Does solar still pencil out in Southern California in 2026? Our honest take (NEM 3.0, batteries, pricing)

We're Everysun, a residential solar installer based in Irvine (CSLB-licensed, in-house crews, serving LA down to San Diego). We get asked daily whether solar is still worth it in California now that NEM 3.0 is in effect and the federal tax credit is gone. Honest answer:

The federal solar tax credit has ended. To keep solar affordable, we offer up to 20% directly off the install — close to what the old federal credit did, just from us instead of the IRS.

NEM 3.0 reality: export credits are now tiny, so the win is using your own power. For most SCE homes that means pairing solar with a battery to cover the 4–9pm peak instead of buying expensive grid power. Solar-only can still work if you use most of your power midday.

What we install: high-efficiency all-black panels (25-year manufacturer warranty), battery storage (Tesla Powerwall / Enphase / FranklinWH), backed by our 20-year installation warranty.

Typical payback for a well-sized system + battery is around 5–8 years depending on usage.

If you're shopping: get 3 quotes on the same assumptions, ask for cash price and financed price separately, and confirm in-house crews + license number. We're happy to be one of those quotes — 949-208-9497 or everysun.com.