Does the calculator include the 30% federal tax credit?

No. The federal residential solar tax credit (IRC §25D) expired December 31, 2025, so we don't bake it into ownership estimates. On $0-down lease/PPA plans the financier can still capture the commercial §48E credit and pass the value through as a lower payment — your advisor will show that side by side.

Why does the estimate assume a battery?

Under California's NEM 3.0 net-billing rules, utilities pay far less for exported solar than they charge in the evening. A battery stores your daytime solar for the expensive 4–9 PM peak, which is where the savings now come from — so a solar-plus-battery system is what actually pays off for most homes.

What will my real OC Solar proposal include?

A precise system design from your actual roof and usage, exact equipment, all-in pricing, every financing option (cash, loan, $0-down lease/PPA), real savings projections, and the incentives you actually qualify for — with no obligation and no high-pressure sales.

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Solar Savings Calculator

See an instant, honest estimate of your solar + battery system size, cost, savings, and payback — sized for how California bills you in 2026.

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Estimate your solar + battery savings

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Average monthly electric bill$250/mo

$50$2,000

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Your utility

Estimates use published California averages and assume a solar-plus-battery system sized to your usage under NEM 3.0. They are not a quote.

Your estimate

Your utility bill today

$250/mo

With $0-down solar you keep about $90/mo

Est. $0-down solar payment

$160/mo

$0-down solar payment ≈ the system's monthly production × ~$0.23/kWh. Estimate, not a quote.

Recommended system

~5.0 kW

solar + battery

Estimated installed cost

$14,000–$19,000

before financing · §25D expired, not assumed

Estimated bill savings

$185–$230/mo

~$2,220–$2,760/yr

Rough payback

~5.1–8.6 yrs

cash purchase

$0 down · PPA

~$160/mo

Estimated monthly payment at about $0.23/kWh the system produces, $0 down — you pay only for the solar it makes, instead of your utility's higher retail rate. The federal §48E value is captured by the financier and passed through as that lower rate — it is not your tax credit. Estimate, not a quote.

Illustrative estimate only — your real numbers depend on your roof, exact usage, rate plan, equipment, and financing. We'll build you a precise, itemized proposal at no cost. (Incentives current as of June 2026; the federal residential credit, IRC §25D, expired 12/31/2025 and is never assumed here — only $0-down lease/PPA plans capture the surviving §48E value, passed through by the financier as a lower payment.)

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How the estimate works

Transparent math, no gimmicks

We'd rather show you an honest range than a too-good-to-be-true number designed to get your phone number.

1. Your usage

Your monthly bill and utility tell us roughly how much energy you use each year.

2. Your system

We size a solar-plus-battery system to cover it, using California's average production per kilowatt.

3. Your savings

We estimate cost, monthly savings, and payback under NEM 3.0 — then build you an exact proposal.

Want the exact numbers? Get a free, itemized proposal →

Calculator FAQ

Common questions

It's a directional estimate built from published California averages (utility rates, ~1,650 kWh per kW of production, and typical installed cost per watt). Your real figures depend on your roof, shading, exact usage, rate plan, and financing — so treat it as a starting point, then get a free itemized proposal for exact numbers.

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Get a fast, honest, no-pressure estimate from a real local advisor — built from your actual roof and usage.

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