High electricity bills from Southern California Edison are a familiar challenge in Highland, especially with heavy air conditioning use during hot summers. In 2026, the strategy for going solar has evolved. It's no longer just about generating power; it's about using that power intelligently. With current utility rules, sending excess solar energy back to the grid doesn't provide the same value as it once did, making self-consumption the most effective way to save money.
This is where pairing solar panels with a home battery becomes a powerful financial tool. By storing your own solar energy, you can use it during evenings and peak hours, drastically reducing how much expensive electricity 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 Highland
The cost of a solar installation depends on the system's size and whether you include energy storage. Based on local averages, here are the estimated costs for a typical home in Highland:
- Solar-Only System (7.0 kW): The estimated gross cost is around $17,850. This system is sized to offset a significant portion of a typical household's electricity usage.
- Solar + Battery System (7.0 kW panels with a 10 kWh battery): The estimated gross cost is approximately $32,850. This combination is designed to maximize your energy independence and savings.
These figures are pre-incentive estimates. While the 30% federal tax credit for homeowners is no longer available for systems installed in 2026, California offers other valuable benefits.
Incentives & Tax Credits
California Solar Incentives for 2026
While the federal residential solar tax credit has phased out for new systems, Highland homeowners can still benefit from important state-level policies. The most significant is California's Property Tax Exclusion for Active Solar Energy Systems.
This means that when you install an owned rooftop solar system, its value is excluded from your property tax assessment. Your home becomes more valuable and appealing to future buyers without increasing your annual tax bill. This exclusion is a powerful financial incentive that directly supports the long-term value of your investment.
Net Metering: Southern California Edison Co
Net Billing (low export)
Recommended 🔋
Understanding Export Rates with Southern California Edison (SCE)
Under California's Net Billing Tariff, the value of electricity you export to the grid is significantly lower than the retail price you pay for electricity from SCE. For example, you might pay over $0.32 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to buy power, but only receive a credit of around $0.11 per kWh for the excess power your panels produce and send back.
This difference makes self-consumption critical. The goal is to use as much of your own solar power as possible. A battery allows you to store the solar energy generated during the sunny afternoon and use it in the evening, avoiding high-cost grid power and maximizing your savings.
Projected Savings
How a Battery Maximizes Your Solar Savings
With SCE's current net billing structure, the financial benefit of adding a battery is clear. Storing your excess solar power for later use is more valuable than selling it back to the grid for a low credit. Here’s how the modeled annual savings break down:
- Annual Savings (Solar-Only): A 7.0 kW system is estimated to save $2,216 per year, leading to a payback period of about 7.4 years.
- Annual Savings (Solar + Battery): The same system paired with a 10 kWh battery boosts annual savings to $3,308. While the initial cost is higher, the increased savings and energy control make it a compelling option, with a payback period of around 8.2 years.
Beyond the immediate bill reduction, an owned solar system provides a hedge against future utility rate hikes. If grid electricity from SCE becomes more expensive over time, the value of your self-generated power increases, improving your long-term return on investment.