Do I need a battery as an SDG&E customer under NEM 3.0?

For most homes, yes. Under NEM 3.0, the credit SDG&E pays for solar you export to the grid is far lower than the retail price you pay to buy power back in the evening. A battery lets you store your midday solar production and use it during the high-priced evening peak instead of exporting it cheaply — which is how you protect the savings that made the project worthwhile.

How long does interconnection take with SDG&E?

After installation, your system needs SDG&E's Permission to Operate (PTO) before you can switch it on. We handle the San Diego County permitting and the SDG&E interconnection paperwork end to end and keep you updated through every milestone. Timelines vary by jurisdiction and utility queue, so we give you a realistic schedule for your address rather than a generic promise.

Is the 30% federal tax credit still available?

The 30% federal residential tax credit (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025, so we never bake it into a homeowner estimate. On $0-down lease or PPA plans, the financier may still claim the surviving commercial credit (Section 48E) and pass part of that benefit through in your rate. We build every estimate honestly on rates and incentives that actually apply to you today.

Solar panels on a coastal San Diego home in SDG&E territory

San Diego Gas & Electric

Solar & battery for SDG&E customers

SDG&E has some of the highest time-of-use rates in the country — around $0.47/kWh on average. Under NEM 3.0 that makes a battery essential: store your midday sun and beat the evening peak instead of exporting power for pennies.

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Why it matters in San Diego

The highest rates in California mean the fastest battery payback

When power is this expensive, every kilowatt-hour you self-supply is worth more. That is the core reason San Diego homeowners see solar-plus-battery pencil out so strongly.

~$0.47/kWh average

SDG&E rates are among the highest in the U.S. (an approximate blended average across time-of-use plans). The more you pay the utility, the more each solar kilowatt-hour saves you.

Beat the evening peak

Under NEM 3.0, exported power earns little. A battery stores your midday production and discharges it during the expensive 4–9 p.m. peak — where the real savings live.

San Diego sun, sized right

We model your actual roof and your real SDG&E usage to size the system and battery — no generic templates, no inflated assumptions.

Run your numbers

See what solar & battery could save on your SDG&E bill

Enter your address and your average monthly SDG&E bill for an instant, roof-modeled estimate. It is an estimate — your custom proposal will be exact.

Modeled from your real roof, then matched to NEM 3.0 export rules.

No expired federal credit assumed — honest math only.

A real local advisor follows up — no pressure, no spam.

Tesla Powerwall 3 home battery installed on an exterior wall

The battery that makes it work

Tesla Powerwall 3 — built for NEM 3.0

The battery is the engine of savings under SDG&E's rate structure, and it keeps your essentials running when the grid goes down.

13.5 kWh usable capacity with 11.5 kW of continuous output.
Native solar integration and a ~10-year warranty.
Managed from the Tesla app — watch your home shift off SDG&E at peak.

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Done right in San Diego County

We handle SDG&E interconnection end to end

From local permitting to your SDG&E Permission to Operate, our crews and project team manage the paperwork so you do not have to.

County permitting

We pull the right permits for your San Diego County jurisdiction and prepare your plan set so inspection goes smoothly the first time.

SDG&E interconnection

We submit and track your interconnection application and chase the SDG&E Permission to Operate so your system can turn on as soon as it is approved.

A licensed local crew

Installed by our own local crews under CSLB #1023627. We are Tesla Premier Certified and BBB A+ — verify our license anytime.

Serving homeowners across San Diego County. Have a question about your SDG&E plan or timeline? Talk to a local advisor or call 949-427-8817.

SDG&E solar FAQ

Questions San Diego homeowners ask us

SDG&E carries some of the highest electricity rates in the country — roughly $0.47/kWh on average across its time-of-use plans (an approximate blended figure; your exact rate depends on your plan, season, and time of day). Those high rates are exactly why a well-sized solar-plus-battery system tends to pay back faster in San Diego County than almost anywhere else in California.

Why SDG&E customers choose OC Solar