For homeowners in Florence-Graham, consistently high electricity bills from Southern California Edison (SCE) can feel unavoidable. Rooftop solar offers a way to generate your own clean energy and gain more control over that monthly expense. In 2026, the strategy for getting the most value from solar has shifted. It's no longer just about how much power you produce, but how much of that power you can use yourself to avoid buying expensive grid electricity. This makes understanding your options, especially regarding battery storage, more important than ever.
Compare bill offset and incentives—open the calculator next.
Open calculatorBenchmark Cost Analysis
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Florence-Graham?
The total price for a rooftop solar installation in 2026 is based on system size and whether you include a battery. For an average home in the area, a 7.2 kW system is a typical size. Here are the estimated costs:
- Solar-Only System Cost: The estimated upfront cost for the 7.2 kW system is $18,360.
- Solar + Battery System Cost: To add a 10 kWh battery for energy storage, the total estimated cost is $33,360.
The battery represents an additional investment, but it's designed to unlock greater long-term savings by helping you use nearly all the power your panels generate.
Incentives & Tax Credits
Key California Solar Incentive for 2026
While the 30% federal residential tax credit is no longer available for systems placed in service in 2026, California offers a crucial incentive that helps the bottom line. The Property Tax Exclusion for Active Solar Energy Systems ensures that your home's assessed value—and therefore your property tax bill—will not increase because you installed a solar system.
This tax benefit, combined with the direct bill savings from avoiding SCE's high rates, forms the core financial case for going solar. Additionally, an owned solar system is a modern home feature that can enhance resale appeal for future buyers looking to manage their own energy costs.
Net Metering: Southern California Edison Co
Net Billing (low export)
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How You're Compensated for Solar Power in California
Under the current net billing structure with SCE, the value of the solar energy you export to the grid is lower than the price of energy you import. Think of it like getting a wholesale price for the power you sell, but paying a retail price for the power you buy. Our model assumes an export credit of about $0.11/kWh, far less than the $0.32/kWh you pay to purchase electricity.
A battery helps you bypass this unfavorable trade. Instead of exporting surplus solar for a small credit, you store it. When the sun goes down, you draw from your battery instead of buying expensive power from SCE. This simple shift from exporting to storing is why a solar-plus-battery system delivers superior savings and greater energy independence.
Projected Savings
Projected Solar Savings with High SCE Rates
With SCE's retail electricity rates around $0.32/kWh, every kilowatt-hour of solar energy you use at home translates to significant savings. Adding a battery maximizes this by storing daytime solar energy for you to use during the evening, which is when grid power is often most expensive.
- A 7.2 kW solar-only system is estimated to save a Florence-Graham homeowner around $2,216 in the first year.
- Pairing that same system with a battery boosts the estimated first-year savings to $3,308.
This difference of over $1,000 in the first year alone highlights the power of self-consumption. Furthermore, generating your own electricity provides a valuable hedge against future utility rate hikes, making solar potentially more valuable as grid costs rise.