High summer electricity bills from Southern California Edison (SCE) are a familiar challenge in Perris. While solar panels are a powerful way to generate your own power, the rules have changed. Simply sending excess solar energy back to the grid no longer provides the 1-for-1 credit it once did. To get the most value from a solar system in 2026, the focus has shifted to using as much of your own solar power as possible.
This is where pairing solar panels with a home battery becomes a practical strategy. By storing the solar energy you generate during the day, you can use it during the evening and night, significantly reducing how much expensive power you need to buy from SCE.
Run your scenario: the calculator uses this city’s utility and tariff data.
Open calculatorBenchmark Cost Analysis
2026 Solar & Battery Costs in Perris
Here are modeled cost estimates for a typical 6.8 kW system designed to offset an average local electricity bill. These figures reflect installation costs before any incentives.
- Solar Panels Only: A 6.8 kW system is estimated to cost around $17,340.
- Solar Panels + 10 kWh Battery: The same 6.8 kW system paired with a home battery is estimated at $32,340.
While the upfront cost is higher, a battery system is designed to maximize your savings under current SCE rules by increasing your home's self-consumption of solar power.
Incentives & Tax Credits
California Solar Incentives for 2026
With the federal residential solar tax credit no longer available for systems installed in 2026, state-level benefits are more important than ever. For Perris homeowners, the primary financial incentive is:
- Property Tax Exclusion: In California, installing a solar panel system does not increase your property taxes. The added value of the system is excluded from your home's valuation for tax purposes, a benefit currently available for systems installed through at least mid-2026.
There is no state income tax credit for solar in California. The main financial benefit comes from reducing your monthly payments to SCE.
Net Metering: Southern California Edison Co
Net Billing (low export)
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Understanding Export Rates in Perris (Net Billing)
Under the current net billing tariff with SCE, the electricity you export to the grid is credited at a rate significantly lower than the retail price you pay for electricity. The modeled export rate is around $0.11 per kWh, while you pay SCE over $0.32 per kWh to buy that same power back.
This difference is why maximizing self-consumption is key. A battery allows you to store your excess solar power instead of selling it for a low price. You can then use that stored energy in the evening, avoiding the need to purchase expensive grid power after the sun goes down.
Projected Savings
How Solar Saves You Money with SCE
With California's high electricity rates, every kilowatt-hour of solar energy you use directly in your home provides significant savings. If utility rates continue to rise, the value of that self-generated power increases each year.
- A solar-only system in Perris could generate an estimated $2,216 in electricity bill savings in the first year, with a payback period of about 7.2 years.
- Adding a battery system boosts self-consumption, increasing the estimated first-year savings to $3,308. The payback period is slightly longer at 8.1 years, but the long-term savings are greater.
An owned solar system can also be an attractive feature for potential buyers, potentially supporting your home's resale appeal down the road.