California Utilities Support Net Billing Plans to Lower Bills and Reduce Outages

Helping Qualifying Homes Get Solar and Tesla Batteries Without Leasing or Buying Equipment

If you're a California homeowner tired of watching your electric bill climb every month, there's something important you should know: California's utilities are actively supporting net billing programs designed to help qualifying households go solar — and add battery backup — without having to lease or purchase any equipment out of pocket. That's not a sales pitch, that's policy. Here's what's actually happening, why it matters, and how you can take advantage of it before conditions change.

What Is Net Billing (and How Is It Different from Net Metering)?

For years, California homeowners benefited from Net Energy Metering (NEM 2.0), a program that gave solar households generous bill credits for the excess power they sent back to the grid. In April 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) replaced NEM 2.0 with Net Billing (often called NEM 3.0).

The shift was significant. Under NEM 3.0, the value of energy exported to the grid dropped by roughly 75% during peak hours. On the surface, that sounded like bad news for solar. But here's the twist: the new structure heavily rewards homeowners who pair solar with battery storage.
Why? Because instead of selling cheap power back to the grid in the afternoon, batteries let you store the energy your solar panels generate and use it at night — when grid electricity is most expensive. That's where the real savings are.
Under NEM 3.0, a well-designed solar-plus-battery system can cut a California homeowner's electricity bill by 60–80% or more.

California Utilities Are Now Supporting Programs That Help Qualifying Homes Get in at Zero Cost

Here's where it gets even more interesting for homeowners who qualify.
California's investor-owned utilities — Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) — are required by the CPUC to support programs that expand solar and battery access to low-to-moderate income (LMI) households and qualifying ratepayers.
Programs like the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) and the new CPUC-backed third-party ownership (TPO) structures are creating pathways for qualifying homeowners to get solar panels and Tesla Powerwall batteries installed on their property — without buying the equipment or signing a traditional lease.
Instead, participating homeowners pay a fixed, lower monthly bill (often significantly less than their current utility bill), while the equipment is owned and maintained by a program partner. The homeowner gets cleaner energy, lower costs, and backup power during outages. The utility supports the program because it helps stabilize the grid. It's a genuine win for both sides.

Why Battery Backup Matters More Than Ever in California

California's grid is under increasing stress. Extreme heat waves, wildfires, and the surge in electricity demand from electric vehicles and AI data centers have made rolling blackouts a real and growing risk. Pacific Gas & Electric's Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events alone have affected millions of Californians in recent years.

A Tesla Powerwall or similar battery system keeps your lights, refrigerator, medical devices, and internet running when your neighbors are in the dark. For families with young children, elderly relatives, or anyone who works from home, that's not a luxury — it's a necessity and under the net billing structure, a battery doesn't just provide backup. It actively reduces what you owe the utility every single month.

Who Qualifies?

Qualifying criteria vary by program and utility, but generally, you may be eligible if:

- You own a home in California

- Your average monthly electricity bill is $100 or more

- Your home is served by PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E

- Your roof is in reasonable condition and receives adequate sun exposure

Some programs have income-based criteria, while others are open to a broader pool of homeowners. The best way to find out if you qualify is to speak with a certified program partner who can review your utility bills and roof conditions.

What Happens If You Wait?

Net billing rates and program incentives are not permanent. The CPUC periodically reviews and adjusts the programs, and utility rates — particularly the fixed charges and time-of-use rates — are set to increase again in 2026 and beyond.
The homeowners who locked in their solar-plus-battery systems under NEM 2.0 are saving thousands of dollars compared to what they'd save if they enrolled today. The same principle applies now: the sooner you act, the longer you benefit from current program terms. What's more, utilities are beginning to face pressure from the growth of AI data centers, electric vehicle adoption, and housing electrification mandates. Grid demand is rising fast. Programs designed to reduce strain on the grid by bringing distributed solar and storage online are going to become more competitive — and potentially more restricted — as demand increases.

The My Home & Solar Solutions Approach

At My Home & Solar Solutions, we work with California homeowners to evaluate whether they qualify for net billing programs that allow them to go solar with battery backup at little to no out-of-pocket cost. We are not here to sell you equipment. We're here to help you understand the programs that exist, determine your eligibility, and walk you through the process of enrolling.
We specialize in Ventura County and the greater Southern California region, and we partner with GivePower — a nonprofit bringing clean energy to underserved communities globally — because we believe affordable, reliable energy is something every family deserves. If your electric bill is over $150/month and you own your home in California, it's worth a 15-minute conversation to find out what programs you qualify for.

Take the Next Step

Ready to find out if your home qualifies for a solar and battery program with no equipment purchase or lease required?

Visit https://myhomesolution.org/california_public_utility_commissions to learn more and schedule a free consultation. There's no obligation — just real information about what's available to you as a California homeowner. Your electric bill is going up either way. The question is whether you're going to do something about it.