There can be solar tax credits and incentives available at the federal, state and local levels. The calculator above will show you the value of all incentives your home is eligible for.
2023 is shaping up to be a year of huge changes for residential solar energy programs in California. The state Public Utilities Commission has recently ruled on Net Energy Metering, or NEM 3.0, the energy billing arrangement under which solar panel owners earn credit for their excess energy that they can later use to offset energy the draw from the grid at night. The changes will result in much worse financial returns from solar for people who get panels installed after the new rules take effect.
On this page, we cover all of the solar and battery incentives, rebates and tax credits available for your California home solar installation. We also provide guidance on how low income solar power programs work.
We also encourage you to use the California solar incentives calculator above. It allows you to drill down and show only the solar incentives that are applicable where you live.
Learn what solar incentives are available to California homeowners
See what California solar incentives you qualify for based on your utility company and city
Find out how much these incentives and/or California solar tax credits will reduce your cost to go solar and add batteries
The federal solar investment tax credit will have the biggest impact on the cost you will face to go solar in California
If you install your photovoltaic system before the end of 2032, the federal tax credit is 30% of the cost of your solar panel system. This is 30% off the entire cost of the system including equipment, labor, and permitting.
Example: If your solar energy system costs $20,000, your federal solar tax credit would be $20,000 x 30% = $6,000.
The federal tax credit falls to 26% starting in 2033.
With net metering in some states, you get full retail rate credit for the amount of electricity you send back into the grid with your solar panels.
With net metering, or “net energy metering” (NEM), you get credit for the electricity you send back to the grid with your solar panels. Under the state's current rules, called NEM 2.0, that credit is based on the retail rate of electricity, meaning the energy your solar panels make goes to reducing your electric bill by a lot.
The amount of kilowatt hours (kWh) you send to your local utility and pull from it are “netted” monthly. If you use more than you send to the grid over the course of the year, you pay for the difference, but if you send more than you use, the utility credits the extra on your bill once per year.
Under NEM 2.0, the energy you use from the grid comes with a small “non-bypassable charge” of around 3 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). You don’t get this small portion of the retail price back as a credit when you offset that usage by sending solar electricity back to the utility grid. The money raised by these charges goes to pay for important programs across the state. (Note, if you’re an LADWP customer, you do still get full retail NEM without these non-bypassable charges)
You’ll also need to sign up for a time-of-use billing plan (TOU), which has variable energy costs based on the time of day. Evening has the most demand on the grid, so your energy prices will be higher at this time.
While that may sound bad, you can eliminate your use of the grid at peak times by installing a battery alongside your solar system. You can charge the battery during the middle of the day with solar electricity and discharge it in the evening, when purchasing from the grid would have been more expensive.
With or without a battery, NEM 2.0 credits can be extremely valuable over the life of your solar system. Unfortunately, it will be replaced by a new program called Net Billing in April of 2023. This new program will greatly reduce the value of solar energy credits, making solar a much worse financial decision.
Luckily, you can still get on NEM 2.0 now. Find a solar installer before April to maximize your savings.
Learn more:
California used to have a robust solar rebate program called the California Solar Initiative (CSI). The rebates available were fully used up by 2014, but the program succeeded in driving 3 terawatts of solar energy capacity to the grid.
Rebates live on for Californians with low income however. Check out the SASH and MASH programs outlined in the California solar incentives for low income households section below.
While some states still offer their own state tax credits for solar energy, California doesn’t anymore.
However, Golden State policymakers have enacted a property tax exemption for solar PV which is still going strong. This is a great perk, since solar panels will increase the value of your home by roughly 70% of system costs. So while the value of your home will go up, your property taxes won’t.
Example: If your solar system costs $20,000, your estimated property value increase of $14,000 will be tax exempt.
California is not only a national leader in solar, it is also a leader in solar battery storage, thanks in part to the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP).
If you install a battery storage system on your property that is serviced by PG&E, SCE, Southern California Gas, or SDG&E, you can take advantage of the SGIP incentive.
Battery storage systems that are smaller than 10 kW and are installed on a residential property are eligible for an incentive of $0.25 per watt hour of storage installed.
We outline how much you can save on battery storage when you use the SGIP incentive program in our breakdown of the SGIP rebate.
SGIP also has what is known as the “equity budget”. This budget has money set aside for solar batteries that are installed in low-income and disadvantaged areas.
The goal of the residential equity incentive is to catalyze more battery storage deployment in low-income areas.
Residential equity systems will receive a rebate of $0.85 per watt hour installed.
Low income homes that are located in either a Tier 3 or Tier 4 fire district, or that are in areas that have experienced two or more planned safety power shutoff (PSPS) events can qualify for an even higher incentive when they install battery storage on their home - this is known as the equity resilience incentive.
