Best Solar Companies in California (2026)
Californians pay some of the most expensive residential power in America — and under NEM 3.0, the grid pays pennies for what you send back. That combination didn't kill solar here. It rewrote how a good system is designed.
This guide is built on the CPUC's own rate data — not installer marketing — and covers the battery-first math, what's left of state incentives, and who we'd actually get quotes from.
What would solar save on a California bill?
Enter your ZIP to run the numbers for your utility and rate plan. No name, email, or phone required to see a result.
Sources: Public Advocates Office (CPUC), Q1 2026 Electric Rates Report; CPUC PSPS post-event reporting, Jan 2025.
The bill is the sales pitch
Ten years ago a kilowatt-hour from Southern California Edison cost about 17 cents. In March 2026 the average residential rate hit 34.5 cents — up 57% in just the last five years. Since 2014, SCE rates have climbed 97% while general inflation rose 39%. San Diego households have it worse: SDG&E's average rate is now 45.7¢/kWh after an 11.4% jump on a single day in January 2026.
The strain shows: CPUC filings report 17% of SCE customers are behind on their bills, owing an average of $833. When people ask whether solar still "pencils out" in California, this chart is most of the answer — every rate increase shortens the payback on power you generate yourself.
Average residential rate, ¢/kWh. 2026 is the reported average; earlier years are derived from the report's 3-, 5-, and 10-year growth figures. Source: Public Advocates Office (CPUC), Q1 2026 Electric Rates Report.
Sell low, buy high — unless you store it
Since April 2023, new California solar customers are credited at the grid's "avoided cost" for exported power — around 8¢/kWh on average, roughly 75% less than the old near-retail credit. Meanwhile SCE's summer peak rate between 4 and 9pm runs about 58¢/kWh. Export your surplus at 2pm and buy it back at 7pm, and you're trading a dollar for about 14 cents.
Avg. NEM 3.0 export credit vs. SCE TOU-D-4-9PM summer peak rate.
The battery-first rule
Store your midday surplus and spend it on the evening peak instead of selling it for pennies. This is why battery attachment on new California installs has gone from about 10% to roughly 60% since the rules changed — and why a California quote without a storage option (or a clear reason to skip it) is a yellow flag.
A battery earns its keep twice here: it arbitrages the rate gap daily, and during a Public Safety Power Shutoff — 363,196 SCE customers were de-energized in January 2025 alone — it can keep essentials running while the lines are down.
Who we'd get quotes from in California
Every company below is active in California. Given NEM 3.0, weight their storage lineup and TOU-aware system design as heavily as price — and verify any bidder's C-46 or C-10 license on the CSLB site before signing.
Advertiser Disclosure: SolarRatings.org earns referral fees from featured installers. Compensation may influence rankings and placement.
| Installer | Rating & Reviews | Equipment & Tech | Warranty | Key Pros & Cons | Get Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 RatedSunrunEditor's Pick | Tier-1 Monocrystalline (Q-Cells, Costco partnerships) Efficiency: 20.6% – 21.4% | 10-year roof penetration, 25-year panel warranty |
| Check Rates | |
#2 RatedTesla SolarBest Value | Tesla proprietary low-profile panels & Powerwall 3 Efficiency: 20.0% – 21.0% | 25-year panel warranty, 10-year Powerwall warranty |
| Check Rates | |
#3 RatedBlue Raven Solar | Tier-1 High-Efficiency panels Efficiency: 20.2% – 21.2% | 25-year manufacturer, 10-year workmanship |
| Check Rates | |
#4 RatedADT Solar | Tier-1 Enphase microinverters & premium panels Efficiency: 19.8% – 20.8% | 25-year Enphase warranty, 25-year roof guarantee |
| Check Rates |
California incentives in 2026
The incentive landscape thinned out after 2025, but two programs still materially change California solar economics — both, fittingly, reward storage and ownership rather than exports.
* The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 — be wary of any quote that still includes it. Program rules and budgets change; confirm current eligibility with a certified tax professional before you sign a contract.
California solar, answered
Yes — but the winning system design changed. Exported power now earns roughly 8¢/kWh instead of near-retail credit, so the value comes from using your own solar power instead of buying SCE or PG&E power at 30–58¢. In practice that means sizing the system to your actual usage and pairing it with a battery so evening consumption is covered. Homes that do this still cut utility spend dramatically; homes that export most of their production see much weaker returns than they would have before April 2023.