Home Solar Cost and Savings in California
See what a solar system costs, what it saves, and how to size yours before you commit.
The cost of a home solar system in California depends on how much electricity you use, your roof, and whether you add battery storage. Green Conception prices panels by the watt, so the math is transparent. Our JA Solar systems are priced at 1.99 dollars per watt and premium REC systems at 2.99 dollars per watt, with Tesla Powerwall 3 battery storage at 10,999 dollars each. With $0 down financing, many homeowners pay less each month than their current electricity bill.
How Home Solar Is Priced
Solar is priced by system size, measured in watts. A typical California home needs a system somewhere between 6 and 12 kilowatts, or 6,000 to 12,000 watts, depending on usage. At Green Conception, JA Solar systems are 1.99 dollars per watt and premium REC systems are 2.99 dollars per watt. So a 10 kilowatt JA Solar system is priced at roughly 19,900 dollars before any battery, and the same size in premium REC panels is roughly 29,900 dollars.
Note on the federal tax credit: the 30 percent federal residential solar tax credit under Section 25D ended on December 31, 2025. Systems installed in 2026 do not qualify for that credit, so the prices above reflect real out-of-pocket cost with no assumed federal credit.
Example System Costs
| System size | JA Solar at 1.99 per watt | Premium REC at 2.99 per watt |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | About 11,940 dollars | About 17,940 dollars |
| 8 kW | About 15,920 dollars | About 23,920 dollars |
| 10 kW | About 19,900 dollars | About 29,900 dollars |
| 12 kW | About 23,880 dollars | About 35,880 dollars |
How to Estimate Your Savings
Your savings come from the electricity you no longer buy from the utility. Start with your average monthly electric bill. A system sized to offset most of your usage replaces most of that bill with a fixed, often lower, monthly solar payment or removes it entirely if you pay cash. Because California utility rates have risen for years, the savings tend to grow over time as grid power gets more expensive and your solar cost stays flat.
The fastest way to see your own numbers is our instant quote tool, which estimates system size, cost and monthly figures from your address and electric bill, then lets you add battery storage or an EV charger to see the full picture.
What Drives Your Cost and Savings
Your Electricity Usage
Higher usage means a larger system and larger monthly savings once it is installed.
System Size
Priced by the watt, so you see exactly what you pay for capacity.
Panel Choice
JA Solar at 1.99 per watt for best value, or premium REC at 2.99 per watt where space is tight.
Battery Storage
Tesla Powerwall 3 at 10,999 dollars each adds backup power and stores daytime solar for night use.
Financing
$0 down, 100 percent financing available, often for less than your current bill.
Utility Rates
As grid rates rise, a fixed solar cost saves you more over the life of the system.
Cash, Financing or a Prepaid Agreement
You can pay cash for the lowest lifetime cost and own the system outright. You can finance with $0 down and 100 percent financing, spreading the cost into a monthly payment that is often lower than your current electric bill. Or you can use a prepaid Energy Service Agreement through Propel. Your energy advisor walks through all three during the free assessment so you can pick what fits your budget.
Get Your Solar Cost and Savings Estimate
See your system size, price and monthly numbers built around your home and electric bill.