Fremont, CA Solar Panels
Solar Power in Fremont
Fremont’s abundant sunshine and California’s soaring electricity costs make this an ideal time to explore solar panels for home use. With residential rates at 31.86 cents per kWh—nearly double the national average—many local homeowners are turning to solar to cut their energy bills.
This guide covers everything you need to know about solar installation in Fremont, from local incentives and system sizing to finding the right installer for your property.
CALIFORNIA by the Numbers
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Fremont, CA?
Our calculator uses real installation data from Fremont neighborhoods like Niles, Mission San Jose, and Ardenwood to show you accurate solar costs. Get personalized estimates based on actual installations in your community, not generic averages.
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You can still access the solar tax credit through Palmetto. Talk to us today to find out how.
Key Takeaways
- Fremont’s electricity rates are 93% higher than the national average at 31.9¢ per kWh, making solar savings substantial for local homeowners.
- A typical solar system in Fremont can save over $100,000 in electricity costs over 25 years while protecting against future rate increases.
- California offers property tax exemptions and community-specific rebates that reduce solar installation costs without complicated paperwork or income requirements.
Fremont Electricity Prices
Understanding electricity costs in Fremont is essential when evaluating your home energy options and long-term budget planning.
California’s electricity rates have climbed steadily, rising from 22.8 cents per kWh in 2021 to 31.9 cents per kWh in 2024—a 40% increase in just three years, while national rates remain significantly lower.
Solar panels allow Fremont homeowners to generate their own electricity, reducing dependence on utility companies and protecting against future rate increases. By producing power from your rooftop, you gain more control over your energy expenses.
Over 25 years, a typical solar system can shield your household from decades of utility rate increases, providing predictable energy costs and potential savings that grow larger as grid electricity becomes more expensive.
Price of Energy: California vs National Average
Fremont Area Utility Providers
Fremont residents receive electricity from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), where rates in 2023 averaged 34.0 cents per kilowatt-hour—significantly above both the national average of 16.0¢ and California’s state average of 29.50¢.
PG&E’s elevated rates reflect California’s investment in renewable energy infrastructure, wildfire prevention costs, and the expense of maintaining transmission lines across diverse terrain. These operational costs are passed directly to customers through monthly bills.
With electricity costs more than double the national average, Fremont homeowners who install solar can lock in predictable energy expenses. Solar panels generate power at a fixed cost, providing protection against future utility rate increases.
Fremont Utilities Electricity Rates
California Solar Incentives
Installing solar panels in Fremont comes with valuable financial benefits. California and local programs offer solar incentives in California that help reduce upfront costs and long-term expenses.
Available programs include property tax exemptions that protect your home’s increased value from taxation, targeted rebates for qualifying communities, and net billing policies that credit you for excess energy production. Each incentive serves different needs and eligibility requirements.
Review the detailed breakdown below to identify which programs apply to your situation. These incentives change periodically, so researching current offerings helps you maximize your savings when planning your solar installation.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property Tax Exemption | State tax exemption | Any increase in value to your home tied to installing solar panels will not be taxed. | Learn More |
| Disadvantaged Communities Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (DAC-SASH) Program | State program | If you meet key criteria on being in a disadvantaged community you will receive a generous incentive to install solar of $3 per watt. This can add up to $15,000 for a small system of kW. | Learn More |
| Equity Fund | State program | If you meet certain criteria, California is offering rebates that help bring some of the original Net Metering benefits to lower income communities that missed out when CA switched to NEM3.0 | Learn More |
California’s Property Tax Exemption for solar energy systems protects homeowners from paying additional property taxes when they install solar panels. Normally, home improvements that increase your property’s value result in higher property tax bills. However, this state tax exemption ensures that any added value from your solar installation is excluded from your property tax assessment. This means you can enjoy the benefits of increased home value without the burden of increased annual property taxes.
