Thinking about rooftop solar for your Granite Bay home, but not sure how California’s new net billing rules change the math? You’re not alone. The switch from retail net metering to hourly export credits has reshaped savings, system sizing, and battery decisions for PG&E customers. In this guide, you’ll learn how net billing works, what it means for payback, when a battery helps, and how to compare installer quotes with confidence. Let’s dive in.
Net billing at a glance
How it differs from net metering
Under California’s net billing structure, you still pay retail, time‑of‑use rates for electricity you import from the grid. The big change is how your exported solar is valued. Instead of getting full retail credit, your exports are credited at an hourly “avoided cost” or market‑based price. Midday exports often earn much less than the retail rate.
The practical takeaway is simple. You save the most when you use your solar on‑site and avoid importing at retail. Exports still help, but they are worth less than before, so system design and usage habits matter more.
Why hours matter in PG&E territory
Export values are set hourly and vary by season and time of day. A kilowatt‑hour you avoid buying at 7 p.m. can be far more valuable than a kilowatt‑hour you export at noon. This is why homes that shift solar production to high‑value hours, either through load shifting or batteries, tend to see stronger economics under net billing.
Who is affected in Granite Bay
Granite Bay is in PG&E territory. If you interconnect new solar today as a PG&E customer, net billing applies. Some customers participate in community choice aggregators. If you’re in a CCA, confirm which tariff and export rules apply to your account. Municipal utilities have their own programs, so always verify the specifics for your service address.
What this means for payback
Why payback is longer without storage
Most single‑family homes in Granite Bay have low midday usage on weekdays and higher evening loads. Without storage or deliberate load shifting, much of your midday solar ends up exported at lower hourly credits. Because imports still bill at retail time‑of‑use rates, you lose the full offset benefit you enjoyed under legacy net metering. The result is often a longer simple payback for PV‑only systems compared to older rules.
What improves ROI under net billing
You can still get solid value from solar with the right plan:
- Aim for high self‑consumption. Right‑sized arrays and timed loads help you avoid retail imports.
- Consider storage to shift energy from midday to evening peaks. Batteries can turn low‑value midday exports into high‑value import offsets.
- Avoid oversizing solely to export. Larger systems may not add much value unless you have midday loads or a battery strategy to use the extra production.
Every home is different. Your payback depends on system cost, size, orientation, shading, your hourly load profile, PG&E’s import rates and export credits, incentives, financing, and electricity price forecasts. Ask installers to model your actual home and show multiple scenarios.
Battery decisions for Granite Bay homes
When batteries pencil out
Batteries store midday solar and discharge it during higher‑priced evening hours. That increases self‑consumption and reduces low‑value exports. Under net billing, that shift can shorten payback when the combination of bill savings plus incentives offsets the battery cost over its useful life.
To make a smart call, evaluate three use cases:
- Bill‑shifting only: Daily charge from solar and discharge during evening peaks.
- Backup/resilience: Reserve capacity for outages. The value is personal and may not show in a bill‑only model.
- Hybrid: Daily bill‑shift with a defined backup reserve.
Review battery cost per kWh, round‑trip efficiency, usable capacity, warranty terms, expected cycles, and replacement timing. Ask for modeled outcomes with and without storage at different battery sizes.
Non‑financial reasons to add storage
Granite Bay and broader Placer County experience wildfire seasons and potential public safety power shutoffs. If you want peace of mind for medical equipment, refrigeration, lighting, or internet during outages, a battery with backup can be worth it even if the payback is longer on paper. Homes with resilient power can also stand out to buyers.
Incentives that change the math
Two programs can materially improve storage economics:
- Federal Investment Tax Credit: Batteries installed with solar generally have qualified for the federal solar ITC when charged by on‑site solar. You should confirm details with current IRS guidance and a tax professional.
- Self‑Generation Incentive Program (SGIP): California’s storage incentive program can reduce upfront cost for eligible customers. Availability and levels change over time and may include income‑targeted or equity categories. Check current program rules before you finalize a contract.
How to evaluate installer quotes
Must‑have inputs in your model
Insist on a house‑specific, hourly model. A credible proposal should include:
- Hourly PV production for a full year based on your actual roof design and shading analysis.
- Your hourly load profile from PG&E interval data or a detailed usage history pulled with your permission.
- The exact PG&E time‑of‑use import tariff and the hourly export credit schedule used in the model, including seasons.
- A 25‑year cashflow showing imports, exports, export credits, net bill savings, and cumulative cashflow.
- Itemized costs, financing assumptions, O&M, inverter replacement schedule, and module degradation.
