Solar power in San Rafael, California
PG&E offer a net metering program in San Rafael for their solar customers — this means that it's easy for homeowners here to eliminate their bills with solar.
MCE (Marin Clean Energy) offer a slightly different program than PG&E, known as a feed in tariff (FiT).
You may also claim part of the system costs — 26% in 2020, or 22% in 2021 —
as a deduction to federal taxes. This incentive can be spread over several years and covers any system size.
Financial incentives and net metering/FiT make solar a must have for your home or business, don't wait for these incentive to expire.
Net Metering Broken Down
Net metering values unused solar generation at the same value as power drawn from the grid.
Each kWh after covering your bill is valued at the retail power rate and credit can be applied to future bills within the same 12 month billing cycle. At the end of the 12 months any remaining credit is deposited into your account.
Sadly, PG&E do make you switch to time of use billing before installing solar reducing net metering returns However, only by about 10% and with solar being cheaper than ever it is still an excellent home investment.
What about MCE's FiT program?
Similar to net metering however, it doesn't base itself off of the retail power value. This incentive varies from 13 cents for the first 2MW of solar installed however, each 2MW of installed solar make the FiT go down to a still not so bad 9 cents. If you're with MCE don't wait any longer to go solar!
The average cost of installing residential solar panels in San Rafael,
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 Rafael, 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 Rafael 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 Pacific Gas & Electric Co
How much can solar panels save you in San Rafael
What does the cost of a real solar system look like?
Facts about installing a 6.51kW solar system in San Rafael, CA
This system would offset 100% of your energy usage if your typical monthly bill is $192, however your situation may vary so try our San Rafael solar calculator to get a result tailored to you.
$12,959
Net cost of system
5 Years 1 Month
Average payback time
9,680 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 6.51kW system
Life-time savings on this system over the next 25 years
$83,840
(Prices shown after repayments of capital)
104
Solar companies in San Rafael, CA that provide pricing through the SolarEstimate marketplace.
Average total cost of solar panel installation in San Rafael
| 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.