The financial benefit of this exemption can be significant over time. For example, if your solar system adds $20,000 to your home’s value and your property tax rate is 1%, you would save approximately $200 per year in property taxes. Over the typical 25-year lifespan of a solar system, this could amount to $5,000 or more in savings. The exemption applies to both residential and commercial solar installations in California, and there is no cap on the amount of added value that can be exempted. This incentive remains in effect as long as you own the solar system, making it a valuable long-term benefit that complements the energy savings you’ll receive from generating your own clean power.
The Disadvantaged Communities Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (DAC-SASH) Program is a California state initiative designed to make solar energy accessible to homeowners in disadvantaged communities. This program provides upfront financial incentives to help offset the cost of installing a solar energy system, making clean energy more affordable for qualifying households.
The program offers up to $3 per watt in capacity-based incentives. For example, if you install a 5-kilowatt solar system, you could receive up to $15,000 in upfront incentives to reduce your installation costs.
To qualify for DAC-SASH, you must meet all of the following requirements: own and live in your home, receive electrical service from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), or San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), be enrolled in or eligible for the CARE or FERA income-qualified utility bill assistance programs, and have your property located in a designated disadvantaged community (DAC) qualified area.
If you think you might qualify for this program, you can visit the GRID Alternatives website to learn more about the application process and verify your eligibility. This incentive can significantly reduce the upfront cost of going solar, making it an excellent opportunity for eligible homeowners to access clean, renewable energy.
The Equity Fund is a California state program that provides substantial rebates for battery storage systems to help low-income residents afford clean energy solutions. Established in 2022 through Assembly Bill 209, this $630 million fund operates under the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) and specifically targets households enrolled in California’s CARE or FERA utility assistance programs, residents of Disadvantaged Communities, and California Tribal communities.
The program offers rebates based on your battery’s storage capacity, with rates of $150, $850, or $1,000 per kilowatt-hour depending on your specific circumstances. Higher rebate amounts are available if you’re enrolled in DAC-SASH, CARE, or FERA programs, or if you live in California tribal areas, fire-affected zones, high fire-risk areas, or regions that experience frequent power outages. For example, a 10 kWh battery system could qualify for rebates ranging from $1,500 to $10,000. Additionally, CARE program participants receive approximately 35% off their electric bills, while FERA participants receive about 18% off, providing ongoing savings beyond the initial rebate.
To qualify, you must be a customer of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), or San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and meet the income or location requirements outlined above. This program works particularly well alongside California’s current net billing program (NEM 3.0), where eligible community members can receive enhanced bill credits for excess solar energy sent to the grid. The combination of battery storage rebates and utility bill discounts makes clean energy more accessible and financially beneficial for qualifying California homeowners.
Net Billing in California is a program that credits you for the excess solar energy your system sends to the electric grid. Unlike older net metering programs that credited you at full retail rates, Net Billing (often called “NEM 3.0”) credits you based on the utility’s avoided cost—essentially what it would have cost them to generate that power at that specific time. The credit you receive changes every hour depending on when you export energy, with higher values typically during peak demand periods in the evening.
The financial benefit varies significantly by utility and time of day. For the three major investor-owned utilities (PG&E, SCE, and SDGE), export credits are calculated hourly using each utility’s Avoided Cost Calculator. At the end of your annual true-up period, any remaining credits are paid out at approximately 3-5 cents per kWh. Imperial Irrigation District offers a simpler structure at $0.0698 per kWh with monthly settlement. SMUD credits exports at 7.4 cents per kWh, while LADWP provides 1:1 net metering where credits can roll over indefinitely as dollar credits on your account.
Net Billing applies to new solar interconnection applications submitted on or after April 15, 2023 with PG&E, SCE, and SDGE. If you submitted a complete application by April 14, 2023, you may qualify for the more favorable NEM 2.0 program—but be aware that increasing your system size or decreasing it by more than 20% will move you to Net Billing. This makes pairing solar with battery storage increasingly important, as storing energy to use during evening hours (rather than exporting it during the day) can significantly improve your savings under this program.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with California incentives.
Get a Free QuoteFremont Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.
Fremont’s Mediterranean climate brings sunny summers and mild, cloudier winters—creating seasonal variation in solar output. But with proper system design, Fremont remains excellent for solar energy year-round.
