Solar Panels in San Francisco County, CA
Cost of Installing Solar Panels in San Francisco County, California
Key Details
- Average cost of solar panels in San Francisco County: $2.82 per watt
- Payback period for solar panels in San Francisco County is between 5 to 15 years
- It is recommended to use a qualified solar contractor for installation.
- Residents in San Francisco County can sell excess solar energy through net metering.
- Cost breakdown for solar panels after incentive for a 3kW, 5kW and 9kW system is $6,349, $10,582, and $19,048 respectively.
How much do Solar Panels cost in San Francisco County, CA?
The average cost of solar panels in San Francisco County is around $2.82 per watt. A 5 kilowatts solar panel costs between $11,985 and $16,215 while a 9 kilowatts solar panel will cost between $18,781 and $25,380.
San Francisco homeowners can take advantage of local solar incentives as well as the federal solar tax credit to lower the cost.
| Energy System Size | Solar Panel Cost | Cost After Credit |
| 3kW | $8,580 | $6,349 |
| 4kW | $11,440 | $8,466 |
| 5kW | $14,300 | $10,582 |
| 6kW | $17,160 | $12,698 |
| 7kW | $20,020 | $14,815 |
| 8kW | $22,880 | $16,931 |
| 9kW | $25,740 | $19,048 |
| 10kW | $28,600 | $21,164 |
Multiple factors affect the eventual cost of a solar installation in San Francisco, including the types of panel used and the number of batteries.
| Average Cost Breakdown for Solar Installation in San Francisco County | |
| Cost Per Watt | |
| Monocrystalline Solar Panels | $1 to $1.50 |
| Polycrystalline Solar Panels | $0.90 to $1 |
| Thin Film Solar Panels | $1 to $1.50 |
| Other Costs | |
| Solar Batteries | $200 to $15,000 |
| Cost of Racking | $.25 - $.50 per watt. |
| Installation and soft Costs | $2.50 - $4.50 per watt |
How Long Does it Take for Solar Panels to Pay for themselves in San Francisco County?
The payback period for solar systems in San Francisco ranges between 5 and 15 years. This means that the installation costs of the system will be reimbursed by the savings on power bills between 5 to 15 years.
Multiple factors affect how long your solar panels will pay for themselves in San Francisco County. Solar cells with better efficiencies often have payback periods that are shorter, likely by as much as 50%.
Solar installations start making money as soon as the system is running. The extra income on power costs will eventually equal the solar cells installation costs.
With routine upkeep, solar cells may last for 25 to 30 years or beyond while significantly reducing power costs.
Factors that Affect Solar Payback Period
The following variables may have an impact on the payback period for solar panels.
- Home energy consumption. Solar panels take longer to pay for themselves the more power you use per kW, and vice versa.
- The price of the solar panels. Solar panels will take longer to pay for themselves at higher costs and vice versa.
- Panel Efficiency. The panels' capacity to produce electricity will also have an impact on the payback period. Solar cells pay for themselves more quickly as they produce more power and vice versa.
- Solar rebates, incentives and credit. Solar subsidies aid in lowering installation costs, which enables solar panels to pay for themselves more quickly.
Do You Need a Handyman or a Solar Installer in San Francisco County?
The US Office of Energy and Renewable Energy recommends that homeowners contact a qualified solar contractor to install the solar system. They also advise making certain that the post is filled solely with competent solar technicians.
Solar installations include various challenging activities, such as mounting solar panels on building rooftops, connecting electrical wires to link batteries and hooking up inverters to the panels. These tasks aren't just risky to perform alone, but in some cases impossible.
When searching for solar installers, consider professionals certified by organizations like the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.
A professional solar technician will guarantee that the installation is carried out in a secure, efficient, and skilled way. For solar installations and businesses, California has a variety of licensing requirements, including
- ‘’A’’ - General Engineering contractors - they install solar energy systems
- ‘’B’’ - General Building contractors - they install solar energy systems that fall under the B&P Code section 7057 definition considering that solar systems use two unlinked building crafts or trades.
- C-4- Boiler, Hot-Water Heating, and Stam Fitting contractors - they work on projects including solar heating equipment linked to the authorized systems in this classification.
- C-10 - Electrical contractors - they perform any solar function that creates, transforms, uses, or transmits electrical current for any use.
- C-36 - Plumbing contractors - they perform projects involving the use of any solar equipment for heating fluids or water to a desired temperature.
