Solar power in San Bernardino, California
Southern California Edison offers a net metering program for its solar customers in San Bernardino.
The federal solar tax credit is also available in San Bernardino. This incentive is worth 26% in 2020, or 22% in 2021, There are no size limitations to the federal solar tax credit, even if your system is 200kW you still receive the full percentage. You can claim the tax credit over several years if you wish.
Current incentives make solar a no brainer investment and with utilities and legislatures trying to end solar don't wait any longer!
Net Metering Broken Down
Net metering credits each surplus kWh or solar generation sent to the grid at 1 for 1 with another kWh pulled from the grid eg, at night.
Excess kWhs after covering your bill are still credited at the retail power rate and credit may be deposited directly into your account at the end of each 12 month cycle or carried forward to offset future bills for up to one year.
Sadly, under NEM-2 rules new solar customers must switch to time of use billing, which hurts returns by about 10%; however, this is miniscule and with solar becoming cheaper and excellent sun exposure, installing solar is still a great investment.
The average cost of installing residential solar panels in San Bernardino,
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 San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino 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 Colton, Southern California Edison Co, Southern California Water Co, City of Rancho Cucamonga, City of Victorville - (CA)
How much can solar panels save you in San Bernardino
What does the cost of a real solar system look like?
Facts about installing a 7.5kW solar system in San Bernardino, CA
This system would offset 100% of your energy usage if your typical monthly bill is $229, however your situation may vary so try our San Bernardino solar calculator to get a result tailored to you.
$14,652
Net cost of system
4 Years 10 Months
Average payback time
11,546 kWh
Annual power production
5¢/kWh
Levelized cost of solar energy
42¢/kWh
If you don't get solar
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of this 7.5kW system
Life-time savings on this system over the next 25 years
$101,172
(Prices shown after repayments of capital)
181
Solar companies in San Bernardino, CA that provide pricing through the SolarEstimate marketplace.
Average total cost of solar panel installation in San Bernardino
| 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 |
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.