Solar Production in Fremont by Month
What Can Your Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
In July, your 10 kW system could power:
- 3.6 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Run central AC for 18 hours AND power all other appliances
- or Fully charge 5.4 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Winter Production (December)
In December, your 10 kW system could power:
- 2 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Keep your home heating system running for 15 hours
- or Fully charge 3 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Annual Production
Over a year, your 10 kW system could:
- Offset 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 175 trees
- or Save approximately $4,234 in electricity costs
Want to know exactly how much solar can power your home?
Get a personalized solar analysis based on your actual home, energy usage, and roof characteristics.
Get My Custom EstimateSolar Panel Systems in Fremont
We’ve mapped every solar installation across Fremont to help you explore which neighborhoods are embracing clean energy. Click any hexagon to discover how many of your neighbors have already made the switch to solar power.
Leasing Solar Panels
Fremont homeowners served by Pacific Gas & Electric (PGE) have access to Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) through Palmetto. With a PPA, you pay only for the solar energy your system produces at a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour, rather than paying the full system cost upfront.
This financing option means no large initial investment, no maintenance responsibilities, and immediate electricity savings. Your monthly payment fluctuates with seasonal production—higher in summer, lower in winter—but your annual costs remain predictable and typically lower than utility rates.
Learn more about whether buying or leasing solar fits your situation, or explore our LightReach program for flexible solar access without ownership commitments.
Go solar without the investment
With LightReach, there are no investment costs to recoup, loan payments to manage, or maintenance needs to take on. As soon as your panels are active, your solar savings are too!
Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, solar makes excellent sense in Fremont. With electricity rates at 31.9¢ per kWh—93% higher than the national average—and abundant sunshine averaging 5.7 peak sun hours daily, Fremont homeowners see substantial savings from solar installation.
A typical system can save over $100,000 over 25 years while protecting against future rate increases. California’s property tax exemptions and local rebates further improve the financial benefits, making Fremont one of the state’s best locations for solar investment.
Fremont residents served by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) have access to California’s Net Billing program (NEM 3.0), which replaced traditional net metering in April 2023. Under this system, you receive hourly export credits for excess solar energy sent to the grid, with values changing based on the utility’s avoided cost at that specific time.
Export rates are typically higher during evening peak demand periods and lower during midday when solar production is abundant. Any remaining credits at your annual true-up are paid out at approximately 3-5 cents per kWh. Pairing solar with battery storage helps maximize savings by storing daytime energy for evening use rather than exporting at lower rates.
Yes, solar panels increase home value in Fremont. Research from Zillow shows solar panels increase home value by 4.1% on average across the United States.
For Fremont’s median home price, this translates to approximately $50,000 in added value. California’s property tax exemption means you gain this equity without paying higher property taxes, making solar an attractive investment that pays dividends both monthly through energy savings and long-term through increased resale value.
Solar installation costs in Fremont typically range from $15,088 to $24,677 depending on your home size and energy needs. A medium-sized home (2,000-3,000 sq ft) averages $19,414 for a 6.72 kW system at $2.89 per watt.
These prices reflect the total system cost after accounting for equipment, installation, and permitting. With Fremont’s high electricity rates of 31.9¢ per kWh, most homeowners see a payback period of 6-7 years and over $100,000 in savings across 25 years.
Yes, solar is financially worth it in Fremont. With electricity rates at 31.9¢ per kWh—93% higher than the national average—a typical solar system saves homeowners over $100,000 across 25 years with a payback period of just 6-7 years.
California’s property tax exemption protects your home’s increased value from taxation, while abundant sunshine averaging 5.7 peak sun hours daily ensures consistent energy production. Solar also shields you from future utility rate increases, providing predictable energy costs for decades.
At Palmetto Solar, we’re a national company with deep local expertise in Fremont and throughout California. We’ve completed over 7,123 installations across the state since 2020, bringing proven experience to your solar project.
We offer flexible financing options that fit different budgets, along with a trusted network of professional installers who understand Fremont’s specific requirements. Our approach focuses on education and transparency, helping you make informed decisions about your solar investment.