Independent Educational Guide: California residential solar and battery estimates. Illustrative only, not utility-specific.

Solar & Battery Guides

California-focused rate analysis, NEM 3.0 payback math, and battery economics (17 guides)

Incentives

California SGIP Battery Rebates in 2026: What Is Still Open

A current guide to California SGIP battery funding after the 2025 ratepayer-budget deadline, including AB 209 equity funding and live availability checks.

Jul 27, 2026

Latest Guides

California Plug-In Solar: Is SB 868 Law Yet?

Current 2026 status of California SB 868 and what the proposed 1,200 W plug-in solar interconnection exemption would and would not mean today.

Sep 9, 2026

City Solar Permit vs Utility Interconnection and PTO: Why One Approval Is Not the Other

A clear decision guide to the separate city/AHJ permit, local inspection, utility interconnection, utility field inspection and Permission to Operate milestones.

Sep 9, 2026

El Cerrito Solar Permit Plans: What Should a Service Include?

Before paying for solar permit plans in El Cerrito, separate SolarAPP+ eligibility, City plan requirements, structural scope and PG&E interconnection work.

Sep 9, 2026

El Paso Electric Solar Inspection Failed: REC Meter vs Net Meter

What an EPE field-inspection failure means when REC and revenue meters are far apart, and what to verify before requesting reinspection.

Sep 9, 2026

Long Beach Solar Permit Denied: Express vs Full Review

How to tell whether a Long Beach solar + battery project qualifies for Express permitting or needs full plan review and professional documents.

Sep 9, 2026

PG&E Solar Installed but No PTO: What to Verify if the Installer Is Gone

A decision checklist for PG&E customers who discover a completed solar project never received Permission to Operate, especially when the original installer is unavailable.

Sep 9, 2026

PG&E Zero-Export Solar + Battery: Which Interconnection Path?

How to classify a PG&E zero-export solar and battery project before choosing a Rule 21 application, fee assumption or review timeline.

Sep 9, 2026

Adding a Battery to Existing SCE Solar: Permit, Interconnection and PTO Questions

What Southern California Edison customers should verify before adding battery storage to an existing solar system, including city permits, SCE interconnection changes and PTO.

Sep 9, 2026

Can This Project Use SolarAPP+? Battery, MPU, Existing PV and Ground-Mount Rules

A 2026 SolarAPP+ eligibility decision guide for projects with storage, main panel upgrades, existing solar, homeowner installation or ground-mounted PV.

Sep 9, 2026

PG&E Solar Billing Plan and Battery Storage: 2026 Guide

How PG&E's Solar Billing Plan values imports and exports, why battery dispatch matters, and how to evaluate a 2026 project without unsupported payback assumptions.

Jul 27, 2026

SDG&E Solar Billing Plan and Battery Storage: 2026 Guide

How SDG&E's Solar Billing Plan values imports and exports, why battery timing matters, and how to evaluate a project using current interval data and tariffs.

Jul 27, 2026

Tesla Powerwall 3 vs. Enphase IQ Battery 5P: 2026 Specs and Design Guide

A sourced comparison of Powerwall 3 and IQ Battery 5P capacity, power, architecture, warranty, and the project details that determine installed value.

Jul 27, 2026

SCE Solar Billing Plan and Battery Storage: 2026 Guide

How Southern California Edison's Solar Billing Plan values imports and exports, why battery timing matters, and what to verify before estimating savings.

Jul 26, 2026

PG&E Rate Hike Audit 2026: Solar & Battery Protection Analysis

Analysis of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) electricity rate increases and how home battery storage offsets E-ELEC peak pricing.

July 2026

SDG&E Battery Storage ROI Guide 2026: Rates & Economics

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) battery payback breakdown under NEM 3.0 rules and EV-TOU-5 rate schedules.

July 2026

California NEM 3.0 Solar & Battery Payback Guide (2026 Audit)

Comprehensive guide to California Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0), avoided cost rates, TOU arbitrage, and battery ROI.

July 2026

Looking for city-specific permitting facts instead of rate analysis? See our verified California solar permit guides, sourced directly from each city's and utility's own official documentation.