Start with the utility tariff and load shape
California remains one of the largest distributed-solar markets in the United States, but a useful project calculation cannot rely on an old retail-net-metering assumption. Export compensation, time-of-use pricing and utility territory change the value of sending electricity to the grid versus storing or using it on site.
The federal residential clean-energy credit ended for new post-2025 expenditures
The IRS states that the Residential Clean Energy Credit applied to qualifying residential solar and battery expenditures through December 31, 2025 and is not available for expenditures made after that date. A 2026 California quote should therefore not quietly assume the former federal 30% residential credit.
Source: IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.
Battery value is increasingly about timing
When export value is below the value of electricity avoided later in the day, storage can shift solar production into evening consumption. The right battery size still depends on measured household use, the proposed PV array, backup loads, tariff windows and whether resilience or bill savings is the primary goal.
What to compare before signing
- PV array size, clipping assumptions and annual production estimate
- Battery usable capacity and continuous/peak power
- Backup configuration and which circuits are actually backed up
- Utility interconnection/export treatment for the address
- Installer scope, permits, monitoring, warranty and service responsibility
Use the system-size calculator, then compare verified batteries and inverters before requesting quotes.