California

• CALIFORNIA

• SOLAR OPTIONS IN CALIFORNIA

Five Ways California Homeowners Can Go Solar

California homeowners usually choose between a solar lease, a power purchase agreement, a prepaid PPA, a solar loan and a cash purchase. Collective Power compares the ones that apply to your address, utility and roof, so you can see the numbers side by side before you decide. Not sure where to start? Our services page explains each one.

Solar Lease

A fixed monthly payment to use a system the installer owns and maintains. Often little or no money down.

Solar PPA

Pay a set rate for the power your panels make, with the installer owning and maintaining the system.

Solar Loan

Finance the system, own it, and decide how to handle the incentives that apply to owners.

Two More Options

Prepaid PPA And Cash Purchase

The three cards above are the most common. Two more are worth comparing.

Prepaid PPA

Pay for the power your system will make in one upfront payment, with no monthly solar bill. The installer still owns and maintains it. Read the prepaid PPA guide.

Cash Purchase

Pay for the system yourself and own it from day one. It avoids interest, and you take on the maintenance. See buying solar with cash.

• WHY SOLAR IN CALIFORNIA

Why Solar Is Worth A Look In California

Electric rates from PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric have risen over the years, and many homes get plenty of sun. Solar can cut what you buy from the utility, but how much you save depends on your usage, your rate plan and how your system is set up under California’s net billing rules. We compare the options for your home so you are not guessing. Read more about the solar PPA or see how a lease differs.

• PPA VS UTILITY

How A Solar PPA Compares With Staying On Utility Power

• WHO A PPA FITS

Who A Solar PPA Might Fit In California

A PPA tends to suit homeowners who want solar without buying the system and are comfortable with a long agreement. It may not suit you if you plan to sell soon or want to own the system. The installer owns and maintains it, and you pay for the power it makes. If you would rather pay once, compare a prepaid PPA.

• No system to buy, and no equipment to maintain yourself
• A per kWh rate you can compare with your utility rate
• Contract terms, the yearly increase and sale rules explained in plain language

California counties we serve

Homeowners in these California counties can request a comparison of PPA, prepaid PPA, lease, loan and cash options. Availability depends on your address, utility and installer partners.

Do not see your county, or not sure which one you are in? Request a quote with your address and we will confirm coverage and installer availability for you.

California Rules

How Net Billing Changes The Math

Three things to understand before you compare quotes.

Exports earn less

Under net billing, power you send to the grid is credited at a lower rate than the power you buy. That is why using your solar power at home matters.

Batteries come up often

A battery can store daytime power for the evening. Whether it makes sense depends on your rate plan and usage, so we can quote with and without one.

Your utility matters

PG&E, SCE and SDG&E each have their own rate plans, and timing can affect which export rates apply. We confirm what applies to your address.

Rules and rates change. Request a quote and we will check what is current for you.

• COLLECTIVE POWER IN CALIFORNIA

Why Collective Power Is Different In California

We start with your utility, your rate plan and your roof, then compare what is available from our installer partners. You get one point of contact instead of a pile of quotes. Learn how we work or see all our service areas.

Matched To Your Utility

We factor in whether you are with PG&E, SCE or SDG&E before we bring you a quote, so the numbers reflect what you would actually pay.

California Rules Considered

We look at net billing, rate plans and battery options so the comparison reflects how California works today.

Vetted Installer Partners

We match you with installers that hold the licensing and insurance required in California, and we check before they join our network.

What It Costs

Example California Solar Costs

A rough guide from published 2026 marketplace data. It is not a quote.

Average quote

• Price per wattAbout $2.52
• System sizeAbout 8.4 kW
• Before incentivesAbout $21,200
• Typical range$18,020 to $24,380

Paying over time

• LoanMonthly payment depends on rate and term
• PPA or leasePayment depends on the offer and yearly increase
• CompareWe line them up for your address

Prices change with equipment, system size and roof. Your own quote is the only number that counts.

Explore the loan and cash pages for more.

• HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

California Solar FAQs

Start by sharing your address and a recent electric bill. We compare PPA, prepaid PPA, lease, loan and cash offers from installer partners, you pick one, and the installer handles design, permits and installation. Request your California solar quote to begin.

Net billing, often called NEM 3.0, applies to most new California solar customers since April 2023. Power you send to the grid is credited at a lower rate than the power you buy, so using more of your solar power at home, or storing it in a battery, usually matters more. Rules and rates are set by the state and your utility, so we confirm what applies to you. See our financing options.

For many homes it can be, but it depends on your usage, rate plan, roof and how the system is sized. Net billing changed the math compared with older rules, so the result is different for each address. We compare real offers instead of guessing. Get a quote or talk to our team.

We compare options for customers of PG&E, SCE and SDG&E, and we check municipal utilities by address because their rules and rates can differ. See the full list of areas we serve.

Not always, but batteries come up often because net billing pays less for power you send to the grid. A battery stores daytime power for the evening, which can raise the value of what you generate. Whether it pays off depends on your rate plan and usage. Ask for a battery and no battery comparison when you request a quote.

It can be if the PPA rate and its yearly increase stay below what your utility is likely to charge. A PPA means you do not own the system. Read how a solar PPA works, then compare it with a lease or a loan.

A prepaid PPA is a power purchase agreement where you pay for the system's electricity upfront instead of monthly. Availability depends on the installer partner and your address, so we confirm it when we compare offers. See our prepaid PPA guide for how it differs from a standard PPA.

California has no state solar tax credit. The federal homeowner credit for systems you own ended at the end of 2025, and other incentives and utility programs change often, so we confirm what is current when we quote. Owning a system through a loan or cash purchase is treated differently from a PPA or lease, so ask what applies to each.

EnergySage's 2026 data puts the average California quote near $2.52 per watt, or roughly $21,200 for an average size system before incentives. Your price depends on system size, equipment and roof. Use it as a rough guide only, then get quotes for your home.

It depends on the option. A lease or PPA may transfer to the buyer or be bought out, and a system you own simply goes with the home. Ask about transfer steps and fees before you sign. Contact us if you want help reading a contract.

Check the county list on this page, then request a quote with your address. Coverage can vary by town, utility and installer, so we confirm it for you. You can also call (877) 840-4504.

Rules and incentives differ a lot between states. If you are also looking at property elsewhere, see our Massachusetts solar page, or read about Collective Power.

Next Step

See Your California Solar Options

Share your address and a recent electric bill. We compare offers for your home and show you the numbers, with no obligation.

Read about a solar PPA, prepaid PPA, lease, loan or cash purchase, see Massachusetts, or contact us.