California · city guide
Solar in San Diego, California: city-level honesty
San Diego sits on some of the highest residential rates in the state, which shortens payback — and California's NEM 3.0 rules pay exported power at a low rate, so the battery-first design that fits most California homes matters even more here.
UtilitySDG&E (with SDCP community-choice options)
Sun (state)5.02 kWh/m²/dayState guideCaliforniaCity claimsIn review until verified
Honesty gate: state-level figures below are sourced; city-specific claims stay labeled in review until verified against primary local data.
- Utility: SDG&E (with SDCP community-choice options)
- State guide: California — export rules, incentives and source notes
- Measured sun (California): 5.02 kWh/m²/day (source: 2024 solar radiation (GHI, kWh/m2/day) at each state's capital, Open-Meteo archive (ERA5 reanalysis), measured daily sums -> monthly means, fetched 2026-08-08. State-wide average for the capital's site; an exact roof differs (tilt, shade).)
What standing here means
Current SDG&E tariff: in review until we verify a rate sheet. State export rates (~$0.05/kWh) and structures are on the California page.
The honest next step
City-level numbers come from real quotes, not websites: use the solar planning calculator with your bill and utility assumptions, then score three itemized bids with the quote scorecard.