State guide

California solar guide in plain English.

Q: What should California homeowners compare for turnkey or DIY solar?

Turnkey: Your installer should show when the battery charges and when it powers your home. DIY: DIY is hard in California because permits and utility rules are strict.

California has high power prices. Batteries often matter because evening power can cost more.

Get My California Next Steps Back to Guide Hub

Bill creditsCalifornia pays for extra solar in a different way than old one-for-one credit plans. Using your own solar at home is very important. Best fitBest for homes with high use, EVs, and a battery plan.

California home with rooftop solar, a wall battery, and a homeowner reviewing battery rebate paperwork — California Battery Rebates: What PG&E and SCE May Pay For

Bill credits

California pays for extra solar in a different way than old one-for-one credit plans. Using your own solar at home is very important.

Tax notes

Programs change often. Check state, city, and utility programs before you sign.

Best fit

Best for homes with high use, EVs, and a battery plan.

Full service or DIY

Full service: Your installer should show when the battery charges and when it powers your home.

DIY: DIY is hard in California because permits and utility rules are strict.

California next step

Check your home before you call installers.

We already filled in California. Add your bill, roof details, and solar goal. Email is enough for a simple next-step review.

Step 1 of 3 Free California Solar Next-Step Check

We filled in California. Start with your power bill. Email is the only contact field we need, and extra home details are optional.

3 short stepsEmail onlyPhone optionalNo daily emails

About the home

A rough number is fine. If you are not sure about the home details yet, you can still keep going.

$0$0 / month$800+ Do you own the home?

What kind of help do you want?

Not sure yet? Leave "Still comparing" selected.

I want a company to handle it I want to do some myself I want backup power Still comparing

When might you start?

Where should we send your simple next steps?

Email is enough. ZIP and power company help us match the right utility rules. We send one short next-step email. This does not add you to daily emails.

Email ZIP code (optional) Power company (optional)

These next details are optional. Skip anything you do not know yet.

Roof shade Roof age First name (optional) Phone (optional)

Home fit note Answer 1 or 2 questions first We use your answers to shape your next-step email. This is not a pass or fail.

We use this only to review your home and send one short reply. This form does not sign you up for daily emails.

No pressure. We do not sell your answers. Phone is optional. If you send this form, we or a solar partner may reply by email or phone only if you provide it.

California posts

More help for this state

Battery Incentives · 2026-06-12 · Turnkey and DIY

California Battery Rebates: What PG&E and SCE May Pay For

California battery cash is not one simple program. Ask if the offer is for a whole-home battery, a small backup box, or a study reward.

Read article

Custom illustration of a California renter balcony with small plug-in solar panels, a wall outlet, a utility bill, and simple safety icons

Daily Solar Brief · 2026-07-15 · Turnkey and DIY

California May Loosen the Rules for Plug-In Solar. What Renters and Homeowners Should Check First.

California has a live bill that could make small plug-in solar easier for renters and other homes shut out of rooftop solar. Families should ask what the bill really changes, what size limits still apply, and what this small solar setup cannot do.

Read article

Illustration of a California home with rooftop solar, a utility meter, and a monthly bill card showing a new fixed base charge

Daily Solar Brief · 2026-07-05 · Turnkey and DIY

California Solar Bills Changed in 2026. What the New Base Charge Means at Home

California solar homes now pay a base charge each month, so the real job is using more of your own solar power at home and not expecting exports alone to wipe out the bill.

Read article

Illustration of a Northern California home with rooftop solar, a wall battery, neighborhood power lines, and coins showing battery program payments

Daily Solar Brief · 2026-07-01 · Turnkey and DIY

Ava Wants Your Battery on Call: What Northern California Homes Get Back

Ava says some California homes can get battery money up front and then quarterly pay, but your service area, battery brand, backup reserve, and contract math still decide if it fits your house.

Read article

California Solar Billing Plan graphic with hourly export chart, battery, and rooftop solar timing icons

Daily Solar Brief · 2026-06-08 · Turnkey and DIY

California Solar: Why the Battery Schedule Matters

In California, the time of day matters. A battery can help more when it is set up to match your bill.

Read article

Battery Incentives · 2026-06-11 · Turnkey and DIY

Tesla Powerwall Rebate Deadline: What to Ask Before June 30

Tesla says some Powerwall 3 buyers can get up to $1,000 back, but the June 30 order deadline and the year-end install deadline both matter.

Read article

Solar home with warm lights and battery backup visible after a storm at blue hour

Technology · 2026-06-04 · Turnkey

Solar Batteries for Storms and Outages

A battery can help during an outage, but only if the system is designed for the loads you care about most.

Read article

Realistic photo of a homeowner and installer reviewing a new garage battery setup beside a solar home at sunset

Daily Solar Brief · 2026-07-13 · Turnkey and DIY

SolarEdge Just Opened U.S. Orders for a New Home Battery System. What Families Should Ask Before They Pick It.

SolarEdge says its new Nexis setup is easier to size and faster to install. Families should ask what stays on, how much wall space it needs, and whether the simpler install really lowers the full quote.

Read article

Custom illustration of a solar home with a garage battery, a utility meter, a family indoors, and floating icons showing backup power, state help, and grid program money

Daily Solar Brief · 2026-07-09 · Turnkey and DIY

Home Batteries Kept Growing After the Tax Credit Ended. What Families Should Check Before They Buy in 2026.

The federal homeowner tax credit is gone for new 2026 installs, but batteries are still growing. Families need to check local rebates, battery pay programs, and real backup value before they buy.

Read article

Illustration of a solar home with a garage battery, a small glowing compute box near the meter, and soft data lines moving to a cloud while a family sits inside

Daily Solar Brief · 2026-07-08 · Turnkey and DIY

Sunrun Wants to Put Tiny AI Computers in Some Solar Homes. What Families Should Ask Before Saying Yes.

Sunrun says some solar-plus-battery homes may host small AI compute boxes for pay. Families should ask about noise, heat, service visits, and backup power before they agree.

Read article

Electric pickup at a home garage sending backup power into the house

Daily Solar Brief · 2026-06-12 · Turnkey and DIY

Can Your EV Keep the Fridge On? What GM and PG&E Mean for Home Backup

GM is pushing harder on EV home backup, and PG&E still has cash help for some California drivers who want a car that can power part of the house.

Read article

Checklist

What to check before you ask for quotes

What extra solar is worth Your average power bill Roof age and shade Full service, battery, or DIY Permits, HOA, and utility approval

Use the quick check before you request solar quotes.

Get My California Next Steps

California solar guide in plain English.

Bill credits

Tax notes

Best fit

Full service or DIY

Check your home before you call installers.

Thanks. We got your solar check.

What happens next

More help for this state

California Battery Rebates: What PG&E and SCE May Pay For

California May Loosen the Rules for Plug-In Solar. What Renters and Homeowners Should Check First.

California Solar Bills Changed in 2026. What the New Base Charge Means at Home

Ava Wants Your Battery on Call: What Northern California Homes Get Back

California Solar: Why the Battery Schedule Matters

Tesla Powerwall Rebate Deadline: What to Ask Before June 30

Solar Batteries for Storms and Outages

SolarEdge Just Opened U.S. Orders for a New Home Battery System. What Families Should Ask Before They Pick It.

Home Batteries Kept Growing After the Tax Credit Ended. What Families Should Check Before They Buy in 2026.

Sunrun Wants to Put Tiny AI Computers in Some Solar Homes. What Families Should Ask Before Saying Yes.

Can Your EV Keep the Fridge On? What GM and PG&E Mean for Home Backup

What to check before you ask for quotes