Solar Quotes in California
Shopping for solar in California? One free call gets you to an independent provider for a quote. Here's how to judge it.
Call to see if your home qualifies(877) 565-3409Home Solar Line connects you with an independent solar provider. We don't sell or install anything ourselves. Calls may be recorded.
- Free call
- No forms to fill out
- Independent local providers
- No obligation
Who this is for
Check all five before you call:
- You own the home (not renting)
- It's a single-family house or townhouse
- The roof gets full sun or only light shade
- Your power bill is over $100 a month
- The home doesn't already have solar panels
Renting, in a condo, apartment or mobile home, under heavy shade, or already have panels? This line can't help with those, so please don't call.
What happens when you call
- Answer a few quick questionsDo you own the home, how much is your power bill, how sunny is the roof.
- Get connectedIf your home fits, you're put through to an independent solar provider who serves your area.
- Talk it through, then decideThey look at your roof and usage and explain options. No obligation to buy.
Getting solar quotes in California
In California the question is less "does solar work here" and more "how should a system be sized and paired with storage under current utility rules."
Before comparing quotes, know which utility sends your bill. PG&E, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, and municipal utilities such as LADWP and SMUD each set their own rates and rules for homes with solar, overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
What changes a solar quote in California
Rooftop customers of the big investor-owned utilities moved to a net billing tariff in 2023, which credits power sent back to the grid at lower rates than the old net metering did. That is a big reason many California quotes now include a battery, and why sizing the system to your own usage matters.
Because of how exports are credited here, many quotes include a battery. Compare quotes with and without one.
Many California communities buy their power through a community choice aggregator (CCA). The big utility still delivers the power and handles the solar interconnection, but the CCA can have its own credit for exported power.
Checking a solar provider in California
- California contractors, including solar contractors, hold a license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and you can look up any license number on the CSLB website.
- Ask for proof of insurance, including liability and workers' compensation for the crew on your roof.
- Complaints about a utility's solar rules go to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Complaints about a contractor or a sales practice go to the state attorney general's consumer protection office.
- Get the total price, system size, equipment and expected yearly production in writing before you sign.
Comparing quotes, in short
- Compare price per watt (total price divided by system size), not just the monthly payment.
- Check the yearly production estimate and the shade and usage assumptions behind it.
- Compare equipment, warranties, and who will actually do the installation.
- For loans, compare rate, term and fees. For leases and PPAs, read the escalator and transfer terms.
- Walk away from pressure to sign on the spot, or from any pitch that says solar costs nothing.
Find out what your roof could do.
One free call. Tell a provider about your roof and your bills, and decide from there.
Who this is for
Check all five before you call:
- You own the home (not renting)
- It's a single-family house or townhouse
- The roof gets full sun or only light shade
- Your power bill is over $100 a month
- The home doesn't already have solar panels
Renting, in a condo, apartment or mobile home, under heavy shade, or already have panels? This line can't help with those, so please don't call.
Questions
How is extra solar power credited in California?
Rooftop customers of the big investor-owned utilities moved to a net billing tariff in 2023, which credits power sent back to the grid at lower rates than the old net metering did. That is a big reason many California quotes now include a battery, and why sizing the system to your own usage matters.
How do I check a solar provider in California?
California contractors, including solar contractors, hold a license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and you can look up any license number on the CSLB website. Also ask for proof of insurance before signing anything.
Are you a solar company?
No. Home Solar Line is a free phone line that connects homeowners with independent solar providers. We don't sell, design or install systems, and we don't set prices.
Does the call cost anything?
No. The call is free, and there's no obligation to buy anything from the provider you talk to.
Who qualifies?
Homeowners in a single-family house or townhouse with a roof that gets full or mostly full sun, a power bill over $100 a month, and no solar panels already. If that's not you, the provider won't be able to help.