Projects that qualify for the equity resiliency incentive program will receive a rebate of $1.00 per watt hour of storage installed.
This covers almost the entire cost of a solar battery system. Check our blog on SGIP's equity resiliency program for more information.
Throughout the US, solar is adopted more in areas that have higher incomes even though low-income communities have the most to gain from the benefits of solar power.
Low income solar incentives have the ability to spur solar development in disadvantaged communities.
California has two types of low-income solar programs which are aimed for single-family homeowners and owners of multi-family properties:
The California SASH solar program provides huge solar money to single family homeowners. The program is administered by the non profit organization Grid Alternatives. They help provide green job training in low income areas to help people secure good-paying green energy jobs.
SASH program requirements
If you can qualify for the SASH program, you’ll get an upfront incentive of $3 per watt of solar installed.
So, if you want to install a 6 kilowatt system on your home, you’ll get an incentive of $18,000! That’s basically enough to pay for the entire cost of your solar system.
If you meet the following criteria, you could get this solar money:
To check if you live in one of the approved areas, explore this map.
The MASH program is designed for those fortunate enough to own a multi-family housing complex.
Those people can qualify for a large grant program to retrofit low-income multi-family housing developments with solar power.
Grants range from $1.10 to $1.80 per watt of solar installed. Exact amounts for different project types are listed on the California Public Utilities Commission website.
To qualify for MASH:
There are some additional qualifications listed in the MASH program handbook. The MASH program is currently fully subscribed. New applications will be placed on a waitlist.
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Prices based on a 7.7kW system, after 30% federal tax credit
514 solar companies in California provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.93 392 Reviews
Happy with Solar in the Desert, over 1 month
From start to finish, the company was responsive, knowledgeable, timely, and professional. All the staff were polite and professional. Matt (account manager) was especially great, ready to answer any questions and keep us updated on the entire process. No regrets. Excellent experience.
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Happy with Solar in the Desert, over 1 month
From start to finish, the company was responsive, knowledgeable, timely, and professional. All the staff were polite and professional. Matt (account manager) was especially great, ready to answer any questions and keep us updated on the entire process. No regrets. Excellent experience.
4.90 281 Reviews
Jonathan B, over 1 month
From start to finish, Cosmic Solar made the entire installation easy! It took just a few months from start to finish! They helped us source financing.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$19,300 ($3.86 per watt)
Jonathan B, over 1 month
From start to finish, Cosmic Solar made the entire installation easy! It took just a few months from start to finish! They helped us source financing.
4.89 196 Reviews
itang, over 1 month
Thank you so much, I've been wanting solar panels for years but they were so cost prohibitive. I'm glad it's gotten a lot less expensive and that Sunwork nonprofit offers solar panels at a low cost for those who can qualify. Appreciate it!
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Average cost (5kW system)
$13,500 ($2.70 per watt)
itang, over 1 month
Thank you so much, I've been wanting solar panels for years but they were so cost prohibitive. I'm glad it's gotten a lot less expensive and that Sunwork nonprofit offers solar panels at a low cost for those who can qualify. Appreciate it!
4.85 144 Reviews
Mark Winchell, 1 week ago
The team and experience of working with Stellar Solar are among the very best I’ve ever known. Their salesperson Kenny was incredibly thorough in walking me thru the process - the technology, scheduling, financing options and payback expectations. Although we were under a tight scheduling deadline which was exacerbated by my own schedule, Stellar Solar was still able to get me hooked up and operational well within the deadline for getting the benefit of the best rates from my local power provider. I am pleased with how smooth the entire process was, the warranty and on-going level of customer support and the fact that I am now selling back excess energy production to the power company, all within 2 months from the time I picked up the phone to kick off the process. I cannot say enough in praise of Stellar Solar and I can recommend them with in the most confident of terms. I am completely satisfied with this project!
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Mark Winchell, 1 week ago
The team and experience of working with Stellar Solar are among the very best I’ve ever known. Their salesperson Kenny was incredibly thorough in walking me thru the process - the technology, scheduling, financing options and payback expectations. Although we were under a tight scheduling deadline which was exacerbated by my own schedule, Stellar Solar was still able to get me hooked up and operational well within the deadline for getting the benefit of the best rates from my local power provider. I am pleased with how smooth the entire process was, the warranty and on-going level of customer support and the fact that I am now selling back excess energy production to the power company, all within 2 months from the time I picked up the phone to kick off the process. I cannot say enough in praise of Stellar Solar and I can recommend them with in the most confident of terms. I am completely satisfied with this project!
