Solar Companies in Scotts Valley, CA: Who Installed the Most Systems in 2025

Installers who connected the most home solar systems in Scotts Valley 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 Scotts Valley by the numbers

PG&E approved 97 home solar systems in Scotts Valley in 2025, from 25 installers; the top three were named on 55% of them. The busiest year since 2021 was 2022, with 135 (2025: -28%). Another 23 were approved from January through May 2026.

2025 mix: 37% leased or on a power purchase agreement, 63% owned by the household; 55% with a battery; median size 5.97 kW DC. Santa Cruz County: 29% leased or PPA, 39% with a battery, median 5.46 kW.

Hiring a solar company in Scotts Valley

Solar companies installing in Scotts Valley file through SolarAPP+ and the City's OpenGov portal, which issues the permit electronically once fees are paid; inspections are booked online. PG&E delivers the power and Central Coast Community Energy supplies it, with 3CE's own true-up every December. Compare at least three written bids built on your own bill.

Start with your Scotts Valley electricity bill

PG&E delivers power to Scotts Valley and sends the bill, and Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) supplies the generation by default; the city was one of 3CE's founding members when service began on March 1, 2018. On solar, that means two true-ups a year: one with PG&E for delivery and one with 3CE, in December, for generation. A proposal should model each from your own statement.

Scotts Valley's permit steps

The City's SolarAPP+ handout, dated October 2024, covers residential roof-mounted retrofit solar systems and energy storage, installed by licensed contractors; commercial buildings are not eligible. The contractor registers with SolarAPP+, submits the design for automated review and pays SolarAPP+'s processing fee. If SolarAPP+ rejects the project, the City asks the contractor to work that out directly with SolarAPP+.

With an approval in hand, the contractor applies for the building permit in the City's OpenGov portal. Once every fee is paid the permit is issued immediately and electronically, and inspections are requested online, with requests received by 4 p.m. eligible for the next business day. A revision goes through SolarAPP+ first; the contractor then gives the City the new inspection checklist in the portal. Homes outside the city limits are permitted by the County of Santa Cruz, which reported 571 residential solar permits to the Energy Commission for 2024, 21% of them issued online.

How 3CE and PG&E credit a Scotts Valley system

Central Coast Community Energy began serving its founding member agencies, Scotts Valley among them, on March 1, 2018. On a new system, 3CE credits exports at its hourly Energy Export Credit rates, which follow the CPUC's Avoided Cost Calculator, and applies them against generation charges in the current or later months. Customers enrolled in CARE or FERA get a flat low-income adder of $0.00396 per kWh on top of the export credit, for nine years.

3CE trues up every customer's generation account in December, and true-up statements appear on January or February bills. If a home produced more than it used over the period, the surplus is paid at 3CE's Net Surplus Compensation rate, which 3CE sets each December at the average market rate, as a bill credit; residential customers owed at least $200 can ask for a check within 45 days. PG&E's true-up for delivery charges follows its own 12-month cycle, so a Scotts Valley solar home sees two.

What a Scotts Valley quote needs to explain

A comparison to ask for

Ask each Scotts Valley bidder whether its design qualifies for SolarAPP+ as a roof-mounted retrofit, who files the City permit in OpenGov, and who handles a revision if the design changes. For the bill, have it show 3CE's December true-up separately from PG&E's, with any surplus valued at 3CE's net surplus rate rather than the retail price.

Verify the company behind the Scotts Valley quote

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

Scotts Valley solar quote questions