Question 1

How many solar panels do I need?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your annual usage, roof, and whether you add a battery — most California single-family homes land in the 8–10 kW range. We model your real usage and roof in Aurora, and your proposal shows the exact panel count, layout, and a written production estimate. Under NEM 3.0 the right size covers your usage and charges a battery, rather than maximizing panel count.

Question 2

Do I still need a battery with solar?

Accepted Answer

In NEM 3.0 California, almost always yes. Utilities cut what they pay for exported daytime solar by roughly 75%, so the savings now come from storing your own power and using it during the expensive 4–9 PM peak. A battery also keeps your home running through outages — grid-tied panels alone shut off when the grid goes down.

Question 3

How much does solar panel installation cost in Southern California?

Accepted Answer

It depends on system size, panel and inverter tier, whether you add a battery, roof complexity, and any electrical work like a main-panel upgrade — which is why we quote an itemized proposal instead of a flyer price. Tile roofs take more labor than composition shingle, and NEM 3.0 means most designs should include storage. A free estimate is the only number that's accurate for your home.

Question 4

How long does a solar panel installation take?

Accepted Answer

The install itself typically takes 1–2 days. End to end, our median is about 30 days from signing to install and about 60 days from signing to Permission to Operate — with permitting and utility steps running on the city's and utility's calendars. We handle all of it in-house and report status weekly until your system is on.

Question 5

What's the difference between Q CELLS and REC panels?

Accepted Answer

Both are premium tier-1, all-black, with 25-year warranties. Q CELLS Q.TRON uses N-type TOPCon cells with up to 22.5% efficiency; REC Alpha Pure-RX uses heterojunction (HJT) cells with an even lower −0.24%/°C temperature coefficient, 92% power at year 25, and an available 25-year labor warranty. We'll recommend the better fit for your roof and budget.

Question 6

Microinverters (Enphase) or optimizers (SolarEdge)?

Accepted Answer

Enphase puts a microinverter on every panel for maximum redundancy and daytime Sunlight Backup; SolarEdge uses DC optimizers and a central inverter that excel on shaded, complex roofs. Both give per-panel monitoring and 25-year component warranties. We model your actual roof and shading in Aurora before recommending an architecture, rather than defaulting to one brand.

Question 7

What panels does OC Solar install?

Accepted Answer

We install Tesla's current TSP-420 low-profile panel alongside Q CELLS and REC tier-1 modules, paired with Tesla Powerwall or Enphase storage and Enphase/SolarEdge inverters. We'll recommend the right combination for your roof and budget.

Question 8

Will solar increase my property taxes?

Accepted Answer

No — California excludes an active solar system's added home value from property-tax reassessment, and SB 710 made the exclusion permanent for systems qualifying before January 1, 2027. You add home value without raising your property tax bill. Confirm your specific situation with a tax professional.

Question 9

Do you handle the permits and utility paperwork?

Accepted Answer

Yes — all of it, in-house. We prepare and submit the permit package to your city, schedule and meet the inspector, and file your interconnection and Permission to Operate applications with SCE, SDG&E, PG&E, or your municipal utility. You do nothing except read the weekly status updates until power-on.

Question 10

What warranty comes with a solar installation?

Accepted Answer

Warranty coverage depends on the final panel model selected in the site-specific design. The Tesla module, Q CELLS, REC and workmanship coverage shown in your proposal should identify the exact terms before signing; OC Solar also provides written production estimates and system monitoring.

Question 11

Who installs Tesla solar panels in Orange County?

Accepted Answer

OC Solar does. OC Solar is represented on Tesla's Pro Council, and its local team designs and installs Tesla's all-black, low-profile solar panels across Orange County and Southern California. Tesla's current TSP-420 is rated at 420 W with at least 20.5% module efficiency; the final model, warranty and availability are confirmed in the site-specific proposal.

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Panels we'd put on our own homes

Tesla TSP-420 Solar Panel

Q.TRON BLK M-G2+

Alpha Pure-RX

Tesla TSP-420. A low-profile panel for a clean roofline.

More energy, slower aging.

470 watts, lead-free.

Why solar still wins in California

What's included with every install

Where we install

Residential Solar FAQ

Solar designed for how California bills you in 2026

Verified track record, in-house crews

The guides behind your solar decision

Refer a friend.

Ready to take control of your power bill?