Solar Panels in Solano County, CA
Installing Solar Panels in Solano County, California: Costs & More
Key Details
- Solano County, CA has an average of 263 sunny days per year.
- As of 2023, the cost of solar panels for homes in Solano County is $2.85/kilowatt
- Solar panel systems are exempt from property taxes
- Installing a solar panel can increase your home's value by up to $5,911 per kWp (kilowatt peak).
- When searching for a local installer, look for one that has necessary licenses, get feedback from other users, and find flexible financing options.
Going Green in Solano County
Solar energy offers multiple benefits to homes and businesses in Solano County. The county recieves an average of 263 sunny days each year, higher than the national average. Solano is also home to over two dozen power plants, including multiple renewable energy plants such as the Vaca Dixon Solar Station.
How much do Solar Panels cost in Solano County, CA?
The average cost of solar panels for home in Solano County is $2.85 per kilowatt as of 2023. How much you pay a Solano County solar panels installer depends on the type of solar panel and the energy system size.
The average cost of a 5KW solar energy system ranges between $12,112 and $16,388 with a gross average of $14,250. The table below outline how solar panels system sizes affect the costs of solar panels for sales in Solano County as of 2023.
Average solar panel cost by system size in Solano County as of 2023
| Energy System Size | Solar Panel Cost | Cost After Credit |
| 3 KW | $8,250 - $8,850 | $6,127 - $6,527 |
| 4 KW | $11,200 - $11,600 | $8,236 - 8,636 |
| 5 KW | $14,100 - $14,400 | $10,345 - $10,745 |
| 6 KW | $17,000 -$17,200 | $12,454 - $12,854 |
| 7 KW | $19,800 - $20,100 | $14,563 - 14,963 |
| 8 KW | $22,600 - $23,000 | $16,672 - $17,072 |
| 9 KW | $25,500 - $25,800 | $19,781 - $20,181 |
| 10 KW | $28,300 - $28,800 | $20,890 - $21,290 |
Similar to the system sizes, the type of Solano County solar panels you buy determines how much solar panel installation will cost.
To reduce cost, some homeowners may opt for used solar panels in Solano County.
Flexible solar panels in Solano county are offered at a 5% to 10% cheaper rate compared to the rigid types. An estimate of the costs of installing the different types of solar panels in Solano County is illustrated in the table below.
| Average Cost Breakdown for Solar Installation in Solano County | |
| Cost Per Watt | |
| Monocrystalline Solar Panels | $1.00 - $1.50 |
| Polycrystalline Solar Panels | $0.70 - $1.00 |
| Thin Film Solar Panels | $0.43 - $0.70 |
| Other Costs | |
| Solar Batteries | $200 - $15,000 |
| Cost of Racking | $.25 - $.50 per watt. |
| Installation and soft Costs | $2.50 - $4.50 per watt |
Are Solar Panels Exempt from Property Taxes in Solano County?
Yes, solar panels are exempt from property taxes in Solano County till 2026. The California Property Tax Rule through the Solar Energy Exclusion System protects homeowners in the state from hikes in property taxes due to home upgrade that results from installing solar power systems.
The California Solar Energy Exclusion System is available to homeowners with new active solar systems in Solano county and other parts of the state. If you have solar panels installed on your property in Solano County, you can access your property record by:
- Visiting the Assessor/Recorder page of the Solano County official website.
- Calling (707) 784-6200 to speak with a customer care agent
- sending an email to Assessor@solanocounty.com or Recorder@solanocounty.com.
You can also contact the Solano County Assessor through mail at:
The Solano County Assessor
Solano County Government Center
Texas Street,
Suite 2700, 675,
Fairfield, CA 94533.
How Long Does it Take for Solar Panels to Pay for themselves in Solano County?
It takes an average of six years for solar panels to pay for themselves in Solano County. The actual time it takes depends on the cost of the solar panels. The more expensive Solano County solar panels take longer to pay for themselves.
Portable solar panels in Solano County cost less to install and take a shorter period to pay for themselves. Also, system size and type influence the costs of Solano County solar panels, and the number of years.
