Lower Your Energy Bill with Solar in Sacramento
Your system. Your roof. Custom-designed for your home. 25+ years experience. 15,000+ installations. 25-year workmanship warranty.
WHY SOLARTECH
Why Choose SolarTech for Your Solar Needs
Every Sacramento solar installation is custom-designed for your home, your roof, and your energy needs.
SMUD Rates and Your Solar Opportunity
SMUD charges Sacramento homeowners $0.3765/kWh during summer peak hours (5-8pm weekdays) and $0.1776/kWh during non-summer peak. The average Sacramento household pays around $149/month – less than PG&E territory, but SMUD rates have been climbing steadily and every increase makes solar more valuable. A system sized to your home locks in the energy you generate at zero marginal cost, protecting you from future rate increases on every kilowatt-hour you would otherwise have to buy from SMUD.
The Battery Math Works in Sacramento
SMUD credits your excess solar at a flat 7.4¢/kWh on the Solar and Storage Rate – all hours, all seasons. That’s the same rate whether you export at 2pm or 8pm. But SMUD charges $0.3765/kWh at summer peak. The spread is 5:1. A battery system stores your midday solar production and discharges it during the 5-8pm peak window, turning what would be 7.4¢ export power into $0.3765 avoided cost. Add SMUD’s My Energy Optimizer rebate and the economics improve further. SolarTech installs battery storage systems from Tesla and Enphase and sizes them for SMUD’s rate structure.
25+ Years Across California and Arizona
Over 15,000 solar installations across California and Arizona since 2001. 4.7-star Google rating with 800+ reviews and 4.5-star Yelp rating with 400+ reviews. SolarTech has been installing solar across California since 2001 – every utility territory, every roof type, every permitting jurisdiction in the state. Your installation is backed by a 25-year workmanship warranty.
Backup Power for Sacramento Homes
SMUD does not run Public Safety Power Shutoffs – a key difference from PG&E territory. But grid outages still happen, and battery storage keeps your home running through them. A Tesla Powerwall or Enphase IQ Battery paired with your solar system provides whole-home backup during outages while optimizing your SMUD bill every day.
Experience & Expertise
Leading Solar Experts
- Designing and building solar systems since 2001
- Free consultations tailored to your home and energy needs
- SDG&E territory specialists - we handle Solar Billing Plan (NEM 3.0) enrollment and interconnection
- Battery storage expertise for NEM 3.0 self-consumption and backup power
- $0 down financing, lease, PPA, and cash options available
- 25-year workmanship warranty for solar energy systems
- Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer, Maxeon Preferred Partner, Enphase Preferred Partner
- CSLB licensed, bonded, and insured
- Serving Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, and all of North San Diego County
Solar Incentives
Sacramento Solar Incentives You Qualify For
Sacramento homeowners have access to a strong local incentive stack – led by SMUD’s own battery rebate program, which is more generous than what’s available in most California utility territories.
SMUD My Energy Optimizer Partner+ Rebate
SMUD pays up to $5,400 per Powerwall toward qualifying battery storage systems installed by a SMUD-approved Partner+ contractor. On top of that, SMUD’s Virtual Power Plant program pays $440 per year per Powerwall in annual payments for participating in grid events. That’s up to $5,400 in upfront rebate plus recurring annual income from a single battery installation. Available for battery-only or solar-plus-battery installations on the Solar and Storage Rate.
California Property Tax Exclusion
Your solar installation is excluded from property tax reassessment. A $20,000 system adds $0 to your annual property tax bill. This exclusion expires January 1, 2027 – systems installed before that date lock in the benefit for the life of the equipment.
Battery Economics Under SMUD's Rate Structure
Unlike NEM 3.0 utilities where export rates vary by time of day, SMUD’s Solar and Storage Rate pays a flat 7.4¢/kWh regardless of when you export. The real value of battery storage is on the cost-avoidance side: every kWh you store and use during the 5-8pm peak period saves $0.3765 at summer rates instead of earning 7.4¢ in export credits. Learn more about lithium battery storage costs and what to expect before you buy.
How We Work
Our Solar Installation Process
01
Free Consultation
We evaluate your Sacramento home’s energy needs, roof condition, and sun exposure. You get a detailed proposal with system size, projected production, and estimated savings based on your actual SMUD bills and usage history. No obligation, no pressure.