4.79 66 Reviews
Anonymous, over 1 month
As having solar system installed is a 20 years commitment, I spoke to 5 solar companies not just to compare the price but most importantly to see cross reference the information they provided.<br /><br />What I found out, sales reps mostly reply on the computer program generated quote. Interestingly, after analyzing the same PG&E electricity usage history, some quoted me 7.6kw and some quoted me 5.8kw system. That is a huge difference that I definitely would love to sort out why. Most sales rep will cite that is how their software calculates, some said that is based upon system needs to cover 100% PG&E usage. Only Ali from Highligh Solar clearly explained how PG&E Net Metering works, and made clear sense the system size he recommended.<br /><br />The most amazing about Ali is that any question I came up with, e.g. what is the back feed of my main panel, he can get me the right answer right away even after 6 weeks of his visit, with picture of my panel attached. <br /><br />Once the decision is made, Ali walked me through the proposal and contract review, and Dean, the owner, was also very accommodating to accept some revisions I requested.. <br /><br />Then Jesse helped with permits and project management, Sam helped with monitoring and PG&E application, plus the professional installation team who made the whole process as smooth as it gets.<br /><br />2 days after installation, I reported weird system reading from Solar Edge mobile app, Dean and Sam called Solar Edge and confirmed they need to replace the inverter, which then got scheduled and done in less than 2 days by next available technician.<br /><br />In the end, Dean also personally helped me understand Solar Edge monitor reading, and answer many solar production related questions!!!<br /><br />All in all, I highly recommend Highlight Solar for their well rounded professional team!!!!!! Their service deserved 6 stars!!!
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Average cost (5kW system)
$19,550 ($3.91 per watt)
Anonymous, over 1 month
As having solar system installed is a 20 years commitment, I spoke to 5 solar companies not just to compare the price but most importantly to see cross reference the information they provided.<br /><br />What I found out, sales reps mostly reply on the computer program generated quote. Interestingly, after analyzing the same PG&E electricity usage history, some quoted me 7.6kw and some quoted me 5.8kw system. That is a huge difference that I definitely would love to sort out why. Most sales rep will cite that is how their software calculates, some said that is based upon system needs to cover 100% PG&E usage. Only Ali from Highligh Solar clearly explained how PG&E Net Metering works, and made clear sense the system size he recommended.<br /><br />The most amazing about Ali is that any question I came up with, e.g. what is the back feed of my main panel, he can get me the right answer right away even after 6 weeks of his visit, with picture of my panel attached. <br /><br />Once the decision is made, Ali walked me through the proposal and contract review, and Dean, the owner, was also very accommodating to accept some revisions I requested.. <br /><br />Then Jesse helped with permits and project management, Sam helped with monitoring and PG&E application, plus the professional installation team who made the whole process as smooth as it gets.<br /><br />2 days after installation, I reported weird system reading from Solar Edge mobile app, Dean and Sam called Solar Edge and confirmed they need to replace the inverter, which then got scheduled and done in less than 2 days by next available technician.<br /><br />In the end, Dean also personally helped me understand Solar Edge monitor reading, and answer many solar production related questions!!!<br /><br />All in all, I highly recommend Highlight Solar for their well rounded professional team!!!!!! Their service deserved 6 stars!!!
4.79 30 Reviews
James Hanacek, 2 days ago
I dealt mainly with Jeff and he is very knowledgeable about his products and was straight forward and made recommendations based on my best interests. He even steering me away from purchasing other items, which most companies would not. My solar has been installed for four months and it has gone through the major storms we have had and I have had no issues and been nothing but pleased with the quality of work and communications I received throughout the entire process.
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James Hanacek, 2 days ago
I dealt mainly with Jeff and he is very knowledgeable about his products and was straight forward and made recommendations based on my best interests. He even steering me away from purchasing other items, which most companies would not. My solar has been installed for four months and it has gone through the major storms we have had and I have had no issues and been nothing but pleased with the quality of work and communications I received throughout the entire process.
4.78 40 Reviews
Jan, over 1 month
I was referred to Guy and his team at AmeriGreen Solar by my brother who utilized AmeriGreen for solar at his home. My brother is a lifelong contractor and did a lot of research prior to choosing AmeriGreen so I decided to setup a consultation and I was impressed by their presentation, products, warranty, attentiveness, and overall service. My only issue with the process was the amount of time it took LADWP to come swap my meter but that was outside of their control. I am very happy with the final product and have already recommended them to several friends.
