Potrero Help Center
Plain-English answers for Bay Area solar and battery decisions.
Start with the questions that decide whether a project pencils: PG&E net billing, battery sizing, service upgrades, and whole-home backup.
Is solar still worth it under PG&E NEM 3.0?
Yes, but usually not as a solar-only project. Under PG&E's Solar Billing Plan, exported daytime solar earns time-sensitive credits, so savings depend on using more solar at home and pairing the system with a correctly sized battery for evening load and high-value export windows.
Can I avoid a 200A panel or PG&E service upgrade?
Often, yes. A 200A panel or PG&E service upgrade is not automatic for solar, batteries, EV charging, or heat pumps; load management, a smart panel, and battery storage can keep peak demand within safe limits. The final answer depends on panel condition, service capacity, load calculation, and local inspection.
Where can home batteries be installed?
Usually in an attached garage, a dedicated utility space, or on an exterior wall near electrical equipment, if the site meets clearance, fire-separation, impact-protection, detection, egress, property-line, and local approval requirements. The location has to be proven in the permit plan, not just chosen from a photo.
Are home battery systems a fire risk?
Home batteries carry strict fire codes because the technology is new, not because the day-to-day risk is high. The lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry used in home storage is far more thermally stable than the batteries in phones, e-bikes, and EVs, and a typical system stores less combustible energy than a single backyard propane tank.
Will my solar and battery keep my home running during a PG&E outage?
Yes, if the system is designed for it. Grid-tied solar alone shuts off during an outage for safety, so panels on the roof do not power the home by themselves. A battery with an automatic transfer switch lets the home island and keep running, and how long that backup lasts depends on the storage size, the loads you run, and how much the sun recharges the battery each day.
How long do home batteries last, and do they degrade like an EV?
Home storage batteries are built to be cycled daily for many years. The lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry in home batteries fades far more slowly than the chemistry in most EVs, phones, and laptops, so you do not need to baby the charge level. Capacity declines gradually with both age and use, and a good installer measures that decline over time instead of guessing from a spec sheet.