Solar power in Cerritos, California
SCE offer a net metering program to their solar customers in Cerritos giving retail value for power sent to the grid.
Part of the total system cost may be claimed as a deduction to your federal taxes under the federal solar tax credit. This incentive has no limit to how large a system can be and you may also elect to use it in parts over several years.
A solid net metering plan and big chunk of the costs covered by the tax credit make solar an obvious choice. Even if you're still on the fence about the idea it doesn't hurt to get a free estimate by entering your zip code in our calculator.
Net Metering Broken Down
The way net metering works is in a given month for example 200kWh of excess solar generation were sent to the grid and 200kWh were drawn at a different time the customer would receive no bill.
If more energy is sent to the grid than consumed credit is still given at 1 for 1 for future bills within the same 12 month billing cycle. Remaining credit at the end of the 12 months is deposited into your account.
The new NEM-2 rules sadly means that new solar customers with SCE must switch to time of use billing reducing returns by about 10% however, with great sun exposure and equipment prices on their way down this does start to balance out and not really affect return on investment times all that much.
The average cost of installing residential solar panels in Cerritos,
California in 2025 is
$2.72 per watt. The average system size
in the US is 6 kilowatts, which means the average price of a solar system
in Cerritos, CA
is $13,600.
(after claiming 26% tax credit and other rebates)
The 26% federal solar tax credit explained
If you have a federal income tax liability, 26% of the cost of your solar system can be claimed as a deduction to your taxes. This incentive is claimed when you do your taxes. In order to receive the tax credit quicker it's best to do your taxes as soon as possible after installation.
What if my tax liability is less than 26% of my systems costThere is the option to claim this incentive over several years if your tax liability is less than 26% of the system cost.
How much will solar panels on my home save me?
The answer to this question depends on your electricity usage. Generally speaking the greater your power usage the greater the potential savings from installing solar.
The average monthly usage in California is only 573kWh per month however, you are most likely using a lot more than this since this average includes condos and small apartments.
The Cerritos solar panel savings calculator below will convert your monthly power spend into power usage (in kWh's) and then work out exactly how many solar panels you need to offset your usage, how much they will cost based on the prices of local solar companies and the amount you will save. Our California solar savings calculator can do this because it contains a database of the electric rates charged by City of Azusa, City of Burbank Water and Power, City of Glendale, City of Pasadena, City of Vernon, LADWP (City of Los Angeles), Southern California Edison Co
How much can solar panels save you in Cerritos
What does the cost of a real solar system look like?
Facts about installing a 8.08kW solar system in Cerritos, CA
This system would offset 100% of your energy usage if your typical monthly bill is $184, however your situation may vary so try our Cerritos solar calculator to get a result tailored to you.
$15,606
Net cost of system
6 Years 3 Months
Average payback time
12,131 kWh
Annual power production
5¢/kWh
Levelized cost of solar energy
32¢/kWh
If you don't get solar
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of this 8.08kW system
Life-time savings on this system over the next 25 years
$75,714
(Prices shown after repayments of capital)
296
Solar companies in Cerritos, CA that provide pricing through the SolarEstimate marketplace.
Average total cost of solar panel installation in Cerritos
| System Size |
Cash purchase After 26% solar tax credit |
Financed purchase After 26% solar tax credit |
|---|---|---|
| 3kw | $6,416 | $6,929 |
| 4kw | $8,377 | $9,047 |
| 5kw | $10,286 | $11,109 |
| 6kw | $12,077 | $13,043 |
| 7kw | $13,831 | $14,937 |
| 8kw | $15,451 | $16,687 |
| 9kw | $17,050 | $18,414 |
| 10kw | $18,500 | $19,980 |
Find out what system size you need for your home
Going solar in California
Check out all of the ways energy providers of California can help you be more energy efficient and save money.
The following programs are available:
| Incentive Name | Eligibility | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit | Federal | Personal Tax Credit |
| Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems | State | Property Tax Incentive |
| Sonoma County - Energy Independence Program | Local | PACE Financing |
| NEM 2.0 | State | Net Metering |
| LADWP - Solar Incentive Program | Utility | Rebate Program |
Find your local rebates and incentives
Please keep in mind that the best source of up-to-date information on incentives are the solar installers who specialize in your area.
