Straight answers about home solar

Most homes need a 5–9 kW system, which typically costs about $15,000–$28,000 installed before incentives. A home battery adds roughly $12,000–$16,000. Your price depends on roof type, equipment, electrical work and system size.

It depends on your bill, your utility and whether you add a battery. Families with $250+ monthly bills often save $2,000–$4,000 in the first year with solar plus storage. Try our calculator for a quick estimate.

For well-designed California systems, payback is commonly 8–12 years for a cash purchase. Panels are warrantied for about 25 years, so the years after payback are mostly savings.

Usually not to $0. California's big utilities now charge a fixed Base Services Charge (about $24 per month for most customers) that solar can't offset. The goal is to wipe out most of the usage portion of your bill.

Yes. Solar loans, leases and PPAs can all start with $0 down. Each has trade-offs; see buy vs. lease.

Studies have generally found that owned solar systems add value to homes, and buyers like lower utility bills. Leased systems don't add the same value because the buyer has to take over the contract.

NEM 3.0, officially the Net Billing Tariff, is the rule for new solar customers of PG&E, SCE and SDG&E since April 2023. Power you export earns an hourly credit that averages around 4¢ per kWh, much less than the retail price you pay.

It's final for now. A state appeals court upheld it in 2026 and the California Supreme Court declined to review the case in June 2026. Any future change would have to come from the CPUC or the Legislature.

You keep your original terms for 20 years from your interconnection date, and they transfer to a buyer if you sell. Big changes to your system could affect that, so talk to us before adding panels.

No. Municipal utilities like LADWP and SMUD set their own solar rules and rebates. We design to whichever utility serves your home.

Usually not under NEM 3.0. Because exports earn so little, the best value comes from sizing to what your home uses and storing extra in a battery.

Not for homeowner-owned systems. The residential clean energy credit (Section 25D) ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Systems owned by a leasing company may still qualify for a business credit that can lower your lease or PPA rate.

California doesn't offer a general statewide solar rebate. The SGIP program offers battery rebates, mostly for income-qualified, medical-need and high fire-risk households. Some cities and municipal utilities have their own programs. See incentives.

California has a long-standing exclusion that keeps new solar from triggering a property tax reassessment. It has been extended several times; we'll confirm the current status for your install date.

It isn't required, but under NEM 3.0 most California homes save significantly more with one, plus you get backup power. We quote both so you can compare.

Without a battery, no. Grid-tied systems shut down during outages to protect line workers. With a battery, your home keeps running and the panels recharge it during the day.

Most home batteries carry a 10-year warranty and are designed to keep roughly 70% of capacity at the end of it. Many will keep working well beyond that.

Yes. Most systems can add a battery later, but installing both together usually costs less because it shares one permit, one electrical upgrade and one visit.

South, west and east-facing roofs with little shade work best. Even north-facing or partly shaded roofs can work with the right layout. We check this for free with satellite imagery and a site visit.

Not when installed correctly. Mounts are flashed and sealed into rafters. Our installation partners warranty their roof penetrations against leaks, and the terms are listed in your quote.

If your roof has less than about 10 years left, yes. Removing and reinstalling panels later costs several thousand dollars. We'll tell you honestly what we see.

Generally no. California's Solar Rights Act limits HOAs to reasonable restrictions that don't significantly raise cost or reduce performance. We help prepare the HOA paperwork.

Sometimes, especially in older homes or when adding a battery or EV charger. We check your panel during the site survey and include any upgrade in your quote up front.

Typically 6–12 weeks from signing to turning on. Installation itself is one or two days; permits and utility approval take the rest.

Someone should be available at the start and end of install day and for the city inspection. Otherwise the install crew works independently, and we stay in touch with you throughout.

Your installer files the building permit and utility interconnection application. MyPowerCo tracks every step, helps with HOA paperwork, and keeps you updated until you have permission to operate.

Most panels carry 25-year performance warranties and keep producing for 30+ years, losing about 0.5% of output per year.

Very little. Rain cleans most panels. In dusty areas, rinsing them once or twice a year helps. Your monitoring app will flag problems.

An owned system stays with the home and is part of its value. A loan can be paid off at closing. A lease or PPA must be transferred to the buyer, so read those terms carefully.

Panel and inverter manufacturer warranties (typically 25 years), battery warranty (typically 10 years), and the installer's workmanship and roof penetration warranty. Every warranty is listed in your quote, and we help you with any claim.

Yes, at reduced output. California's sunshine means annual production stays strong even with some cloudy and foggy days.

Today, installations are done by licensed, insured partner installers we've vetted. MyPowerCo compares proposals from several of them, helps you choose, and manages the project as your single point of contact. Your contract is with the licensed installer you pick. We're also building our own installation team.

One installer can only offer its own equipment, price and schedule. We get proposals from several, so you can compare real options side by side and often get a better price or a better fit for your roof and budget. You still get one point of contact the whole way through.

Verify their contractor license on the CSLB website, ask for an itemized written quote, and walk away from "today only" pricing. California also requires a Solar Energy System Disclosure Document with your contract. See our quote checklist.