Nathan Healy
Certified by Nathan Healy
Updated: October 2026
Quality Solar Panels Since 2011
Palmetto has served 20,000+ customers across 31 states with an approval rating over 85%.
About Nathan Healy

Nathan Healy is a Vice President at Palmetto, where he helps homeowners cut through the confusion around solar and figure out whether it actually pencils out for their home, roof, and budget. With energy prices climbing and the federal incentive landscape shifting, his focus is simple: give people a straight, honest answer instead of a sales pitch.

He reviews Palmetto’s local solar guides so the costs, incentives, and utility details on this page reflect what’s really happening in your area.
He believes in solar so much, that he had Palmetto install solar on his own parents’ house, the home he grew up in.

01

Solar Power in Long Beach

Solar installation in Long Beach, CA, depends on more than the area’s sunny weather. Roof condition, shade, household electricity use, and local permitting all help determine what a home solar project may involve.

Learn how to assess your options, understand the installation process, and explore our guide to home solar panels.

CALIFORNIA by the Numbers

1st Most residential solar in the United States
1926 Households have installed solar panels
6.0 Avg peak sun hours per day
~$105k Long Beach average savings over 25 years
02

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Long Beach, CA?

See what solar installation may cost in Long Beach using Palmetto’s real installation data from local homes. This calculator draws on projects across neighborhoods and nearby communities, including Belmont Shore, Bixby Knolls, Lakewood, and Signal Hill, to help you explore costs based on actual installations.

Small Home Up to 2,000 sq ft
Medium Home 2,000-3,000 sq ft
Large Home Over 3,000 sq ft
System Size
This system size is designed to offset approximately 100% of the average electricity usage for a home of this size in California.
Recommended
System
6.67 kW
Your Monthly Payment
Estimated monthly cost with LightReach
$88/mo
As low as
$88/mo
Why Lease Solar?
Following the 2025 Big Beautiful Bill, the federal 30% solar tax credit is no longer available for cash purchases. With a LightReach lease, Palmetto owns the system and still qualifies for the commercial ITC — passing those savings through to you via lower monthly payments.
  • No upfront investment
  • Palmetto handles all maintenance
  • 90% Production Guarantee
  • Comprehensive protection program included
03

Palmetto Reviews

04

Key Takeaways

  • A Long Beach solar system should fit your home—roof condition, shade, energy use, and permitting all affect installation and system size.
  • A typical calculator estimate is about $19,288 for a 6.67 kW system; actual costs and savings depend on your home and utility rates.
  • Solar incentives and export credits vary by eligibility, funding, utility rules, and when your system sends power to the grid.
05

Long Beach Electricity Prices

Electricity costs have climbed in California, making the price of power an important part of the solar conversation for Long Beach homeowners.

California’s average electricity price rose from 22.8 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2021 to 31.9 cents in 2024. The national average increased from 13.7 to 16.5 cents over the same period; these are statewide and national averages, not Long Beach rates.

A home solar system can generate some of the electricity a household uses, potentially reducing how much it buys from the utility. Actual bill impacts depend on system size, usage, rates, and applicable utility rules.

Over time, producing power at home may help households manage exposure to changing electricity prices. Solar’s long-term value depends on installation costs, system performance, maintenance, and how utility rates and billing rules evolve.

Price of Energy: California vs National Average

0¢
10¢
20¢
30¢
40¢
13.7¢
22.8¢
15.0¢
25.8¢
16.0¢
29.5¢
16.5¢
31.9¢
2021
2022
2023
2024
US Average
California

Long Beach Area Utility Providers

In Long Beach, Southern California Edison (SCE) is the utility shown in this comparison. The figures are from 2023; 2024 utility data is not yet available.

In 2023, SCE electricity cost 32.3¢ per kWh, compared with California’s 29.5¢ and the national average of 16.0¢. The figures show SCE’s rate was higher, but the data provided does not explain why.

For Long Beach households, solar may help manage electricity costs by generating power at home and reducing grid purchases. The impact depends on household use and system output, so savings are not guaranteed.