- For batteries: usable kWh, efficiency, cycles, backup wiring scope, and warranty.
- Incentives applied: ITC amount and timing, SGIP estimate, and any local rebates.
Metrics that matter beyond payback
Don’t rely on a single payback number. Ask for:
- Simple payback years for quick comparison.
- Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return that reflect your financing and the time value of money.
- Lifetime bill savings in present value and a levelized cost of energy.
- Sensitivity cases: conservative, base, and optimistic assumptions for price escalation, export values, degradation, and battery replacement.
Modeling pitfalls to avoid
- Flat export values: Make sure the model uses PG&E’s hourly export credit schedule, not a single cents‑per‑kWh estimate.
- ITC handling for storage: Confirm how the ITC is applied for batteries charged by your solar. Ask to see results both with and without incentives.
- Missing replacements: Inverter or battery replacements around year 10 to 15 should be included.
- Overly rosy escalation: Review scenarios with slower electricity price growth to test resilience.
Selling or remodeling in Granite Bay
Transfer, title, and appraisals
Owned systems transfer with the home. If you have a lease or PPA, review the transfer terms early. Keep records of permits, interconnection documents, equipment specs, output, and any service history. Appraisers and buyers increasingly account for owned solar and batteries. Many look at expected bill reductions and backup capability, but avoid promising specific savings in your listing.
Install now or offer a credit
If you plan to sell soon after a remodel, run two paths with your installer and advisor: install now or leave room for the buyer to add their own system. If you install before listing, you may be able to claim the federal ITC if you qualify, which could yield more benefit than a simple price credit to the buyer. Timing and personal tax situations matter, so coordinate with your tax professional.
Permits, interconnection, and timing
Permitting, HOA approvals, and PG&E interconnection add time. Build this into your remodel schedule and listing plan. Interconnection can take weeks or months depending on the queue and system size. For homes with HOAs, confirm roof and architectural requirements before design.
Marketability and resilience
In communities that have experienced PSPS events or outages, a battery with backup can be a premium feature. Ask installers for realistic estimates of how long your battery can support critical loads like refrigeration, essential lighting, medical devices, and Wi‑Fi. Include a clear, buyer‑friendly summary of the system, savings history if available, and backup capabilities in your listing package.
A quick checklist for installer meetings
- Share your PG&E interval usage file for the last year, or authorize retrieval.
- Require hourly production and export modeling using the correct PG&E tariff and export credits.
- Ask for PV‑only options in multiple sizes and PV + battery options in multiple battery sizes, with and without backup wiring.
- Review simple payback, NPV, IRR, lifetime savings, and at least three sensitivity cases.
- Confirm incentives assumed: ITC, SGIP, and any local rebates. Ask to see results without incentives.
- Get itemized costs for a critical‑load panel/transfer switch if you want backup.
- For sellers, request a concise summary of expected annual bill savings and backup features to include with listing materials.
The bottom line for Granite Bay
Net billing shifts the goal from exporting as many kilowatt‑hours as possible to using more of your solar at home and timing it to higher‑value hours. In PG&E territory, that usually means right‑sized PV, smarter load timing, and a careful look at batteries. The best path to realistic ROI is a house‑specific, hourly model with clear battery scenarios and transparent financials. Use that model to choose the system size, storage option, and sale or remodel strategy that fits your goals.
If you’re weighing solar upgrades as part of a sale or major remodel in Granite Bay, I’m here to help you position energy features so buyers understand the value. When you’re ready, let’s talk presentation, timing, and how to highlight resilience and savings in your listing.
Ready to make a smart plan for your home? Connect with Unknown Company to Request a Complimentary Home Valuation.
FAQs
How does California’s net billing change solar savings?
- Under net billing, you pay retail time‑of‑use rates for imports but receive hourly market‑based credits for exports, so using more solar on‑site and shifting energy to evening hours increases savings.
Do Granite Bay homes need a battery for good ROI?
- Not always, but batteries often improve economics by storing midday solar to avoid higher‑priced evening imports; ask for models that compare PV‑only vs PV + storage for your actual load.
Is it smart to oversize a solar array under net billing?
- Oversizing usually has lower marginal value because extra midday production earns lower export credits; it can still make sense if you have midday loads or plan to add storage.
What should be in a credible solar quote for PG&E customers?
- Hourly production and load data, the exact PG&E import tariff and hourly export credit schedule, 25‑year cashflow, itemized costs, incentives, and storage details if included.
How do solar and batteries affect a Granite Bay home sale?
- Owned systems tend to help marketability; provide permits, interconnection, specs, and a clear summary of estimated annual bill savings and any backup capabilities to inform buyers.
