Long Beach, CA Solar Panels
Solar Power in Long Beach
Long Beach homeowners are increasingly turning to solar energy as California electricity prices have increased 56% from 2020 to 2024. Solar panels for your home offer a practical way to take control of rising energy costs.
This guide covers everything you need to know about solar installation in Long Beach, from understanding local incentives to choosing the right system for your home.
CALIFORNIA by the Numbers
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Long Beach, CA?
Our calculator uses real installation data from Long Beach homes—from Belmont Shore to Bixby Knolls to Naples—to show you accurate solar costs for your neighborhood. Get personalized estimates based on actual local installations, not generic averages.
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Savings
You can still access the solar tax credit through Palmetto. Talk to us today to find out how.
Key Takeaways
- Long Beach electricity rates have jumped 40% since 2021 to 31.9¢ per kWh, making solar energy increasingly valuable for homeowners.
- A typical 7 kW solar system costs around $19,400 and can save Long Beach homeowners approximately $105,000 over 25 years.
- California offers property tax exemptions and special programs that help reduce the upfront cost of going solar in Long Beach.
Long Beach Electricity Prices
Understanding electricity costs in Long Beach helps homeowners make informed decisions about their energy future and long-term household budgets.
California electricity rates have climbed from 22.8 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2021 to 31.9 cents in 2024—a 40% increase in just three years, nearly double the national average rate.
Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed cost, helping Long Beach homeowners avoid future rate increases. Once installed, your system produces power at the same predictable rate for decades.
Over a 25-year period, solar energy can significantly reduce what you pay for electricity. As utility rates continue rising, your solar investment becomes increasingly valuable each year.
Price of Energy: California vs National Average
Long Beach Area Utility Providers
Long Beach residents are served primarily by two utilities: Southern California Edison (SCE) at 32.3¢ per kWh and LADWP at 23.0¢ per kWh (2023 data). Both rates exceed the national average of 16.0¢ per kWh.
California’s electricity costs remain high due to infrastructure investments, wildfire prevention programs, and the state’s transition to renewable energy sources. SCE rates particularly reflect these grid modernization costs affecting coastal communities like Long Beach.
With electricity rates consistently above national averages, Long Beach homeowners can benefit from predictable solar energy costs. Solar panels generate power at a fixed rate, providing protection from future utility increases.
Long Beach Utilities Electricity Rates
California Solar Incentives
Long Beach residents can reduce solar installation costs through several solar incentives in California at the state and local level.
These programs include property tax exemptions, special rebates for qualifying households, and net billing arrangements. Each incentive works differently—some reduce upfront costs while others provide long-term savings on your property taxes and energy bills.
Incentive programs can change as funding shifts or policies update. Research current eligibility requirements and act promptly to secure available benefits for your Long Beach home.
| 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 value result in higher property taxes. However, this state tax exemption ensures that any added value from your solar installation won’t increase your annual property tax bill.
The financial benefit varies based on your home’s location and the size of your solar system, but it can be substantial. For example, if solar panels add $20,000 to your home’s value and your local 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 exemption could save you thousands of dollars. The exemption applies to both residential and commercial solar installations, and it remains in effect for as long as you own the system. This incentive works automatically once your solar system is installed and permitted—you don’t need to file a separate application, though you should verify the exemption appears correctly on your property tax assessment.
The Disadvantaged Communities Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (DAC-SASH) Program is a California state initiative designed to make solar energy more 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, a typical 6-kilowatt solar system could receive up to $18,000 in upfront incentives. To qualify, you must 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 live in a designated disadvantaged community (DAC) area.
If you think you might qualify for this program, you can visit the GRID Alternatives website to learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply. This incentive can be combined with other available programs to further reduce the cost of going solar.
The Equity Fund is a battery storage incentive program created in 2022 through Assembly Bill 209, providing $630 million in funding to help low-income California homeowners afford energy storage systems. This program operates under the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) and offers rebates based on your battery’s storage capacity, with rates ranging from $150 to $1,000 per kilowatt-hour depending on your specific circumstances.
To qualify for the Equity Fund, you must be enrolled in California’s CARE or FERA utility discount programs, live in a designated Disadvantaged Community, or reside in a California Tribal community. The highest rebate rates ($850-$1,000 per kWh) are available if you participate in DAC-SASH, CARE, or FERA programs, or if you live in California tribal areas, fire-affected zones, high fire-risk areas, or regions with frequent power outages. For example, a 10 kWh battery system could qualify for rebates ranging from $1,500 to $10,000 depending on your eligibility tier. This incentive works alongside California’s net billing program (NEM 3.0), where eligible community members can also receive enhanced bill credits for excess solar energy sent to the grid.
Net Billing in California is a program that credits you for the excess solar energy your system sends to the electric grid. Unlike traditional net metering where exports were valued at retail rates, Net Billing (also called “NEM 3”) credits your excess solar at rates that vary by hour and are based on the utility’s avoided cost—essentially what it costs them to generate or purchase that power at that specific time. This means the value of your solar exports changes throughout the day, with higher credits typically during peak demand hours when electricity is most valuable to the grid.
