The latest in residential solar, home batteries, and EV charging. Guides and insights from the Solar Connect team to help you make informed decisions about your energy future.
California doesn't tax solar as new construction. That ends January 1, 2027. What changes, who keeps the exemption, and the deadline people miss.
Expect 6 to 14 weeks from signing to switch-on in California. The install is 1 to 3 days. The permit and the utility's approval decide everything else.
Roof age is the wrong question. What matters is years of roof life left versus 25 years of panels on top, and what it costs to take them off and put them back.
California solar runs about $2.40 to $3.25 per watt in 2026. What moves the number, why quoted prices sit below installed ones, and the tax-credit trap.
If a Community Choice Aggregator supplies your power, your utility bill shows only half the story. What that means when you size and price a solar system.
How many solar panels you need depends on your yearly kWh, roof direction, and shade, not your roof's size. Here's how to size a solar system right in 2026.
Two installers can quote the same California roof and land 40% apart. Here is why the spread is so wide, what drives it, and how to see it before you sign.
How California solar economics have shifted since NEM 3.0 and the end of the federal tax credit for purchased systems. What SGIP still covers, when solar plus battery still pencils out, and how to read a quote when the math is more complicated than it used to be.
The expired federal credit reshuffled which solar financing options actually pencil. Cash, loan, lease, PPA, HELOC compared honestly for 2026.
The 30% federal credit going away made solar payback longer in 2026. Here is how to calculate your actual payback period using your own numbers.
Battery sizing comes down to two numbers: capacity and power output. What a California home actually needs under NEM 3.0, and how to get your own figure.
When California homeowners lose power during PSPS or wildfires, two solutions come up: solar plus battery, or a whole-home backup generator. Real cost, runtime, install complexity, and long-term math compared across common household scenarios.
Tesla Powerwall 3 vs Enphase IQ Battery 10C in 2026: capacity, power output, modularity, warranty, install cost, and which one fits which home.
A plain English guide to how home solar batteries work: charging, discharging, inverters, chemistry, backup vs. savings, and how to size storage.
The six best home EV chargers in 2026, compared honestly on output, connector type, smart features, install cost, and warranty. Practical picks for California homeowners planning charger + install through Solar Connect.
Level 2 EV charger installation costs $500 to $4,000+ in 2026 depending on panel capacity, conduit run, and permit fees. Here is what drives the price.
EV charger vs. EV outlet, explained: what EVSE is, how NEMA 14-50 outlets and hardwired units differ, charging levels, and which to install at home.
No. California Civil Code 714 voids HOA rules that block solar. What counts as a reasonable restriction, and the 45-day deadline boards miss.
Plug-in solar isn't legal in California yet. SB 868 passed both houses August 25 and is on the Governor's desk. He has 30 days to act.
Selling a house with solar in 2026? Here's how owned systems, loans, leases, and PPAs actually transfer at closing, and what to expect from buyers and appraisers.
California solar quotes for the same system can vary 20 to 40 percent between installers. Here's why the gap exists, what's inside the number, and how to spot which quote is right for your home.
A short list of warning signs that a solar quote is sketchy, overpriced, or designed to push you into a contract you should not sign. Updated for 2026.
Submitted a solar form once and now your phone is ringing every day? Here is how to stop the calls and a better way to compare quotes without the pitch.
Solar quotes for the same project can vary by tens of thousands. Here is what actually drives the gap, and the simple way to see real markup variance.
Conventional wisdom says three solar quotes. Sometimes it's right, sometimes it's not enough. Here is what actually drives the right number for you.
California's SGIP rebate pays a real share of home battery cost in 2026. Tier eligibility, current step rate, application timing, and what installers handle.
Every installer in the Solar Connect network goes through a vetting process before they can quote your home. Here's exactly what that process covers.
NEM 3.0 and the expired federal credit changed the math. Here's whether California solar still pencils in 2026, and what the battery question changes.
The 30% federal credit expired in 2025. Solar can still pencil out in 2026, but the math is tighter. Here is what actually drives the answer for you.
Most solar companies require you to talk to a rep before they show pricing. Here is how to get real quotes without the calls, and what the tradeoff is.
The expired federal credit changed the math. In 2026, leasing solar can now beat cash purchase in many scenarios. Here is when each option wins.
Comparing solar quotes on system price alone misses what actually matters. Six things to check on every proposal before you sign anything in 2026.
The 30% solar tax credit expired in 2025. Here's how prepaid leases and PPAs pass federal credit value through in 2026, and what to compare before you sign.
U.S. electricity rates rose about 9.5% in early 2026. Here's what's driving the increase, whether the expired tax credit is to blame, and what it means.