Lower Your Energy Bills with Solar in San Francisco
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 San Francisco solar installation is custom-designed for your home, your roof, and your energy needs.
PG&E Charges San Francisco Homeowners Among the Highest Rates in the Nation
PG&E charges San Francisco homeowners an average of $0.41/kWh – roughly 3x the national average of $0.14/kWh. On the E-TOU-C plan, summer peak hours (4-9pm) cost $0.49-$0.55/kWh. The E-ELEC plan – PG&E’s default for solar customers – charges a flat $0.54/kWh regardless of time. PG&E rates have risen 101% over the past decade, and the 2027 General Rate Case proposes additional future increases. A solar system sized to your usage stops those increases from reaching your bill.
Equipment Selected for San Francisco's Coastal Climate
We install premium panels from Maxeon, REC, and Q CELLS paired with battery storage from Tesla Powerwall and Enphase. San Francisco averages 260 sunny days and 5.4 peak sun hours per day – more than enough for strong solar production. Summer morning fog (“Karl the Fog”) is concentrated in western neighborhoods like the Sunset and Richmond, while eastern neighborhoods like the Mission and Potrero Hill get significantly more direct sun. We select high-efficiency panels that perform well in both direct and diffuse light conditions.
Proven Track Record
Over 15,000 installations across California and Arizona since 2001. 4.7-star Google rating with 800+ reviews. San Francisco is the 17th largest city in the US with nearly 346,000 households. CleanPowerSF – the city’s community energy program – serves 385,000 customer accounts and delivers 100% renewable electricity as its default, making SF one of the greenest grids in the country.
Backup Power for Grid Reliability
While San Francisco’s urban core has lower wildfire risk than surrounding regions, PG&E grid disruptions still affect the city. Aging infrastructure, planned maintenance shutoffs, and cascading effects from PSPS events in the East Bay can leave SF homes without power. Solar with battery storage keeps your home running when PG&E doesn’t.
Experience & Expertise
Leading Solar Experts
- Designing and building solar systems since 2001
- Free consultations tailored to your home and energy needs
- Battery storage to capture full value under California's NEM 3.0
- $0 down financing, lease, PPA, and cash options available
- 25-year workmanship warranty for solar energy systems
- 25-year solar energy production guarantee
- Serving San Francisco, Daly City, South San Francisco, Pacifica, Brisbane, and San Bruno
Solar Incentives
San Francisco Solar Incentives You Qualify For
San Francisco homeowners benefit from both state incentives and CleanPowerSF – the city’s own electricity provider with programs not available in most California cities.
CleanPowerSF Local Energy Credit
CleanPowerSF provides an additional $0.01/kWh bonus on top of standard NEM 3.0 export credits for solar customers. CARE/FERA customers receive an even larger equity credit of $0.07/kWh for solar exports. Since CleanPowerSF handles your generation charges while PG&E handles delivery, solar credits are tracked across both providers.
SGIP Battery Rebate
California’s SGIP program offers battery storage rebates. The general market budget is currently closed to new applications, but the Equity Resiliency tier – paying up to $1,000/kWh for qualifying low-income households in fire-risk areas – remains available through a state-funded waitlist. A 13.5 kWh battery at equity rates could receive up to $13,500 back.
Property Tax Exclusion
Your solar system is exempt from property tax reassessment. A $20,000 system adds $0 to your tax bill. Expires January 1, 2027 – installations completed before then are locked in.
Lease or PPA Options
The federal 30% homeowner tax credit was eliminated in January 2026. Through a lease or PPA, the installer claims the Section 48E credit and passes savings to you through lower payments. Compare $0 down financing options.
NEM 3.0 + Battery Strategy
Under NEM 3.0, PG&E pays just $0.04-$0.08/kWh for midday solar exports. But PG&E charges $0.49-$0.55/kWh during peak hours on the E-TOU-C plan – and $0.54/kWh flat on the E-ELEC plan. A battery stores your daytime solar for evening use instead of giving it away – turning $0.05 of value into $0.49-$0.55 depending on your rate plan.
How We Work
Our Solar Installation Process
01
Free Consultation
We evaluate your San Francisco home’s energy needs, roof condition, and sun exposure. You get a detailed proposal with system size, expected production, and projected savings based on your actual PG&E/CleanPowerSF bills and usage patterns. We account for your neighborhood’s microclimate – fog exposure varies significantly across the city.
