For SDG&E Customers

SDG&E Solar Quotes: The Strongest Payback in California

SDG&E has the highest residential electricity rates in the continental US. That makes solar payback stronger for you than almost anywhere else. Compare quotes from vetted local installers — on your own time. Bill over $150/mo? Get started.

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Why solar pencils strongest for SDG&E customers

SDG&E has the highest residential electricity rates of any major utility in the continental US. That single fact makes every kWh you offset with solar worth more than in almost any other market. A system that would pay back in 12 years in a low-rate state can pay back in 7-8 years in SDG&E territory.

NEM 3.0 shifted the design, not the value. Yes, exported solar is now credited at $0.05-0.08 per kWh instead of retail rate. But SDG&E's evening TOU rates can exceed $0.55 per kWh — meaning storing your own midday production for evening use captures the highest spread in the state. Battery-paired solar is where the math is clearly strongest.

SGIP rebates apply. San Diego County has significant high fire-threat district coverage, especially in backcountry and hillside areas. Homes in those zones or on medical baseline may qualify for the Equity Resiliency tier — the highest SGIP rebate and often enough to cover most of a battery's installed cost.

How Solar Connect works

Three steps. Compare quotes on your own time. You pick who to work with, when you are ready.

1

Tell us about your home

A few quick questions: address, roof type, monthly bill, whether you want a battery. About two minutes.

2

See real quotes side-by-side

Multiple vetted local installers price out a system for your roof. Compare all-in cost, equipment, financing, and timeline — on your own time.

3

Pick who you want to talk to

When a quote fits, we connect you through Solar Connect. The installers you didn't pick never get your contact info.

What's in your quote — and what to compare

Every Solar Connect quote lays out the six things that actually determine long-term value. Not just sticker price.

All-in cost

Full installed price including permits, monitoring, and battery. Apples-to-apples.

Equipment tier

Panels, inverters, battery brand. Warranty length and degradation rate matter over 25 years.

Financing terms

Cash, loan, lease, or PPA. Loan APR and dealer fees change what you actually pay.

Production estimate

Annual kWh the installer expects. Verify the assumptions match your roof and shading.

Install timeline

Roof work is 1-3 days. Full timeline including permits + PTO usually runs 6-12 weeks.

Warranty length

Panels typically 25 years. Inverter and workmanship warranties vary widely (10-25 yr).

Every installer in your quote is vetted

We screen for licensing, insurance, install history, and customer reviews before any installer can quote on the marketplace. Three tiers — Vetted, Trusted, and Premier — show you at a glance how deep that screening went.

See our vetting criteria

SDG&E solar questions, answered

Is solar worth it for SDG&E customers in 2026?

SDG&E customers with monthly bills over $150 have the strongest solar payback math in California, and among the strongest in the country. SDG&E's residential rates are the highest of any major utility in the continental US, meaning every kWh you offset with solar is worth more than in almost any other market. Solar paired with a battery pencils cleanly under NEM 3.0.

How much does solar cost for SDG&E customers?

Installed cost varies with system size, roof complexity, and battery decision. Most SDG&E-territory residential systems quote between $22,000 and $38,000 all-in before any state incentives, with battery add-ons running $10,000-$15,000 for a single 13-15 kWh unit. Because SDG&E rates are the highest in the state, the payback period for the same system is typically shorter for SDG&E customers than for PG&E or SCE.

Do I need a battery under NEM 3.0 in SDG&E territory?

For most SDG&E customers, yes. Under NEM 3.0, exported solar is credited at roughly $0.05-0.08 per kWh, but SDG&E's evening TOU rates can exceed $0.55 per kWh. That gap makes storing your own midday production for evening use dramatically more valuable than exporting it. A 13-15 kWh battery sized for evening peak typically pays back in 7-10 years in SDG&E territory.

What if I'm on TOU-DR1?

SDG&E's TOU-DR1 plan concentrates the most expensive power in the 4-9 PM peak window, especially during summer months. A battery-paired solar system stores midday production and discharges through the evening peak, exactly when saved kWh are worth the most. Your installer should model the payback on both your current rate plan and the best-fit TOU plan to show the delta.

Are there rebates for SDG&E solar customers?

SGIP (the Self-Generation Incentive Program) covers battery storage rebates for SDG&E customers. Homes in high fire-threat district zones or on medical baseline may qualify for the Equity Resiliency tier, which is the highest SGIP rate and often covers most of a battery's installed cost. San Diego County has significant HFTD coverage, especially in backcountry and hillside areas.

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Enter your average monthly bill and we'll show you estimated system size, total cost range, monthly savings, and years to break even. No personal info, no follow-up.

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Ready to see your SDG&E solar quotes?

Real quotes from vetted local installers, delivered side by side for you to compare. If your monthly bill is over $150, get started.