The financial benefit depends on your utility and when your solar energy is exported. For the three major investor-owned utilities (PG&E, SCE, and SDGE), Net Billing began April 15, 2023, and export rates are calculated hourly using each utility’s Avoided Cost Calculator. Any unused credits at your annual anniversary month are paid out at approximately 3-5 cents per kWh. SMUD credits exports at a fixed 7.4 cents per kWh with monthly settlement, while Imperial Irrigation District credits at $0.0698 per kWh, also settled monthly. LADWP operates under traditional 1:1 net metering as a municipal utility and is not subject to Net Billing rules.
New solar customers applying after April 15, 2023 automatically fall under Net Billing. However, if you submitted a complete interconnection application by April 14, 2023, you may be grandfathered under the previous NEM 2.0 program—but only if you don’t increase your system size at all or decrease it by more than 20%. Any changes beyond these limits will move you to Net Billing. Because export credits are significantly lower under Net Billing compared to previous programs, pairing your solar system with battery storage can help you maximize savings by storing excess energy to use during expensive peak hours rather than exporting it at lower rates.
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 QuoteLong Beach 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.
Long Beach enjoys abundant sunshine year-round, with coastal fog occasionally reducing morning production. Despite marine layer impacts, the region’s consistent sun exposure makes it excellent for solar energy generation.
Solar Production in Long Beach 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 Long Beach
We’ve mapped every solar installation across Long Beach to help you explore which neighborhoods are embracing clean energy. Click any hexagon to see how many homes in that area have made the switch to solar!
Leasing Solar Panels
Long Beach homeowners have flexible options for going solar beyond purchasing a system outright. In Long Beach, residents served by Southern California Edison (SCE) can access Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), while those in LADWP service areas can explore solar leasing options.
With a PPA, you pay only for the electricity your solar panels produce at a set rate per kilowatt-hour, typically lower than utility rates. There’s no large upfront investment, and Palmetto handles all system maintenance and monitoring. Your monthly solar costs fluctuate with seasonal production—higher in summer, lower in winter—but annual savings remain consistent.
These financing alternatives make solar accessible without the responsibility of system ownership. You avoid maintenance costs, equipment warranties, and performance concerns while immediately reducing your electricity bills. Learn more about whether leasing or buying solar makes sense for your situation, or explore how LightReach can help you start saving with solar today.
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 strong financial sense in Long Beach. With California electricity rates at 31.9¢ per kWh—nearly double the national average—and abundant coastal sunshine, solar panels provide significant long-term savings.
A typical Long Beach home with a 7 kW system can save approximately $105,000 over 25 years. Combined with California’s property tax exemption and local incentive programs, solar offers predictable energy costs while protecting against future utility rate increases.
Long Beach homeowners have access to net billing programs that vary by utility provider. If you’re served by Southern California Edison (SCE), you’ll be on California’s Net Billing (NEM 3.0) program, which credits excess solar energy at hourly rates based on the utility’s avoided costs—typically 3-5¢ per kWh during your annual true-up.
If you’re in an LADWP service area, you benefit from traditional 1:1 net metering where excess energy is credited at full retail rates and can roll over month-to-month indefinitely. This makes LADWP one of the most favorable solar policies in California, as it wasn’t affected by the NEM 3.0 changes that reduced export credits for other utilities.
Yes, solar panels typically increase home value in Long Beach. Research from Zillow shows homes with solar panels sell for approximately 4.1% more than comparable homes without solar systems.
For a Long Beach home valued at $800,000, solar panels could add around $32,800 to the sale price. Additionally, California’s property tax exemption means your property taxes won’t increase despite this added value, making solar an attractive investment for Long Beach homeowners.
Solar panel costs in Long Beach typically range from $15,088 for a small home system (5 kW) to $24,677 for a large home system (8.8 kW). A medium-sized home usually needs a 6.72 kW system costing around $19,414, with an average price of $2.89 per watt.
These prices reflect complete system installation including equipment, labor, and permits. Your actual cost depends on your home’s energy usage, roof characteristics, and system size needed to offset your electricity bills.
Yes, solar is financially worth it for most Long Beach homeowners. With electricity rates at 31.9¢ per kWh—nearly double the national average—solar panels provide substantial long-term savings and protection against future rate increases.
A typical 7 kW system costs around $19,400 and can save approximately $105,000 over 25 years, with a payback period of about 6 years. California’s property tax exemption and local incentive programs further improve the financial return on your solar investment.
At Palmetto, we bring national expertise with a local focus to Long Beach solar installations. We’ve completed over 7,123 installations across California since 2020, giving us deep experience with the region’s unique conditions and requirements.
We offer flexible financing options to fit different budgets and work with a trusted network of local installers who understand Long Beach’s coastal environment, permitting requirements, and utility interconnection processes. Our approach combines quality equipment, transparent pricing, and ongoing support throughout your solar journey.