- C-46 - Solar contractors - they install, repair, maintain, and modify photovoltaic and thermal solar energy systems. This license doesn't allow construction or building crafts, skills, or trades asides where installation of a photovoltaic or thermal solar energy system is involved.
- C-53 - Swimming Pool contractors - they install swimming pool solar heating.
How can I Sell Solar Energy in San Francisco County?
Residents in San Francisco County are allowed to sell their solar energy through the state of California's Net Metering (NEM) Program.
With net metering, households that produce more power than they need can sell it to energy providers.The surplus electricity is exchanged for energy credits.
Net metering requires a specialized meter. The meter maintains a record of the electricity's transmission both from the utility provider to the owner's property and back again. The amount your utility will pay for whichever quantity of power you transmit to the grid will be decided individually and not based on your normal electricity prices, as opposed to the traditional net metering credit.
This is because NEM 3.0 employs "avoided cost" rates. The specific rate varies depending on the day of the week, the hour of the day, and the month you export your extra energy, making a total of 576 possible export rates available.
NetMetering 3.0 in San Francisco County
On December 15, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved NEM 3.0, California's third net metering initiative. The primary impact of NEM 3.0 is a decrease in remuneration for excess power sent to the electric grid.
Customers of California's three largest utilities, Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric, and San Diego Gas and Electric, are eligible for net metering.
For a solar system to be eligible for net metering, it must fulfill a number of specifications, and the policy is subject to review and possible revisions. Customers will qualify for the Net Billing Tariff if they generate their own power and submit their interconnection applications on or after April 15, 2023. (NBT).
Are Tesla Solar Panels Available in San Francisco County, California?
Tesla provides a variety of solar panel options in San Francisco County, including Tesla Solar Roof and standard rooftop solar panels.
The Tesla Solar Roof takes a different approach from typical rooftop solar panels, which are used for homes or businesses. Although it has a typical roof design, it is also a rooftop solar panel.
The Tesla Solar Roof is made of interlocking tiles that have been covered with unique solar components. Owing to its architecture, it is more weatherproof and long-lasting than typical rooftop solar panels.
For a full solar system installation, Tesla also provides solar batteries.A rechargeable lithium-ion cell called the Powerwall is used to store solar energy that solar panels have produced.
Residents are advised to contact Tesla-certified technicians to assist with installations.
How to Find Solar Companies Near Me in San Francisco County, California?
When searching for a solar supplier to order and install solar panels, residents need to be cautious. In San Francisco County, there are a variety of solar companies and installers, each with particular benefits and drawbacks. In order to ensure a successful setup, it's essential to select a solar company with the appropriate strengths. Some of the things to consider include
Check the available Warranties
Solar companies offer warranties on their solar products and this is a good way to protect yourself from inferior goods. The warranty ensures that you're compensated or rewarded in the case that your solar product becomes faulty. Solar warranties usually last from 10 to 15 years and come at no extra fee to you.
Check for the Licenses they have
Solar panel installers and providers are professionals who must show evidence of their expertise and skill in the job. A generally recognized certification is the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification.
Check Review on the Solar Company
When evaluating solar companies, have a look at customer reviews. Solar companies with a history of installations, sales, and satisfied customers are more likely to have online reviews. Learn more about the solar company and its products, along with its strong features and potential areas for development, by reading reviews and ratings.
Tips to Locate a local San Francisco Solar Company or Installer.
Step 1
Find a San Francisco solar provider nearby by using a solar marketplace. Do a quick search for "San Francisco solar companies near me."
Step 2
Check the state's regional directories and websites. To find out more about reputable solar vendors, consult the websites or directories of your local government. Many government sites include information on renewable power sources, installation tips for solar panels, and lists of reputable neighborhood companies.
Step 3
Ask friends, families and neighbors, especially those who have solar energy systems. Recommendations are a great way to find a service provider that can meet your specific requirements. Ask your neighbors, if they have solar panels installed on their roofs, for referrals to the installers. Referrals are trustworthy because they enable homeowners to evaluate the quality of service provided by the solar supplier based on the views of their friends and neighbors.
San Francisco County Statistics
San Francisco county is located in the Northern region of California that’s home to about 815,201 people. This county covers a landmass of 46.91 square miles with a population per square mile of 18,629.1.
There are around 412,268 housing units in San Francisco County with a 38.2% rate of owner-occupied housing units. The median gross rent is $2,130 with an average person per household rate of 2.34 persons.
San Francisco County issued 2,519 building permits in 2021 and has a median selected owner’s cost of $3,993 with a mortgage and $811 without a mortgage.
