Stop Paying More.
Start Owning Your Power.
Lock in your power at 30% off before the next California rate hike. No tax credit needed. No money out of pocket. Just lower bills and a home that runs on your terms.
Enter your utility and average monthly bill — PG&E, SMUD, SCE, SDG&E, or Pioneer. We'll show your annual savings, system size, and two financing paths — both with $0 out of pocket.
Your Solar Savings Estimate
Select your utility, enter your bill, and we'll show your full savings breakdown — annual savings, system size, batteries, and two financing paths. No email required to see results.
You Could Save $0 Per Year
Want to dig deeper into just the battery math? Run your numbers on our Powerwall calculator →
Two Ways to Make This Yours — Both With $0 Out of Pocket
Prepaid Option — Own Your Power
Turn your power bill from a monthly liability into a fixed, prepaid asset. One upfront amount — financed, $0 out of pocket — covers your power for the next 25 years. No more rate hikes. Ownership transfers to you in year 5.
- 30% off the system cost (federal tax credit pass-through)
- $0 down financing available (650+ credit)
- Ownership transfers to you in year 5
- No homeowner tax liability
- Locked-in cost — immune to rate hikes
Power Purchase Agreement — 30% Off Every Month
No upfront cost. No system to buy. You just pay for the power your solar produces — at roughly 30% less than what you're paying your utility today. Switch the light on, save money. Simple as that.
- $0 down, no credit check, no tax liability
- Roughly 30% lower than your current utility bill
- System maintenance + monitoring included
- Production guarantee for 25 years
- Best for homeowners who want simplicity over ownership
Submit your info and Ed will personally review your numbers and follow up within 1 hour with a system sized for your actual home.
Your Windows May Be Costing You Even More
Old or single-pane windows can account for 25–30% of a home's heating and cooling loss. Pairing solar with energy-efficient window replacement reduces your total load — meaning your solar covers more of your actual usage and your savings are even greater.
Get a Free Window Estimate →Estimates based on 2026 California utility rates, average solar production data for your region, and typical system costs. Actual results vary based on roof orientation, shading, usage patterns, and financing choice.
How We Calculate Your Results
We believe you deserve to understand how your numbers are generated — not just trust a black box. Here's exactly what data, rate assumptions, and formulas are behind your estimate.
We use 2026 blended residential rates for each utility — averaging Tier 1 and Tier 2 consumption weighted toward typical household usage patterns. PG&E's peak TOU rate of $0.52/kWh and base services charge of ~$28/month are factored in. SMUD, SCE, SDG&E, and Pioneer rates are updated to reflect current 2026 tariffs. Rate sources: PG&E.com, SMUD.org, SCE.com, SDG&E.com, PioneerCommunityEnergy.org.
System sizing is based on your annual electricity usage divided by regional peak sun hours. Northern and Central California averages 1,350–1,500 peak sun hours per year depending on location. Southern California and San Diego County average 1,500–1,600 hours. We use 1,400 hours as our conservative baseline — meaning actual production in sunnier areas may exceed our estimate.
Under NEM 3.0, solar export credits were cut by up to 75% for PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, and most California utilities. Our solar-only offset assumes approximately 78–85% bill reduction depending on utility — not 100% — because grid reliance during peak hours (4–9pm) is real. Adding a battery increases offset to approximately 88–92% by eliminating peak-hour purchases. SMUD's SSR export rate is more favorable and reflected accordingly.
Installed system costs use 2026 California averages: $3.60–$3.95/watt depending on utility territory and system complexity. Southern California (SCE/SDG&E) runs slightly higher due to permit complexity. Tesla Powerwall 3 installed cost is estimated at $14,000 per unit before rebates. The Prepaid Lease price shown reflects a 30% discount from the estimated cash price via the federal 48E ITC pass-through.
Long-term savings are projected using a 3–6% annual utility rate escalation depending on utility territory — conservative relative to California's actual average. SDG&E and PG&E use 6%; SMUD uses 4%; SCE uses 5.5%. Each year's savings are compounded at the territory rate over 25 years. The result represents cumulative avoided utility costs — not discounted present value.
If you charge an EV at home, we add approximately $750/year to your effective usage cost — equivalent to charging a mid-size EV (~15,000 miles/year at 3.5 mi/kWh) on a typical California TOU rate. This increases your recommended system size to ensure solar production actually covers your total load including the vehicle.
Your window selection helps refine how your solar system is sized. Single-pane or 25+ year-old windows can account for 25–30% of a home's heating and cooling loss, forcing your HVAC to run longer and increasing your actual electricity usage above what your bill alone suggests. If you selected older or single-pane windows, we flag this as an opportunity — replacing them alongside solar reduces your total load, which means your solar system covers more of your real-world consumption. We do not apply a direct numeric adjustment to the calculator estimate, but flag the window opportunity when it's likely to be meaningful. Get a free window estimate →
| Utility | Blended Avg Rate | Peak TOU Rate | Fixed Monthly Charge | Solar Offset (NEM 3.0) | Battery Bonus Offset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG&E | $0.46/kWh | $0.52/kWh | ~$28/mo | ~78% | +12% with battery |
| SMUD | $0.20/kWh | $0.28/kWh | ~$15/mo | ~72% | +14% with battery |
| SCE | $0.42/kWh | $0.50/kWh | ~$26/mo | ~76% | +13% with battery |
| SDG&E ★ Highest CA rates | $0.47/kWh | $0.55/kWh | ~$16/mo | ~85% | +10% with battery |
| Pioneer Community Energy | $0.24/kWh | $0.32/kWh | ~$25/mo (PG&E) | ~80% | +10% with battery |
Rates updated May 2026. Utility rates change periodically — verify current rates at your utility's website before making purchasing decisions. Fixed monthly charges are unavoidable regardless of solar production. Sources: pge.com, smud.org, sce.com, sdge.com, pioneercommunityenergy.org.
- Your specific roof orientation, pitch, and shading — these directly affect actual solar production. South-facing roofs produce ~15% more than west-facing in California.
- Your current rate plan — if you're on CARE/FERA or a special EV rate, your effective rate and savings may differ significantly from the averages used here.
- Local permit costs and installation complexity, which vary by city and roof type.
- Your actual usage patterns — a household that runs A/C heavily from 4–9pm benefits more from battery storage than our average model assumes.
- Window efficiency — older or single-pane windows increase your actual HVAC load above what your bill alone reflects. Replacing them alongside solar can meaningfully improve total system ROI.
- Future rate changes beyond our territory-specific escalation assumptions — California's actual rate increases have averaged 6–8% in recent years.
The Powerwall Calculator shows your exact backup runtime by appliance load, how many units fit your home, and your NEM 3.0 savings by utility — including SMUD's VPP earnings. Takes 30 seconds.
We Serve 34+ Cities Across California
PG&E, SMUD, SCE, SDG&E, and Pioneer Community Energy territories — from Sacramento and the Central Valley to San Diego County. View our full service area map to find your city.