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Jan, over 1 month
I was referred to Guy and his team at AmeriGreen Solar by my brother who utilized AmeriGreen for solar at his home. My brother is a lifelong contractor and did a lot of research prior to choosing AmeriGreen so I decided to setup a consultation and I was impressed by their presentation, products, warranty, attentiveness, and overall service. My only issue with the process was the amount of time it took LADWP to come swap my meter but that was outside of their control. I am very happy with the final product and have already recommended them to several friends.
4.78 70 Reviews
JM, over 1 month
Sol R Us was amazing and easy to work with. Chris, Daniel and the rest of the team are experts with everything they do. From information to installation, everything is honest and on spot! This is a company that takes pride in what they do!
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Average cost (5kW system)
$15,350 ($3.07 per watt)
JM, over 1 month
Sol R Us was amazing and easy to work with. Chris, Daniel and the rest of the team are experts with everything they do. From information to installation, everything is honest and on spot! This is a company that takes pride in what they do!
4.78 69 Reviews
Eric, over 1 month
We contracted with Mynt Solar to install an 8 kW rooftop solar system and had a great experience with them start to finish. Their sales team was very informative and professional. They have flat pricing, which makes things very straightforward, and they took the time to answer all my questions and make sure we were making the right investment for our needs. I also really appreciated that they were very objective and weren't trying to sway us into using them by badmouthing their competitors - I can't say as much for a few of their competitors... Another thing that pushed us over the edge to use Mynt Solar was their assurance that they could get the system installed relatively quickly to ensure that we could take advantage of the tax credit on this year's filing. They absolutely delivered on that. After we'd signed the contract, we were assigned a project manager who did an excellent job of keeping everything moving along and keeping us apprised of the status. The only significant amount of time spent waiting during the process was always while waiting for the city/power company to come out and do their next step. Mynt made sure to submit all the applications very promptly and to have the installation scheduled such that everything just moved along as quickly as the approvals came through. Only time will tell, but given their business model, I'm also very optimistic that they'll be around for a good long time to provide their advertised warranty service should we ever need it. I can wholeheartedly recommend them if you are looking for solar or roofing services.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$14,750 ($2.95 per watt)
Eric, over 1 month
We contracted with Mynt Solar to install an 8 kW rooftop solar system and had a great experience with them start to finish. Their sales team was very informative and professional. They have flat pricing, which makes things very straightforward, and they took the time to answer all my questions and make sure we were making the right investment for our needs. I also really appreciated that they were very objective and weren't trying to sway us into using them by badmouthing their competitors - I can't say as much for a few of their competitors... Another thing that pushed us over the edge to use Mynt Solar was their assurance that they could get the system installed relatively quickly to ensure that we could take advantage of the tax credit on this year's filing. They absolutely delivered on that. After we'd signed the contract, we were assigned a project manager who did an excellent job of keeping everything moving along and keeping us apprised of the status. The only significant amount of time spent waiting during the process was always while waiting for the city/power company to come out and do their next step. Mynt made sure to submit all the applications very promptly and to have the installation scheduled such that everything just moved along as quickly as the approvals came through. Only time will tell, but given their business model, I'm also very optimistic that they'll be around for a good long time to provide their advertised warranty service should we ever need it. I can wholeheartedly recommend them if you are looking for solar or roofing services.
4.78 78 Reviews
J, 3 weeks ago
Meo's company was straight forward and super efficient to work with. Did site survey, permit, layout, PG&E, etc., all very professionally, quick, and for a great price. There was no salesmanship or options that don't make sense, and he had good explanations. He was very quick overall, including from the time of the installation until PG&E sent the letter of approval to operate, and his installation workers even came on a Sunday to fix a small glitch (a loose wire nut) ... so now all panels are happily producing power which will undoubtedly reduce our bill - and I can see it in the Enphase monitoring which is included in the price. Most importantly, he made this happen before NEM 3.0 takes effect, despite scheduling constraints (roof replacement, lots of rain this season, solar installers super busy, etc.). If you're looking for a no-nonsense solar install, I strongly recommend him.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$14,900 ($2.98 per watt)
J, 3 weeks ago
Meo's company was straight forward and super efficient to work with. Did site survey, permit, layout, PG&E, etc., all very professionally, quick, and for a great price. There was no salesmanship or options that don't make sense, and he had good explanations. He was very quick overall, including from the time of the installation until PG&E sent the letter of approval to operate, and his installation workers even came on a Sunday to fix a small glitch (a loose wire nut) ... so now all panels are happily producing power which will undoubtedly reduce our bill - and I can see it in the Enphase monitoring which is included in the price. Most importantly, he made this happen before NEM 3.0 takes effect, despite scheduling constraints (roof replacement, lots of rain this season, solar installers super busy, etc.). If you're looking for a no-nonsense solar install, I strongly recommend him.
For more information about going solar near where you live, check out the following resources: