Solar companies in California
I counted 38,735 home solar systems in utility records across 2 California cities I cover. Pick a city to see which companies installed them, current prices and payback.
| City | Systems (years) | Companies with 30+ systems | Most active | Utilities | kWh a year per kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | 25,912 (2022–2023) | 97 | Rec Commercial | San Diego Gas & Electric | 1,716 |
| Fresno | 12,823 (2022–2023) | 48 | Sunrun | Pacific Gas & Electric | 1,654 |
What California utilities pay for exported power
Net Billing Tariff for customers applying for interconnection since 2023-04-15: exports are credited at CPUC Avoided Cost Calculator values (usually lower than import rates), with the tariff locked for nine years. SDG&E customers are excluded from the export compensation adder.
| Utility | Program | Credit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Gas & Electric | Solar Billing Plan (Schedule NBT): Energy Export Credit at hourly Avoided Cost Calculator values; residential customers must take the E-ELEC (Electric Home) rate | no single rate | tariff |
| San Diego Gas & Electric | Net Billing Tariff (Avoided Cost Calculator export values) | no single rate | tariff |
California rules to know
- Federal: no 30% credit for property placed in service after December 31, 2025 — what changed.
- Property tax: California has a property tax rule for solar systems — details and conditions on each city page.
- Contractor licenses: California Contractors State License Board.
Checked on 2026-09-13. How I calculate.
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Check its price per watt and payback against your utility's current rates.