Long Beach Utilities Electricity Rates

Southern California Edison (SCE)
32.30¢
+102%
CA Average
29.50¢
+84%
US Average
16.0¢
—
06

California Solar Incentives

Long Beach homeowners may find state and local programs that help offset solar costs, though eligibility and funding vary. Explore solar incentives in California.

Options include income-qualified solar and battery rebates, affordable multifamily incentives, utility bill discounts, financing, property-tax and sales-tax exclusions, and credits for exported power under California’s Solar Billing Plan.

State and local options remain, though eligibility and funding vary. With LightReach leasing, Palmetto handles the commercial ITC and passes savings through lower monthly payments.

Incentive Type Description Source
SGIP — Residential Solar and Storage Equity (RSSE) Solar and Battery Rebate Income-qualified California households may receive up to $1,100 per kWh of eligible battery capacity and $3,100 per kW of paired solar, subject to program rules and available funding. Learn More
Disadvantaged Communities — Single-Family Solar Homes (DAC-SASH) Solar Rebate / No-Cost Solar Program Eligible income-qualified homeowners in qualifying disadvantaged communities may receive rooftop solar supported by a $3 per CEC-AC watt program incentive. Learn More
Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) Solar and Battery Incentive Eligible affordable multifamily properties can receive incentives for tenant-serving and common-area solar, with additional incentives for qualifying integrated solar-and-storage projects where funding remains available. Learn More
Disadvantaged Communities Green Tariff (DAC-GT) Electricity Bill Discount / Community Solar Eligible customers in participating disadvantaged communities can receive a 20% discount on their applicable electricity rate through a utility clean-energy tariff, rather than a payment for rooftop equipment. Learn More
GoGreen Home Energy Financing — Solar Plus Battery Financing Eligible homeowners and renters may access participating-lender financing for solar bundled with battery storage, with program materials describing loan principal up to $75,000 for solar-plus-battery projects. Learn More
Active Solar Energy System New Construction Exclusion Property Tax Exclusion Qualifying active solar energy systems generally are excluded from adding assessed value to a California property, with the state exclusion scheduled to sunset January 1, 2027. Learn More
CAEATFA Sales and Use Tax Exclusion (STE) for Approved Projects Sales and Use Tax Exclusion Approved participating parties may receive a sales/use-tax exclusion for qualifying alternative-energy, distributed-generation, or storage property purchased for an approved project; it is not a general household solar exemption. Learn More
California Solar Billing Plan / Net Billing Tariff Net Billing / Solar Export Credits New eligible rooftop solar customers in PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E territories receive bill credits for electricity exported to the grid under the Net Billing Tariff, with credit values varying by export timing rather than matching retail rates one-for-one. Long Beach customers served by SCE are covered by this tariff. Learn More

SGIP’s Residential Solar and Storage Equity (RSSE) offering provides incentives for eligible residential solar-and-battery projects. Published maximum rates are up to $1,100 per kWh of battery storage and $3,100 per kW of paired solar; the actual incentive is limited by eligible project costs, system-sizing rules, and program requirements.

Eligibility is generally for income-qualified California households, including households at or below 80% of area median income or customers who qualify through specified programs such as CARE, FERA, ESA, SASH, or DAC-SASH. Funding, applications, waitlists, and reservation availability vary by utility and program administrator, so confirm current availability with the SGIP administrator before signing a contract.

DAC-SASH supports rooftop solar for qualifying single-family homeowners with an incentive of $3 per CEC-AC watt. The program is designed to make solar available at no cost to eligible households, although project costs, program rules, and funding availability determine whether a particular installation can proceed. The incentive is administered through the program and is not necessarily paid as cash directly to the homeowner.

Applicants generally must own and occupy their primary residence, meet applicable CARE or FERA income criteria, and live in an eligible disadvantaged community or other qualifying area identified by the program. DAC-SASH is a solar program; do not assume that a battery is included. Check current program eligibility and enrollment status with the CPUC or its administrator.

SOMAH provides solar incentives for qualifying affordable multifamily rental housing. Published solar rates can reach $3.50 per AC watt for tenant-serving capacity and $1.19 per AC watt for common-area capacity, with lower rates applying in some circumstances when projects use specified tax credits. Eligible integrated solar-and-storage projects may receive a storage incentive of $1.10 per Wh, subject to program rules and adjustments for other incentives.