Do You Need a Handyman or a Solar Installer in Solano County?
Yes, you need a handyman or a solar installer in Solano County. For safety reasons, the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy recommends electrical installation work should be done by professionals.
In Solano County, you need dedicated solar certification to qualify as a solar installer.
In addition to the requisite education, California requires you to have a California Solar Contractors License or an A - General Engineering Contractor license, or a B - General Building Contractors license to operate as an installer in the state.
Choosing installers with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners NABCEP certification is an added advantage.
How can I Sell Solar Energy in Solano County?
You can sell your excess solar energy to the local utilities operating in Solano County in exchange for energy credits. The California Assembly Bill 920 amended the Net Energy Metering programs to allow residents to sell their excess solar energy to electric utilities in the state. Currently, for customer-sited renewable energy generation, energy utility companies like PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E pay between $0.0 to $0.15 per kilowatt. NEM payments are exchanged for grid electricity at 1 KW of solar energy for 1 KW of grid electricity.
The NEM 2.0 program was available to eligible customers until April 14, 2023. To qualify to take part in the NEM 2.0 program, residents were expected to:
- Pay a one-time-interconnection fee that ranges between $94 and $145. The exact amount you pay for interconnection depends on the Investor-Owned-Utility company (PGE&E, SCE, or SDG&E). If you produce 1 MW or above, you will pay $800 in addition to the transmission/distribution systems upgrade fee.
- Pay non-passable charges in every metered interval
- Transfer to the time-of-use rate if you are not already on it. The time-of-use rate outlines the payment rates based on the time of day, day type (weekdays or weekends), or seasons.
Net Engineering Metering (NEM) 3.0
Effective April 15, 2023, NEM 3.0 replaced NEM 2.0. NEM 3.0 allows single residential customers in disadvantaged communities, and tribal lands to get higher rates. Also, they are eligible to pay half the electricity rate for the fixed-monthly charges.
In addition, NEM 3.0 will:
- Reduce the net metering credits compensation for excess power customers feed to the grid. Currently, utility companies pay 30 cents per kilowatt of energy customers feed to the grid, Nem 3.0 will reduce such payments to 8 cents which is 75% lesser than NEM 2.0
- Impact on solar payback period (from 5 - 6 years to between 9 and 10 years). This increase in the payback period will lead to a loss of about 60% of savings compared to NEM 2.0
- Increase saving potentials by pairing solar panels with batteries. NEM 3.0 will lower your payback period for solar-plus-period and increase your saving potential by pairing your solar power system with a battery
Are Tesla Solar Panels Available in Solano County, California?
Yes, Tesla panels are available in Solano County. Tesla solar panels as some of the best products in the market. You can get a Tesla solar panels review for your property at tesla.com As of 2023, Tesla solar panels cost range between $96,000 to $48,400.
How to Find Solar Companies Near Me in Solano County, California?
There are several ways you can find solar companies near you in Solano County. Some of these include:
- Marketplace websites
- Use Google or other available search engines. If you are using search engines to find solar companies in Solano County, apply the following steps:
- Type “Solano solar companies near me” into the search bar
- Sieve through the results to find the ones closest to you
- Check for their online reviews
- Go through their quotes to find the rates that suit your budget
- Talk to people in the neighborhood for information
- Contact local solar panels installers for information the nearest Solano solar panels companies. Also, local solar panels installers will advise you on the best solar panels for sale in Solano County
- Check the Solano County website for listed solar companies
County Statistics
Solano county has a land area of 821.83 square miles and a population estimate of 451,716 people as of July 2021.
In 2021, the Building and Safety Division of the Solano County Department of Resource Management issued 1,378 building permits.62.5% of Solano County’s 163,356 housing units are owner-occupied as of July 1, 2021, and the median selected owner’s costs with and without a mortgage are $2,363 and $618.
The median value for owner-occupied houses in Solano County between 2017 and 2021 was $464,000 and the median gross rent was $1,802 for the same period. 87.2% of persons one year and above lived in the same house as one year ago between 2017 and 2021.