02
Custom System Design
Our engineers design a system for your specific home and energy profile. For Sacramento homeowners on SMUD’s Time-of-Use plan, we factor in the 5-8pm peak window and size battery storage to maximize self-consumption during the most expensive hours. Each design accounts for your roof orientation, local shading, and Sacramento’s inland valley climate.
03
Permitting & Approvals
Sacramento uses SolarAPP+ for automated residential solar permit review – one of the fastest permitting pathways available in California for licensed contractors. We handle all documentation, submit through the City of Sacramento’s online portal, and file your SMUD interconnection application through PowerClerk (smudinterconnect.powerclerk.com).
04
Professional Installation
Our licensed technicians complete your installation, typically in 1-3 days, with minimal disruption to your routine. Every system uses Tier-1 panels backed by 25+ year manufacturer warranties, professionally mounted with code-compliant racking and wiring.
05
Inspection & Activation
After passing city inspection, we coordinate SMUD’s interconnection approval and Permission to Operate. Total timeline from contract to activation typically runs 4-8 weeks. Once your system is live, it starts generating and reducing your SMUD bill immediately.
our equipment
Quality Solar Panel Options for Sacramento Properties
Premium Solar Panels
High-efficiency panels from Maxeon, REC, and Q CELLS – selected for Sacramento’s climate and production profile. Sacramento gets 5.5 peak sun hours per day and 269 sunny days per year, with a hot, dry inland valley climate that drives strong year-round solar output. The minimal marine layer means your panels produce near maximum capacity on most days. A typical 7 kW system for a Sacramento home costs $16,655; an 8 kW system runs $19,035; a 10 kW system runs $23,793 – all before incentives. Current market data shows a 6.73-year payback and $170,132 in total 25-year savings for Sacramento installations. See how Sacramento compares to the rest of the state with our solar panel cost guide.
Battery Storage
Recommended for every Sacramento homeowner on SMUD’s rate structure. Store midday solar production and discharge it during the 5-8pm peak window – avoiding SMUD’s most expensive rates while reducing grid dependence. We install Tesla Powerwall 3 and Enphase IQ Battery systems. Add $11,000-$15,000 for a 10-13 kWh battery, significantly offset by SMUD’s My Energy Optimizer rebate of up to $5,400 per Powerwall, plus $440 per year in VPP payments.
Get Your Free Solar Quote Today
Join over 15,000 homeowners who chose SolarTech. Custom solar installations designed for your Sacramento home, backed by our 25-year workmanship warranty.
GET A SAVINGS ESTIMATE
See How Much Solar Could Save You
Find out what solar can do for your Sacramento home. Calculate your potential savings based on your actual roof and SMUD energy usage – no home visit required.
Frequently Asked Solar Questions
Contact SolarTech Support
Phone
(619) 743 9193
sales@solartechonline.com
How much do solar panels cost in Sacramento?
A typical 7 kW solar system in Sacramento costs $16,655 before incentives; an 8 kW system runs $19,035 based on current market data. SMUD’s My Energy Optimizer rebate adds up to $5,400 toward battery storage, plus $440 per year per Powerwall in Virtual Power Plant payments.
Does SMUD pay you for solar power?
Yes – SMUD credits your excess solar at a flat 7.4¢/kWh on the Solar and Storage Rate, which applies all hours and all seasons. That compares to SMUD’s summer peak rate of $0.3765/kWh, making self-consumption and battery storage the highest-value strategy for Sacramento homeowners.
What solar incentives are available in Sacramento in 2026?
SMUD’s My Energy Optimizer Partner+ program pays up to $5,400 per Powerwall, plus $440 per year per battery in Virtual Power Plant payments. The California property tax exclusion keeps your solar system off your tax bill entirely – but it expires January 1, 2027.
Do I need a battery with solar in Sacramento?
Yes – SMUD’s summer peak rate ($0.3765/kWh, 5-8pm) is five times the 7.4¢/kWh export credit, so every kilowatt-hour you store and use at peak is worth five times more than what SMUD would pay for it. SMUD’s My Energy Optimizer rebate of up to $5,400 per Powerwall further improves the math.
Is Sacramento a good city for solar panels?
Sacramento gets 269 sunny days and 5.5 peak sun hours daily, producing strong year-round output with minimal cloud cover compared to coastal California cities. Current market data shows a 6.73-year payback on a Sacramento solar system and $170,132 in total 25-year savings.