Properties generally need at least five rental units and must meet SOMAH’s affordable-housing and tenant-benefit requirements in a participating utility territory. Storage funding is not available everywhere: as of the supplied 2026 status information, storage incentives were paused in PG&E and SDG&E territories, while funds were reported available in SCE, Liberty Utilities, and Pacific Power territories. Long Beach properties served by SCE may be in a territory where storage funds were reported available. Confirm the current funding status and project eligibility with SOMAH before relying on an incentive.

DAC-GT provides qualifying residential customers a 20% discount on their otherwise applicable electric rate through a clean-energy tariff associated with a shared renewable-energy project. It is a bill discount—not a rooftop-solar or battery installation rebate—and can be relevant to renters or households that cannot install their own system.

Eligibility generally depends on meeting CARE or FERA income requirements and living in a designated disadvantaged community within a participating service area. Enrollment arrangements and availability vary by utility or community choice aggregator, so contact the electricity provider to check whether the program is offered at your address.

GoGreen Home uses credit enhancements to help participating lenders offer financing for eligible home energy improvements, including solar paired with battery storage. Program materials describe a loan-principal ceiling of up to $75,000 for solar-plus-battery projects; this is financing, not a rebate or grant, and borrowers must repay the loan.

Homeowners and renters may qualify for eligible properties and measures when served by a participating utility or community choice aggregator and using an enrolled contractor. Interest rates, fees, approval criteria, and loan terms are set by participating lenders. Confirm that the proposed solar-and-storage project and contractor qualify before applying.

California’s Active Solar Energy System New Construction Exclusion generally prevents the value attributable to a qualifying active solar energy system from increasing the property’s assessed value. This can reduce the property-tax impact of adding qualifying solar equipment, but it is an assessment exclusion rather than an upfront rebate.

The exclusion is scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2027, so it is relevant to qualifying projects in 2026. Treatment can depend on the equipment and how it is installed; the exclusion should not be assumed to cover a standalone battery. Contact the county assessor to confirm how the rules apply to a specific property and project.

California’s Sales and Use Tax Exclusion can reduce or eliminate sales/use tax on qualifying property purchased by an approved participating party or its construction contractor for an approved project. Eligible project categories can include specified alternative-energy, distributed-generation, and energy-storage technologies.

This is a project-approval program, not a blanket sales-tax exemption for a homeowner buying rooftop panels or a battery. Applicants must satisfy the program’s project, party, and approval requirements, so homeowners should not assume a residential purchase qualifies. Consult CAEATFA’s current program materials before including a tax exclusion in project economics.

The Net Billing Tariff, also called the Solar Billing Plan, governs export compensation for most new rooftop solar customers in PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E territories. Customers receive bill credits for electricity sent to the grid, but the credit value varies by when the power is exported and generally is not the old one-for-one retail-rate net-metering credit. Long Beach customers served by SCE are covered by this tariff.

This tariff is a billing policy, not an installation rebate. A battery may allow a household to store solar generation and use it later instead of exporting it, but the financial result depends on the customer’s usage, rate plan, equipment, and export timing. Existing customers may remain on a legacy tariff subject to its rules; other utility territories may have different arrangements.

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 Quote
07

Long 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’s coastal marine layer can soften morning sunlight, while long summer days and abundant sunshine support solar production. Even cloudy periods don’t rule out solar with a well-designed system.

Solar Production in Long Beach by Month

Daylight Hours
Energy Production (kWh/day)

What Can Your Solar System Power?

Summer Production (July)

[SummerProduction] kWh/day

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)

[WinterProduction] kWh/day

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

[AnnualProduction] kWh/year

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 Estimate
08

Solar Panel Systems in Long Beach

We organized solar installation data from across the United States to create this interactive map of Long Beach. Explore the hexagons to see how many homes have gone solar in each area and discover the neighborhoods and communities where your neighbors have made the switch.

09

How to Choose a Solar Installer in Long Beach

Verify the license

California requires the contractor or contracting business doing solar work to hold an active license from the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) in a classification authorized for the work. Authorized photovoltaic classifications include C-46 Solar and C-10 Electrical, along with certain others, including A and, within its scope, B. Check the company’s license status and classification in the CSLB license lookup, and make sure the business named in your quote and contract is the one you checked. A permit-required project is not eligible for the small-work licensing exemption.

