Residential Solar & Batteries · Brentwood, CA · PG&E
Brentwood Summers Run Your A/C.
Make the Sun Pay for It.
PG&E charges its highest prices from 4 to 9 PM, right when your air conditioning works hardest. Solar plus a battery lets your home run on stored sunshine instead. Solar With Watts helps homeowners in and around Brentwood, California get solar installed near them.
Already have solar? Many Brentwood homes came with builder solar that doesn’t cover the evening. A battery-only add-on can fix that without replacing your panels.
Not in Brentwood? We serve 34+ California communities. See all service areas →
No Solar Yet
Solar + Battery
Panels cover your daytime use. The battery carries your home through the 4 to 9 PM peak.
Already Have Solar
Battery-Only Add-On
Store the solar you already make and use it at night. Run the Powerwall Calculator →
⚡ Current Discounts
30% Off With Our Prepaid Plan
Works for solar + battery or battery only. Some addresses also qualify for an extra energy community discount on top. It depends on your exact address, so we check yours by hand for free.
Why a Battery Matters
Under PG&E’s current solar billing (NEM 3.0), daytime exports earn very little. A battery lets you use your solar at night instead of selling it cheap.
Quick Answers
What do Brentwood homeowners ask about solar?
Is solar worth it in Brentwood, California?
Yes. PG&E charges the most from 4 to 9 PM, when Brentwood air conditioners work hardest. Solar plus a battery covers those hours with power you stored.
How much does solar cost in Brentwood, California?
You can start with $0 down. Our prepaid plan takes 30 percent off, and some addresses qualify for an extra energy community discount on top.
Can I add a battery to my existing solar in Brentwood?
Yes. A battery-only add-on stores the solar you already make for use at night, without replacing your panels. Our prepaid plan discount applies to battery-only systems too.
What is the best solar company near Brentwood, California?
Solar With Watts serves homeowners in and around Brentwood, with 400 plus California installs. Systems are installed by a Tesla Certified Installer, CSLB number 1065773.
PG&E Rates in Brentwood
Why are Brentwood electric bills so high in the summer?
Your A/C runs hardest during PG&E’s most expensive hours. On the common E-TOU-C plan, summer power from 4 to 9 PM costs about 52 cents per kWh. That’s roughly 30 percent more than the same power earlier in the day.
Brentwood sits at the hot, inland edge of Contra Costa County. Long summer afternoons keep air conditioners running into the evening, right through the peak window. Solar covers the daytime. A battery covers 4 to 9 PM, so you’re not buying PG&E’s priciest power.
Already have solar on the roof? Since 2020, California has required solar on new homes. Those systems are sized to an estimate of a home’s yearly use, not to your actual A/C, EV or pool. Most also came without a battery, so the evening still comes from PG&E.
- Summer peak, 4 to 9 PM: about 52¢ per kWh on E-TOU-C
- Summer runs June 1 to September 30 on PG&E time-of-use plans
- Builder solar since 2020: sized to an estimate, usually no battery
- NEM 3.0 billing: daytime exports earn far less than peak power costs. See how NEM 3.0 works
PG&E E-TOU-C · Effective March 1, 2026
What PG&E charges by time of day
| Season & Time | Price per kWh | What’s Running |
|---|---|---|
| Summer, 4–9 PM | 52¢ | A/C, cooking, laundry, EV |
| Summer, other hours | 40¢ | Solar covers most daytime use |
| Winter, 4–9 PM | 40¢ | Lights, heat, cooking |
| Winter, other hours | 37¢ | Overnight and midday use |
Rounded bundled rates before PG&E’s baseline credit. Source: PG&E Electric Schedule E-TOU-C.
Solar + Battery · Battery Only · Add More Panels
Which solar and battery setup fits your Brentwood home?
It depends on what’s already on your roof. Homes with no solar usually need panels and a battery. Homes with builder solar often just need a battery, or a few more panels plus a battery. Under NEM 3.0, the battery is what lets your solar cover the 4 to 9 PM peak.
| Setup | Best For | What Happens 4–9 PM | Next Step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar + Battery Most Popular |
Homes with no solar yet | Your battery runs the house on stored solar | Get a solar estimate → |
| Battery-Only Add-On | Homes with builder or existing solar | Stores the solar you already make for evening use | Run the Powerwall Calculator → |
| More Panels + Battery | Builder solar that no longer covers your bill (EV, pool, more A/C) | Extra panels fill the battery, battery covers the peak | Get a solar estimate → |
| Solar Only | Lower evening use or a tight budget | You buy peak power from PG&E; daytime exports earn little | Get a solar estimate → |
Discounts apply to all of these. Our prepaid plan works for solar + battery, battery only and solar only. Some addresses also qualify for an extra energy community discount, which we check by hand.
Already have solar? Add a battery.
Many Brentwood homes came with solar from the builder, sized to an estimate and without a battery. A battery-only add-on lets you use that solar at night instead of sending it to PG&E for very little.
