Solar Companies in Santa Monica, CA: Who Installed the Most Systems in 2025

Installers who connected the most home solar systems in Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica by the numbers

SCE approved 111 home solar systems in Santa Monica in 2025, from 63 installers; the top three were named on 20% of them. The busiest year since 2021 was 2023, with 172 (2025: -35%). Another 64 were approved from January through May 2026.

2025 mix: 12% leased or on a power purchase agreement, 88% owned by the household; 60% with a battery; median size 6.53 kW DC. Los Angeles County: 47% leased or PPA, 79% with a battery, median 6.56 kW.

Hiring a solar company in Santa Monica

Solar companies in Santa Monica can get an express permit through SolarAPP+ and the City's online portal, but only licensed contractors registered with SolarAPP+ may apply, and every contractor needs a Santa Monica business license. SCE delivers the power and Clean Power Alliance supplies it, on a 100% Green Power default, with an April true-up for solar customers. Compare at least three written bids built on your own bill.

Start with your Santa Monica electricity bill

Santa Monica is SCE territory with Clean Power Alliance as the city's community choice provider since 2019, and CPA's default plan here is 100% Green Power. On a solar bill, CPA credits the generation side and SCE the delivery side, with CPA's own annual true-up in April. A proposal should model both halves from your own statement.

Santa Monica's express solar permit

The City's express route covers residential solar panel and energy storage systems. Qualifying projects complete every step online: SolarAPP+ runs the automated review and code check and collects a $25 administrative fee, and the contractor downloads the approval documents. In the City's portal, the contractor selects the Building tab, creates an application of the Solar Permit with Solar APP Plus type, provides the SolarAPP+ approval ID and document, and pays the permit fees at the end; confirmation of issuance follows payment. Inspections are scheduled through the City's e-inspections site.

Only licensed contractors who have completed SolarAPP+ training and been approved may apply, and the City rules out permit expediters. Its homeowner guide adds the local conditions: hire only CSLB-licensed contractors with a C-10 and C-46, or a B, license, hire only contractors with a valid Santa Monica business license, and turn the system on only after the City permits are complete and SCE's interconnection process is done.

How Clean Power Alliance credits a Santa Monica system

Clean Power Alliance has served Santa Monica since 2019 with 100% Green Power as the default plan. For systems approved after August 31, 2023, CPA's Solar Billing Plan charges for imported power on your time-of-use schedule and credits exports on the generation side of the bill with Energy Export Credits based on the CPUC's hourly Avoided Cost Calculator prices; SCE handles the delivery side, and customers who install before 2028 get SCE's Energy Export Bonus Credit on delivery for the first nine years.

CPA trues up all solar customers once a year in April and pays Net Surplus Compensation at rates 10% higher than SCE's. Credits over $100 at the true-up are paid by check; smaller credits carry forward unless you ask for a check. The City's guide makes the practical point: under net billing, solar power used on site is worth more than power sent back, so shifting use into solar hours or adding storage improves the result.

What a Santa Monica quote needs to explain

A comparison to ask for

Santa Monica's own guide suggests getting at least three bids and at least three references from each bidder. Use it: ask each company for its Santa Monica business license number, its CSLB license class, whether its design qualifies for the SolarAPP+ express permit, and how much of your usage the system covers directly under net billing.

Verify the company behind the Santa Monica quote

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

Santa Monica solar quote questions