no air-conditioning here, so the case rests on the sheer cost of PG&E power rather than summer load.
PG&E is your electric utility, so new rooftop solar goes on NEM 3.0 (the Net Billing Tariff that took effect in April 2023). The energy you send to the grid earns export credits tied to hourly avoided-cost values — usually just a few cents per kWh, far below the retail rate you pay. The winning strategy is to size the system to use your own solar during the day and add a battery to store midday production for the expensive 4–9 pm peak.
A typical 7 kW rooftop system in San Francisco produces about 9,800 kWh per year (roughly 1400 kWh for every kW installed — San Francisco’s local sun). Installed prices in Northern California generally run about $3.50–$4.50 per watt, so a 7 kW system lands around $24,000–$31,000 before a battery. Financing can spread that cost but doesn’t lower it, and the 30% federal tax credit ended after 2025. Your real number depends on your roof and usage, which is exactly what the rooftop designer estimates from satellite imagery.
San Francisco’s mild bayside climate means little air-conditioning, so solar here earns its keep on the sheer price of grid power rather than on summer cooling. Panels alone switch off in an outage, so a battery is what keeps the lights, fridge and Wi-Fi on — and it banks your midday production for the pricey evening hours instead of exporting it cheap.
Incentives & what changed in 2026
The 30% federal residential solar tax credit ended after 2025, so a cash or financed purchase no longer earns it. What still helps with a battery: California’s SGIP program — though its general and equity budgets closed to new applications at the end of 2025, so in 2026 the main pathway open to new applicants is the income-qualified Residential Solar & Storage Equity (RSSE) track. Lease / PPA financing may still capture the federal business credit through 2027 and pass some of it through — ask any installer to show you both a cash and a financed option. Program budgets and rules change often, so confirm what’s currently available before you decide.
How to start in San Francisco
Skip the high-pressure sales visit. Start with your own numbers: design a system for your address to see your roof’s potential, read how NEM 3.0 and PG&E rates work in Northern California, then request a free, no-pressure check below — a local specialist follows up with a straight answer for your home.
Is solar worth it in San Francisco?
For most San Francisco homeowners, yes. A typical 7 kW system here produces roughly 9,800 kWh a year, which offsets a large share of a normal home's usage. Because PG&E credits exported energy below the retail rate under NEM 3.0, the best returns come from using your solar during the day and adding a battery to cover the evening peak. Payback commonly lands in the 8-12 year range depending on your bill, roof and whether you add storage.
Which utility handles net metering in San Francisco?
San Francisco is served by PG&E. That matters because the rules for crediting the solar you export differ by utility, and it changes how you should size the system and whether a battery pays off. Always confirm the current tariff before you sign.
Do I need a battery to go solar in San Francisco?
A battery isn't required, but in San Francisco it usually makes sense: it stores cheap midday solar for the expensive evening peak and keeps your home powered during outages. Solar panels by themselves shut off in a grid outage for safety, so storage is what actually gives you backup.
Nearby cities
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.
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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.