California Solar Cheat Sheet
US Power & Solar · October 2026- Residential rate
- 33.6¢/kWh
- Est. monthly bill (900 kWh)
- $302
- 6 kW system output
- 9,836 kWh/yr
- Solar payback (no incentives)
- 5.4 years
- Verdict
- Strongly recommended
- Price change
- +92% since 2015
Fair pricing & incentives
- Fair installed price: $2.80–$3.30 per watt before incentives. Under $2.80 is a great deal; above $3.90 is likely overpriced.
- Federal tax credit: 30% of the system cost (you must owe enough federal tax to use it).
Utilities & net metering
PG&E, Southern California Edison, SDG&E. NEM 3.0 net billing and mandatory time-of-use: peak 4–9 pm.
Reduced export credit — exported power earns less than retail, so self-use and batteries matter more.
5 questions to ask your installer
- What is the total price per watt, before and after the 30% federal tax credit?
- Which panel and inverter brands and models will you install, and what are their warranties?
- What production (kWh/year) do you estimate, and what rate increase do your savings assume?
- Are there dealer fees, escalators or prepayment penalties in the loan or lease?
- Who handles permits, utility interconnection, and repairs if something goes wrong?
Data: EIA (rates) and NREL PVWatts (solar output). Estimates only; actual results vary. Utility info is a general guide.