Solar Panels in Santa Clara County, CA
Cost of Installing Solar Panels in Santa Clara County, California
Key Details
- Average cost of a 5kW to 6kWsolar panel installation in Santa Clara County, CA is between $13,000 and $17,000
- Solar panels in Santa Clara County typically pay for themselves in 5 to 7 years
- Incentives for solar energy in Santa Clara County, include SASH, SGIP, net metering and the Federal solar tax credit
- Customers in Santa Clara County can sell solar energy through net energy metering (NEM)
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Santa Clara County, CA?
The average cost of purchasing and installing a solar panel for homes in Santa Clara County is between $13,000 and $17,000. However, the eventual cost of a solar energy system varies depending on the panel type, location, or system size.
Homeowners and businesses can cut down the cost of solar installations by taking advantage of incentives available in Santa Clara.
Average cost in Santa Clara County.
| Energy System Size | Solar Panel Cost | Cost After Credit |
| 3kW | $8,190 | $5,733 |
| 4kW | $10,920 | $7,644 |
| 5kW | $13,650 | $9,555 |
| 6kW | $16,380 | $11,466 |
| 7kW | $19,110 | $13,377 |
| 8kW | $21,840 | $15,288 |
| Average Cost Breakdown for Solar Installation in Santa Clara County | |
| Solar Panel Type | Cost Per Watt |
| Monocrystalline Solar Panels | $1 - $1.50 |
| Polycrystalline Solar Panels | $.90 - $1 |
| Thin Film Solar Panels | $1 - $1.50 |
| Other Costs | |
| Solar Batteries | $.4 - $.75 |
| 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 Santa Clara County?
Solar panels in Santa Clara County typically need 6 to 10 years to pay for themselves. Your payback period will be determined by the cost of your system and the amount of power it generates. Your solar panel system will start to pay for itself faster as it produces more energy.
What are the Incentives for Solar Energy in Santa Clara County, California?
Santa Clara County offers various solar panel incentives and rebates. Some of these include:
Net metering
With net metering, homeowners in Santa Clara who own solar energy systems get to receive bill credits for generating extra solar power. The capacity cap for the net metering program is 5% of the maximum peak customer demand.
Disadvantaged Communities - Single-family Solar Homes (DAC-SASH)
The DAC-SASH program provides upfront incentives for eligible single-family homeowners who install solar panels. However, homeowners must be customers of Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), or San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) to be eligible for the incentive.
The Federal Solar Tax Credit
Homeowners in Santa Clara County who adopt solar power may be eligible for the Residential Clean Energy Credit. This incentive is only available to applicants who have paid for their solar energy installation in full. In order to qualify for a substantial tax credit, homeowners must also have a sufficient amount of income tax.
How can I Sell Solar Energy in Santa Clara County, California?
Homeowners in Santa Clara can sell excess solar energy using net energy metering (NEM). Participating customers receive a bill credit for surplus electricity exported to the electric grid.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) establishes tariffs, and the customer's bill is then adjusted to reflect the bill credits.
Prior to April 2023, residents had the option of signing up with NEM 2.0. The following prerequisites were required for NEM 2.0.
- Customers who possess solar installations that are less than 1 megawatt must pay an interconnection fee. This fee will be determined by the previous interconnection costs of each IOU.
- For each kWh of grid electricity they use, customer-generators are required to pay small fees.
- To apply for NEM 2.0, customer-generators must also accept service on a Transfer to time-of-use basis.
NetMetering 3.0
On December 15, 2022, the CPUC voted to adopt NEM 3.0, California's most recent edition of net metering. Compared to NEM 2.0, the compensation rates for new customer-generators is reduced under NEM 3.0 Also, the structure transitions from net-metering to net-billing in NEM 3.0.
Do You Need a Handyman or a Solar Installer in Santa Clara County?
The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy recommends that homeowners engage the services of qualified professionals when installing solar equipment.
Verify that any professional you employ has the proper licensing for installing solar systems.
Here is a list of some of California's licensing categories for solar energy:
- "A" – General Engineering contractors are allowed to install solar energy systems.
- "B" – General Building contractors are permitted to install solar energy systems so far it is not outside the scope of B&P Code section 7057.
