High electricity bills from Southern California Edison are a familiar problem in Bloomington. With rates around $0.32/kWh, many homeowners are looking to solar for relief. However, the rules for solar have changed. In 2026, simply sending excess solar power to the grid no longer provides the bill-slashing credits it once did. The key to maximizing savings now lies in using as much of your own solar power as possible, which often means adding a home battery.
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2026 Solar & Battery Costs in Bloomington
Here are modeled cost estimates for a typical 7.0 kW solar installation designed to offset an average local electricity bill. These figures reflect pricing after the federal 25D tax credit for residential solar has expired.
- Solar-Only System (7.0 kW): The estimated gross cost is around $17,850.
- Solar + Battery System (7.0 kW panels, 10 kWh battery): The estimated combined cost is around $32,850. This system is designed to store daytime solar energy for use during expensive evening hours.
While the upfront cost for a battery is higher, it directly addresses SCE's current rate structure to deliver greater long-term savings.
Incentives & Tax Credits
California Solar Incentives for 2026
With the primary federal tax credit no longer available for new systems, California's state-level benefits are more important than ever. The main financial driver for solar is avoiding SCE's high rates, but these incentives also help:
- Property Tax Exclusion: In California, installing a solar system will not increase your property taxes. This exclusion on the added home value from an active solar system is a significant benefit for homeowners.
- Self-Consumption Value: The biggest financial incentive is using your own solar power to avoid paying SCE's retail rate of over 32 cents per kilowatt-hour. Every kWh you generate and use at home is a direct saving.
An owned solar system can also be a strong selling point for future buyers, potentially enhancing your home's resale appeal.
Net Metering: Southern California Edison Co
Net Billing (low export)
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Understanding SCE's Net Billing Rules
The current system for solar compensation in California is called the Net Billing Tariff. It's different from older net metering programs. Here’s the simple breakdown: the power you generate and use instantly in your home is highly valuable because it directly offsets electricity you would have bought from SCE at a high price. However, any surplus power you export to the grid is credited at a much lower rate—modeled here at around $0.11 per kWh. This is why self-consumption is critical. A battery allows you to store that surplus energy and use it later, keeping the full value of your solar production for yourself.
Projected Savings
How a Battery Increases Your Solar Savings
Under SCE's net billing tariff, the electricity you export to the grid is worth significantly less than the electricity you buy. A solar battery helps you avoid this poor trade-off. By storing your excess solar power, you can use it yourself in the evening instead of selling it cheap and buying it back expensive.
- A solar-only system might save a Bloomington household around $2,216 annually, with a payback period of about 7.4 years.
- Adding a 10 kWh battery boosts those savings significantly, with modeled annual savings of $3,308. The payback period is slightly longer at 8.2 years, but the total financial benefit over the system's life is much greater.
Long-term utility inflation can also improve the value of your solar investment. If grid electricity from SCE becomes more expensive over time, your rooftop generation will offset costlier power in future years.