Solar in California has undergone many changes over the years, shifting the economic benefits away from homeowners and toward the utilities. The latest changes in NEM 3 have heavily tilted the economics in favor of the utility, making solar systems without battery storage much less attractive, often resulting in a 10+ year payback period.
The best way forward is pairing solar with a battery storage system. Instead of running your meter backwards and receiving only pennies on the dollar for excess power, a battery system allows you to store that energy and discharge it later during peak rate windows, when electricity costs are highest. This strategy can significantly accelerate your payback.
Battery systems serve two main purposes:
- Arbitrage (Maximizing Savings) — Store 100% of your solar production (until the battery is full) and discharge during peak hours, typically between 3pm and 9pm under current TOU rate structures.
- Backup Power (Energy Security) — Store part or all of the power produced during the day and reserve it for use during power outages.
Most PV systems today are configured as hybrids, using both approaches. For example, a system may allocate 80% of its storage for arbitrage while reserving 20% for backup, ensuring critical appliances such as refrigerators and garage circuits remain powered during outages.
We offer two battery solutions:
- Enphase Energy — Lower entry cost, excellent day-to-day performance. For more information about Enphase Energy visit Enphase
- Franklin Whole Home Energy Management Systems — Higher power output and faster backup capabilities, ideal for full-home or heavier backup loads. Find more information about Franklin here: Franklin
Each system has unique advantages, and we can help determine which option best fits your needs.
Contact us today to find the right system for your home!