Notes on PG&E, Solar, and the Math That Actually Matters
Honest, direct articles for El Dorado County homeowners. Tax credits, rate increases, NEM 3.0, when solar makes sense and when it doesn’t. Read at your pace.
Solar Batteries in California 2026: NEM 3.0 Sizing, Cost & Payback Guide
Under NEM 3.0, batteries went from optional to essential. Sizing math, installed cost ($13.5K–$30K), Powerwall 3 vs Enphase IQ Battery, payback timelines, and the mistakes installers don’t mention. Right answer for most California homes: 2 Powerwalls (27 kWh).
How to Read Your PG&E Bill: A Line-by-Line Guide for California Homeowners
Your PG&E bill is intentionally confusing. Here is every line decoded — generation, delivery, wildfire surcharges, PCIA, true-up, NEM credits, tier system, time-of-use plans — plus which line items you can actually do something about.
California Solar Questions Answered: 30+ Technical FAQ for Homeowners
Direct answers to 30+ technical solar questions California homeowners actually ask. NEM 3.0, batteries, panel longevity, warranties, HOAs, financing, resale value, snow, outages, taxes — everything covered in plain language with the math attached.
Solar Payback in El Dorado Hills: Real Numbers for 2026
Real EDH solar payback math: typical 6-9 year payback, $80K-150K 25-year savings. Why EDH’s top-quartile production + tier-3 bill profile favors solar — and the 1-in-3 cases when it doesn’t pencil.
Is Solar Worth It in California? Honest Answers to Every Skeptical Question
Why some California homeowners are getting rid of solar, why solar homes can be hard to sell, why some bills stay high after solar — and the honest version of when solar IS worth it. From an independent consultant who tells 1 in 3 audits not to install.
Every California Solar Incentive Available in 2026 (and How to Stack Them)
Federal 30% credit through Dec 31, Tesla Powerwall rebate through June, California Section 73 property tax exclusion, NEM 2.0 grandfathering, CARE/FERA. The honest version of every California solar incentive in 2026 and the right order to apply them.
NEM 3.0 Explained for El Dorado County Homeowners
NEM 3.0 changed how California utilities pay you for solar exports. What changed (export rates dropped to ~25% of retail), what NEM 2.0 grandfathering means if you already have solar, and why batteries went from optional to essential.
How to Lower My PG&E Bill: Three Levers That Actually Work
PG&E rates are up 80% in 7 years and still climbing. Here’s the honest version of what California homeowners can actually do about it — the three real levers, what each one buys you, and which appliances are quietly doubling your bill.
The 30% Solar Tax Credit Ends December 31, 2025. Here’s What Actually Changed Under OBBBA.
If you’ve been thinking about solar, the federal 30% credit (Section 25D) terminates at end of year. What “installed by” means, what other incentives still stack, and the real math for an El Dorado County homeowner deciding right now.