California Solar Savings Calculator
The federal tax credit is gone for new systems. See what still applies to you under NEM 3.0, SGIP and the property tax rules.
Much of the solar advice online was written before the federal credit ended. This tool checks your situation against each incentive that is still available and links to the calculator for each one.
California Solar Savings Calculator
Your Current Solar Incentives
How this is calculated
This finder checks your inputs against three programs that still apply to California solar. The federal residential tax credit went from 30% to 0% for any owned system placed in service after December 31, 2025. A lease or PPA was never eligible for that homeowner credit.
NEM 3.0 pays roughly 2–10 cents/kWh for grid exports (plus an extra 2.2–9 cents/kWh for CARE/FERA or battery-paired households), a steep drop from the old near-retail NEM 2.0 rate. SGIP's battery rebate is now limited to income-qualified households: $1,100 per kWh under the Residential Solar and Storage Equity budget, which most territories have waitlisted. The general market budget ($150 per kWh) is closed.
Separately, and regardless of any of the above, adding solar does not trigger a property tax reassessment as long as construction finishes by 2026-12-31. Use the linked calculator for each program for an exact dollar estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What solar incentives are still active in California in 2026?
The federal 30% residential tax credit ended for systems placed in service after Dec 31, 2025. What remains: NEM 3.0 export compensation for grid-tied solar (much lower than the old NEM 2.0 rate), SGIP rebates for battery storage, and a property tax exclusion that keeps adding solar from triggering a home reassessment.
Is solar still worth it in California without the federal tax credit?
It depends heavily on your usage pattern and whether you add a battery. Without the tax credit and with NEM 3.0's low export rates, the financial case now leans much more on using your own solar directly (often via a battery) rather than exporting it and relying on a purchase-price subsidy.
Should I add a battery to my solar system?
Under NEM 3.0, exporting solar to the grid pays very little, so storing it in a battery for the expensive evening hours is often worth more. SGIP can cover a substantial part of the battery's cost, especially for CARE/FERA households.
Does going solar increase my property taxes?
No. California has an active-solar property tax exclusion that prevents the added value of a solar system from triggering a reassessment, as long as construction finishes by the exclusion's current sunset date.
This tool provides an educational estimate only and is not affiliated with the CPUC, CARB, or any utility. Confirm current funding, exact rates, and required documentation with each program directly before making a purchase decision.