Solar Companies in San Rafael, CA: Who Installed the Most Systems in 2025

Installers who connected the most home solar systems in San Rafael in 2025

Counts from utility records, not a ranking or endorsement. Check each license's status and complaint history on the CSLB's Check a License page (checked Sept. 24, 2026).

Source: California Distributed Generation Statistics (CPUC), Interconnected Project Sites data set, data through May 31, 2026 (checked Sept. 24, 2026).

Home solar in San Rafael by the numbers

PG&E approved 284 home solar systems in San Rafael in 2025, from 59 installers; the top three were named on 38% of them. The busiest year since 2021 was 2022, with 507 (2025: -44%). Another 120 were approved from January through May 2026.

2025 mix: 31% leased or on a power purchase agreement, 69% owned by the household; 65% with a battery; median size 6.8 kW DC. Marin County: 24% leased or PPA, 55% with a battery, median 7.02 kW.

Hiring a solar company in San Rafael

Solar companies in San Rafael run an eligible rooftop solar or battery project through SolarAPP+ for automated plan review, then apply for the City permit in OpenGov; SolarAPP+ does not issue the permit itself. PG&E delivers the power and MCE supplies the generation. Every San Rafael residential solar permit in 2022 and 2023 was issued online. Compare at least three written bids built on your own MCE and PG&E bill.

Start with your San Rafael electricity bill

San Rafael is an MCE member city, so the bill splits into PG&E delivery charges and MCE generation charges, and MCE's solar program sets the generation credits: Net Energy Metering for systems applied for by April 14, 2023, and MCE's Solar Billing Plan after that. MCE pays annual surplus at the Net Surplus Compensation rate plus $0.02 per kWh. Have each bidder model both halves from your own statement.

San Rafael's two-step solar permit

San Rafael splits the job between two systems. First the contractor registers with SolarAPP+, uploads its business or contractor license information, selects the City of San Rafael and completes the automated review, paying the SolarAPP+ processing fee directly to SolarAPP+. When the design is approved, it saves the inspection checklist, approved documents and SolarAPP+ ID. Then it starts the residential solar permit application in OpenGov, enters the SolarAPP+ ID, uploads those documents and pays the City's permit fees.

After the permit issues and the work is ready, the inspection request goes through the permit record in OpenGov, and the SolarAPP+ inspection checklist and approved plans must be available for the inspector. The City asks applicants not to put the panel count or kilowatts in the permit description, since that belongs on the plans; a description such as "roof mounted solar & battery backup" is enough.

What San Rafael's permits and bills look like

The City reported 455 residential solar permits to the Energy Commission for 2022 and 430 for 2023, and every one was issued online. About 28% and 27% of them included battery storage, well below the storage share in East Bay cities such as Antioch or Brentwood the following year, so do not assume every San Rafael bid will or should include a battery.

On the bill, MCE supplies generation by default and PG&E delivers the power. MCE customers with solar settle their generation credits at MCE's annual spring cash-out, where surplus is paid at the Net Surplus Compensation rate plus $0.02 per kWh, while PG&E trues up delivery on its own schedule. Ask each bidder to show both.

What a San Rafael quote needs to explain

A comparison to ask for

If you plan panels, a battery and a service panel upgrade, ask whether all three will go on one San Rafael solar permit, which the City allows when the plans and permit description include them, and what extra permit fees that adds. A bid that leaves the panel upgrade for later may need a second permit and a second inspection.

Verify the company behind the San Rafael quote

Match the business name and license number on each San Rafael proposal to the CSLB record, then use our contractor verification steps, the quote comparison guide and the PPA, loan, lease and cash comparison.

San Rafael solar quote questions