02
Custom System Design
Our engineers design a custom system optimized for your home and energy usage. For San Francisco homeowners on PG&E’s E-ELEC plan ($0.54/kWh flat rate), we recommend pairing with battery storage to self-consume during all hours instead of exporting at $0.04-$0.08. On the E-TOU-C plan, we optimize battery dispatch for peak hours (4-9pm, up to $0.55/kWh).
03
Permitting & Approvals
San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection offers SolarAPP+ – a same-day permit program for qualifying residential solar systems (10kW or less). Applications are processed instantly through the online portal. Permit fees run $158.10 for systems 10kW or less. We handle all paperwork, structural engineering, and electrical plans.
04
Professional Installation
Our licensed technicians install your system with minimal disruption, typically completing the work in 1-3 days. Tier-1 panels with 25+ year manufacturer warranties.
05
Inspection & Activation
After passing all inspections, we submit your interconnection application to PG&E. Total timeline from permit to Permission to Operate: typically 3-4 months including PG&E’s current 4-8 week interconnection queue.
our equipment
Quality Solar Panel Options for San Francisco Properties
Premium Solar Panels
High-efficiency panels from Maxeon, REC, and Q CELLS – selected for San Francisco’s 260 sunny days and coastal fog climate. These panels perform well in both direct and diffuse light, which matters in a city where morning fog can reduce direct irradiance in western neighborhoods. San Francisco installations run $2.50-$3.15 per watt – a typical 7 kW system costs $17,500-$22,050 before incentives. A 6 kW system starts at $15,000 and an 8 kW system runs up to $25,200.
Battery Storage
Essential under NEM 3.0. Store daytime solar for evening use when PG&E charges $0.49-$0.55/kWh instead of exporting at $0.04-$0.08. Solar+battery payback runs 5-7 years in San Francisco versus 15-20 years for solar-only – the battery pays for itself by capturing the spread between export and import rates. We install Tesla Powerwall 3, Enphase, and NeoVolta. Add $12,500-$16,500 for a 13.5 kWh battery. Learn more about California solar incentives that can offset battery costs.
Get Your Free Solar Quote Today
Join over 15,000 homeowners who chose SolarTech. Custom solar installations designed for your San Francisco 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 San Francisco home. Calculate your potential savings based on your actual roof and energy usage – no home visit required.
Frequently Asked Solar Questions
Contact SolarTech Support
Phone
(619) 743 9193
sales@solartechonline.com
How much does solar installation cost in San Francisco?
San Francisco solar installations cost $2.50-$3.15 per watt, putting a typical 7 kW system at $17,500-$22,050 before incentives. Battery storage adds $12,500-$16,500 for a 13.5 kWh system, but solar+battery payback in San Francisco runs just 5-7 years thanks to PG&E’s high rates and the NEM 3.0 export gap.
How much does PG&E charge for electricity in San Francisco?
PG&E charges San Francisco homeowners an average of $0.41/kWh – roughly 3x the national average of $0.14/kWh. Peak hours (4-9pm) cost $0.49-$0.55/kWh on the E-TOU-C plan, and the E-ELEC plan charges a flat $0.54/kWh around the clock, making every hour expensive.
What solar incentives are available in San Francisco?
CleanPowerSF offers a $0.01/kWh export bonus for solar customers, with a larger $0.07/kWh credit for CARE/FERA households. The property tax exclusion keeps your solar system from increasing your tax bill but expires January 1, 2027, so timing matters for locking in that benefit.
Do solar panels work in San Francisco's fog?
Yes – San Francisco averages 260 sunny days and 5.4 peak sun hours daily, more than enough for strong solar production. Fog is concentrated in western neighborhoods like the Sunset and Richmond, while eastern areas like the Mission and Potrero Hill see significantly more direct sun year-round.
Do I need a battery with solar in San Francisco?
Under NEM 3.0, PG&E pays just $0.04-$0.08/kWh for midday solar exports while charging $0.49-$0.55/kWh during peak hours – a 7-10x gap. A battery closes that gap by storing daytime solar for evening use, cutting payback from 15-20 years to just 5-7 years.