Question 1

How much do solar panels cost in San Diego?

Accepted Answer

Residential solar systems in San Diego range from $24,500 (small 4–6 kW system) to $70,000 (large 14–20 kW system) before incentives. Most homeowners fall in the $35,000–$47,000 medium-tier range. With our pre-paid lease’s upfront 30% discount, your out-of-pocket cost drops significantly.

Question 2

What financing options are available?

Accepted Answer

We offer multiple ways to go solar: cash purchase, prepaid lease (save 30–40%), prepaid ESA (save up to 40%), solar loan financing, and traditional lease options. Each path has different up-front cost, monthly payment, and ownership profile — we walk you through all five so you can pick what fits.

Question 3

Do I still get 30% off without the federal tax credit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) ended at the close of 2025, but San Diego Solar's pre-paid lease gives you a 30% upfront discount instead — so you still save about a third on cost, without relying on a tax credit you'd have to claim yourself.

Question 4

How does the prepaid lease save 30–40%?

Accepted Answer

The prepaid lease lets you pay 25 years of lease payments up front at a heavy discount. You get all of the production for one lump sum that's typically 30–40% lower than the equivalent cash purchase, and you skip the monthly payment forever.

Question 5

How long does solar installation take?

Accepted Answer

Most residential solar installations are completed in 1–3 days on-site. The full process from contract signing to powering on takes 4–8 weeks — most of that is permitting and SDG&E interconnection, not actual install work.

Question 6

Do you use subcontractors?

Accepted Answer

Never. For 30 years, we've used 100% in-house crews for every part of the process — sales, design, engineering, roofing, electrical, and installation. One company, one warranty, one accountable team.

Question 7

Do I need a new roof before going solar?

Accepted Answer

Only if your current roof has less than 10 years of life left. Removing and reinstalling solar to redo a roof costs $4,000–$8,000, so it usually makes financial sense to combine the two if your roof is aging. We're one of the few San Diego solar companies that does both in-house with a single warranty.

Question 8

What is NEM 3.0 and how does it affect my savings?

Accepted Answer

NEM 3.0 (Net Energy Metering 3.0) is the rate structure California adopted in April 2023 for new solar customers. It reduces the credit you receive for exporting solar to the grid by roughly 75% compared to NEM 2.0. The fix is battery storage — you store your daytime solar production and use it during peak evening rates instead of exporting at the lower NEM 3.0 rate.

Question 9

Is a solar battery worth it under NEM 3.0?

Accepted Answer

For most San Diego homes under NEM 3.0, yes. A properly sized battery (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ, or Franklin WH) typically improves the system's savings by 30–60% by shifting solar production to peak-rate hours. We model both with-battery and without-battery scenarios in every quote so you can decide.

Question 10

Do you repair solar systems you didn't install?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We service all major solar brands and inverter manufacturers — including systems installed by companies that have since closed. Common repairs are inverter replacements, panel diagnostics, monitoring re-setups, and bird/critter exclusion. Call (619) 514-0095 for a free diagnostic visit.

Solar FAQs

Cost & Financing

Installation & Process

NEM 3.0 & Battery Storage

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