- Keep your existing panels
- Tesla Powerwall, Enphase and SolarEdge options
- Backup power for your essentials during an outage
- Adding a battery generally keeps your current NEM status. We confirm before you sign
- Leased builder solar? Send us your paperwork and we’ll check what’s allowed
What does a battery do for a Brentwood home each day?
Solar runs the house and charges the battery with whatever is left over.
The battery takes over while the A/C is still running, so you skip PG&E’s highest prices.
Any power you still need comes from PG&E at its lower off-peak price.
Backup kicks in for the circuits you choose, and solar recharges the battery the next day.
Who You’ll Work With
Why do Brentwood homeowners work with Solar With Watts?
From Ed’s Own Home
My street went dark. My house didn’t.
I have a Tesla Powerwall at my own home in the Sierra foothills. During a PG&E shutoff, my whole street lost power. Our lights, fridge, A/C and Starlink internet kept running the entire time.
That’s why I design every system around how your home actually uses power, not a generic package. You work with me from your first call until PG&E turns your system on.
See the exact backup setup I use →
— Ed Watts, Solar With Watts
Already have a solar or battery quote?
Send it over and I’ll review it for free. I’ll tell you if the system size, battery and price make sense for your bill, even if you don’t go with us.
Get a Free Quote Review →Ways to Pay
How can Brentwood homeowners pay for solar and batteries?
You have four options, and you can start with $0 down on most of them. The prepaid plan is the most popular because it takes about 30 percent off and still ends with you owning the system.
Maxwell Power Prepaid Plan: About 30% Off
You pay for your system once, at a discounted price. Maxwell Power owns, insures, monitors and maintains it for six years and guarantees its production. Then full ownership transfers to you at no extra cost.
It works for solar + battery, battery only or solar only. Some addresses also qualify for an extra energy community discount on top, which we check by hand. Pay the prepaid amount in cash, or finance it through Travis Credit Union or Credit Human.
How It Plays Out
Day one: pay the discounted prepaid price, in cash or financed.
Years 1–6: Maxwell insures, monitors and maintains the system. You use the power.
Selling early? The buyer takes over the agreement.
Year six: ownership and warranties transfer to you at no extra cost.
$0 Upfront
Solar + Battery Power Plan (PPA)
Nothing upfront. A provider owns the system on your roof, and you pay a set monthly amount for the power it makes. Payments are due every month under the agreement. How a PPA works
Who owns it: the provider
$0 Down Available
Financed Purchase
Own your system from day one with a solar loan through Travis Credit Union or Credit Human. Your monthly payment replaces part of what you pay PG&E today.
Who owns it: you, from day one
Pay Once
Cash Purchase
Buy the system outright. No monthly payment, no agreement with a third party. Ask us to compare it side by side with the prepaid plan price.
Who owns it: you, from day one
Credit challenges? Ask about PACE, which is repaid through your property tax bill. See every rebate and program in our California solar incentives guide.
See your numbers for all four options.Free estimate, sized to your actual PG&E bill.
Get My Free Estimate →From First Call to Power On
How does going solar work for Brentwood homeowners?
Five steps, one point of contact. Most of the time goes to permits and PG&E approval, not construction, and you don’t have to chase any of it.
Free Estimate
Ed sizes your system to your PG&E bill, compares your setup and payment options, and checks your address for the energy community discount.
Ed WattsSite Visit & Design
A technician checks your roof and main electrical panel. Your system is then designed around how your home uses power.
Mars Home SolutionsPermits & PG&E Approval
City of Brentwood permits, any HOA approval and PG&E interconnection paperwork are all handled for you.
Mars Home SolutionsInstallation
A licensed crew installs your panels, battery or both. Mars is a Tesla Certified Installer, CSLB 1065773.
Mars Home SolutionsPower On
PG&E gives permission to operate, your system turns on, and your battery starts covering the 4 to 9 PM peak.
PG&EEd is your contact the whole way. Questions about your design, paperwork or install date go to one person, from your first call until PG&E turns your system on.
Talk It Through With Ed →Brentwood Solar FAQ
What else should Brentwood homeowners know before going solar?
Straight answers, no sales pitch. If your question isn’t here, book a quick call.
Get My Free Estimate →Free Estimate · No Obligation
Ready to stop paying
PG&E’s peak prices?
Tell us about your home and your PG&E bill. We’ll show you which setup fits, what it costs with today’s discounts, and whether your address qualifies for more.
- Sized to your actual PG&E bill, not a generic package
- Solar + battery, battery-only or more panels compared
- Prepaid plan pricing at about 30 percent off
- Free energy community address check
- Backup power options for the circuits you care about
Already have solar? Price a battery-only add-on →
Solar With Watts is a DBA of Watts Home Services, LLC. Systems are designed and installed by our licensed installation partner, a Tesla Certified Installer, CSLB 1065773. PG&E rates shown are rounded E-TOU-C bundled rates effective March 1, 2026, before the baseline credit. Savings vary with your rate plan, usage, system size and PG&E billing rules. Prepaid plan pricing, energy community discounts and financing depend on your address, system and approval. Property tax information reflects current California law. Information current as of November 2026.