How does the California Rate Relief Program work?

We install solar panels on your roof at no cost out of pocket. Instead of paying your utility company a different amount every month, you pay a fixed monthly payment that is typically 30 to 50% less than what you are currently paying. The program covers 100% of the cost for solar panels, backup batteries, and installation.

Who qualifies for the Rate Relief Program?

California homeowners with SCE, PG&E, or SDG&E as their utility provider, monthly electric bills of $150 or more, and a credit score of 650 or above typically qualify. Renters are not eligible for this program.

Is there any cost to the homeowner?

There is $0 out of pocket cost. The program covers the full cost of solar panels, battery storage, and professional installation. Instead of paying your utility company, you simply pay a lower, fixed rate for the power generated by the system on your roof.

What happens if something breaks?

The program includes a comprehensive 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. If a panel breaks, it gets fixed. If an inverter fails, it gets replaced. All maintenance and repairs are covered at no cost to you for 25 years.

Which utility companies are supported?

The program currently supports homeowners with Southern California Edison (SCE), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Moreno Valley Utility (MVU), and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).

Solar Panels for EV Charging in California: Size, Cost, and ROI

California has over 2 million electric vehicles on the road in 2026 — more than any other state, by a wide margin. Charging one at home adds roughly 200-400 kWh per month to a typical household's electricity consumption, which at California rates ($0.35-$0.46 per kWh) translates to $70-$180 per month in extra utility bills. Pairing the EV with solar changes that math completely. Here's how to size solar for EV charging and why the combined system usually pays back faster than solar alone.

How Much Extra Solar You Need

Rule of thumb: every 1,000 miles per month of driving needs roughly 1 kW of additional solar capacity to offset. A California household driving 12,000 miles/year (1,000/month) on an EV that gets 3 miles per kWh needs about 3 kW of additional solar. A two-EV household driving 24,000 miles/year needs about 6 kW of additional solar.

Typical California home solar without EV is sized around 6-8 kW. With one EV, bump to 8-11 kW. With two EVs, 11-15 kW. Not every roof has space for that much, but most California single-family homes can fit at least 10 kW if the roof orientation is reasonable.

Why EV + Solar Pays Back Faster Than Solar Alone

Under NEM 3.0, self-consumed solar is worth 5-10× more than exported solar. An EV is one of the best loads you can add to your home because you can charge it during the day (if working from home or charging on weekends) or overnight using battery-stored solar. Either way, you're self-consuming electricity that would otherwise either export at low rates or require grid purchase at high rates.

The payback math: the incremental cost of adding 3-4 kW of solar to handle an EV runs roughly $6,000-$10,000. The avoided utility cost for charging that EV from the grid runs $70-$180 per month, or $840-$2,160 per year. That's a 3-5 year payback on the incremental solar cost — significantly faster than the 9-12 year payback on a solar-only system sized for household load.

Smart Charging Strategies

Daytime charging. If you're home during the day (work-from-home, retired, etc.) or charge on weekends, scheduling EV charging during solar production hours lets you self-consume directly without needing a battery to store the solar first. Most modern EVs (Tesla, Ford Lightning, Hyundai Ioniq, Chevy Bolt) can be scheduled to charge during specific hours via the app.

Battery-stored charging. If you're commuting and the EV is gone during the day, a home battery stores solar production for evening EV charging. Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ, and other home batteries work for this — the EV plug pulls from the battery overnight instead of the grid.

TOU rate optimization. California utilities (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E) all have EV-specific Time-of-Use rate plans with very low overnight rates. Combining solar, battery, and a TOU plan can drop EV charging cost close to zero.

The Charger Itself

A Level 2 home EV charger (240V, 7-11 kW) costs roughly $500-$1,200 for the equipment plus $500-$1,500 for installation depending on panel capacity and run length from panel to garage. Tesla Wall Connector, Wallbox Pulsar Plus, ChargePoint Home Flex, and Grizzl-E are common California residential chargers.

Some California solar installers include the charger in the solar project and handle the 200A panel upgrade if needed. Ask whether the charger is in the quoted price or a separate add-on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can solar panels fully charge an EV in California?

Yes, for typical daily driving (25-40 miles). A correctly sized solar + battery system handles the average California household's EV charging without grid import most months.

How many solar panels do I need to charge an EV?

Roughly 8-10 additional panels (3-4 kW) for a single EV driving average California miles. Double that for a two-EV household.

Do I need a battery to charge my EV with solar?

Not strictly, but strongly recommended under NEM 3.0. Without a battery, you're limited to charging during solar production hours or accepting that most charging uses grid electricity.

Does my solar system upgrade when I get an EV?

If you're grandfathered under NEM 2.0, adding panels beyond a small threshold will move the new capacity to NEM 3.0 while the original stays on NEM 2.0. If you're already on NEM 3.0, capacity expansion is straightforward. Your utility handles the new interconnection paperwork.