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Home solar and batteries in the Bay Area, explained.
Under PG&E's current rules, the systems that actually lower a homeowner's cost are solar, a battery, and a smart panel designed together. These guides walk through the decisions that matter: whether the math works, what keeps your home running in an outage, and how the battery itself holds up. Plain English, real sources, no sales pitch.
Does it still pencil?
Start here. Whether solar makes financial sense changed under PG&E NEM 3.0, and the honest answer now depends on pairing it with the right battery.
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.
Keeping your home powered
A roof full of panels still goes dark in an outage unless the system is designed to run on its own. Here is what whole-home backup actually takes.
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.
The battery, up close
Under NEM 3.0 the battery is the load-bearing part of the system, so it is worth understanding how safe it is, how long it lasts, and where it can go.
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.
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.
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.
Your electrical panel
Adding solar, a battery, EV charging, or a heat pump does not automatically mean a costly 200A panel or PG&E service upgrade. Often it can be avoided.
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.
Other options people weigh
The alternatives homeowners ask about, and an honest read on where each one actually fits.
Is balcony solar legal in California?
Not yet. As of June 2026, plug-in balcony solar is not legal to connect in California. The bill that would allow it, SB 868, has passed the state Senate and is moving through the Assembly, but it is not law. Balcony solar is a good fit for renters who want a small, portable bill offset. For a homeowner who wants to cut a PG&E bill or keep the lights on during an outage, rooftop solar with a battery does a different and much larger job.
See the numbers for your home.
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