- C-4 – Boiler, Hot-Water Heating, and Steam Fitting contractors are approved to conduct projects that concern solar heating equipment. These equipment are required to be associated with systems under this classification.
- C-10 – Electrical contractors can execute any solar assignments that generate, transmit, transform, or employ electrical energy in any form for any objective.
- C-36 – Plumbing contractors are permitted to carry out any project utilizing solar equipment to heat water or fluids to an appropriate temperature.
- C-46 – Solar contractors install, modify, maintain, and repair thermal and photovoltaic solar energy systems. Contractors certified under this classification can not conduct; building or construction trades, crafts, or skills. However, they can do so when needed to set up a thermal or photovoltaic solar energy system.
- C-53 – Swimming Pool contractors are permitted to install solar heating in swimming pool projects.
Are Tesla Solar Panels Available in Santa Clara County, California?
Tesla provides solar installations in Santa Clara County. Tesla solar panels cost anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000 in Santa Clara County.
To facilitate the installation of solar panels, Tesla partners with Certified Solar Roof Installers, who are skilled at setting up systems that strictly adhere to regulations. A Tesla installation may include one or more Tesla Powerwall Batteries. Homeowners are also able to monitor their energy use with the Tesla app.
Do Solar Panels Increase a Home Value in Santa Clara County?
According to a Berkeley Lab research, most homebuyers are prepared to pay an additional premium of around $15,000 for a home with an average-sized solar array. This is because solar panels are seen as upgrades, much like a refurbished kitchenette or a finished basement.
Research also suggests that solar-paneled homes sell more quickly than those without.
NOTE: How much the installation of solar panels affects the cost of a house is influenced by different factors.
- Cost of Installation: Your region's cost of installing a solar system is a factor. A house with a solar energy system installed, for instance, would cost less for purchasers
- Location: Prices for electricity vary depending on where you live. For instance, your solar panels are more valuable when electricity prices are higher. Additionally, geography might affect how much sunlight you receive.
- System output: The value of a solar energy system increases with its size.
- Age of the system: Solar energy systems lose value over time, much like many other items. Older systems will not significantly increase the worth of your home. This is because repairs or replacements would need to be made by prospective buyers.
- Replacement cost for a system: The expenditure involved in upgrading your home's solar energy system will have an impact on its worth. For instance, the market value of your home decreases when replacement costs are high.
Are Solar Panels Exempt from Property Taxes in Santa Clara County?
In Santa Clara County, California, property taxes are waived for homeowners who use active solar energy systems via the Active Solar Energy System Exclusion. This policy aims to support the state's goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2045 and provides relief from property taxes until 2026.
It is important to note that this exclusion is specific to active solar energy systems and does not apply to passive solar energy systems such as a solar pool or a hot tub heater, wind systems, or passive solar energy systems.
How to Find Solar Companies Near Me in Santa Clara County, California?
- Step 1: Search for "solar companies near me" on your preferred search engine.
- Step 2: Visit each company’s website for information on their services, experience, and customer reviews.
- Step 3: Make a list of 5 companies that stand out to you based on your research.
- Step 4: Visit each company’s website for information on their services and customer reviews.
- Step 5: Verify that the companies you are considering are licensed and insured to provide solar panel installation services. You can confirm an installer’s licensing status here.
- Step 6: Contact and schedule installation with your chosen company. You can also
Santa Clara County Statistics
Santa Clara County is a county in California with a population of 126,723 people. Of this number, males make up 52.18% while 47.81% are females. Also, the median age of the county is 34, making it a relatively young county.
Santa Clara consists of 44,198 households and has an average of 3 individuals per household. Additionally, there are 47,174 housing units in Santa Clara, a 0.2% drop from the previous. However, not all these units are inhabited with 44,198 being occupied.
Out of the total occupied units, 43.45% of them are owner-occupied while 56.54% are renter-occupied. Lastly, 69.98% of the units are mortgage-purchased houses, with a median mortgaged home value of $1,121,400.
In Santa Clara, the average cost of a home is** $2,581 per month**. Contact a local Santa Clara County solar panel installer to assist with your installation.