Look for certified installers

Ask who will design and install the system and whether those people hold relevant NABCEP certifications. Certification can indicate that an individual has met a credentialing program’s requirements; it is useful context, not a substitute for checking the contractor’s license or evaluating the proposal. Ask what manufacturer certifications the installer has for the specific panels or inverters being proposed, and what those certifications cover. Compare the answers rather than assuming any credential guarantees workmanship or system performance.

Compare quotes the same way

Request written proposals with the same assumptions and scope. Check that each includes:

  • System size: the proposed capacity in kW, and the price per watt so you can compare similarly scoped systems.
  • Equipment: panel and inverter brands and models.
  • Production estimate: estimated electricity generation in kWh per year, plus the assumptions behind the estimate.
  • Warranties: panel product and performance, inverter, workmanship, and roof penetrations; note who is responsible for each.
  • Project responsibilities: who handles permits, inspections, and utility interconnection approval.
  • Payment: total cost or monthly payment, any escalator, and the terms that affect what you pay over time.

Permits, interconnection and your HOA

The city or county enforcing agency—usually its building department—reviews permits and inspections, including local structural, electrical, and fire-code requirements. The state does not issue the individual local project permit. Utility interconnection approval is separate, and the installer should explain who submits it and which utility process applies. Confirm the utility serving your address; utilities in California include Southern California Edison Co., Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, and Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Rule 21 applies to CPUC-jurisdictional utilities, but processes are not universal. California Civil Code §§ 714 and 714.1 limit HOA restrictions: reasonable restrictions are allowed if they do not significantly increase cost or reduce efficiency, and an association cannot adopt a general policy prohibiting household rooftop solar on an owner’s residence or assigned garage or carport. Review the law and ask the installer how it will work with your association.

Red flags

  • Pressure to sign the same day, before you have time to compare the written terms.
  • An unlicensed contractor or out-of-state crew whose licensed contractor, supervision, and responsibilities are unclear.
  • A vague production estimate with no clear annual kWh figure or assumptions.
  • A large upfront deposit without a clear written explanation of what it covers and when payments are due.
  • Promises that homeowners can claim federal tax credits for purchases in 2026; homeowner credits ended December 31, 2025.
10

Leasing Solar Panels

For Long Beach homes served by Southern California Edison (SCE), Palmetto offers a solar power purchase agreement (PPA); a lease is not listed as available in this utility territory. With a PPA, you pay for the electricity your system produces at an agreed price per kilowatt-hour, so payments can vary with seasonal production.

Compared with paying the full system cost in cash, a PPA can avoid a large upfront purchase. The provider handles covered system maintenance under the agreement, so you don’t have to arrange and pay for routine system care yourself. Review contract terms to understand responsibilities and costs.

Learn more about buying or leasing solar and explore Palmetto LightReach. Across a year, PPA payments may be similar to lease payments, though monthly amounts differ.

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!

Explore LightReach Leasing
11

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Long Beach homes served by Southern California Edison (SCE) receive bill credits for excess solar sent to the grid. New systems generally use California’s Net Billing Tariff, or NEM 3, where export credit values vary hourly and generally do not match retail rates.

Complete SCE interconnection applications submitted by April 14, 2023 may qualify for NEM 2.0 grandfathering. Under NEM 3, remaining credits are trued up annually at avoided-cost rates, roughly 3–5¢ per kWh.

Solar panels may increase a Long Beach home’s value when the system is purchased and owned. A Zillow study found homes with solar panels sold for about 4.1% more on average. This national finding is not a guaranteed premium; value varies by property and market.

That potential increase does not apply to leased or third-party-owned (TPO) systems. A buyer may need to assume the remaining lease or power purchase agreement, which can affect resale differently. Review ownership documents and transfer terms.

In Long Beach, the LightReach lease option has no upfront cost and offers a low fixed monthly payment: the calculator estimates $65/month for a small home, $88 for a medium home, and $119 for a large home.

For a cash purchase, estimates range from $14,860 to $25,233; a typical 6.67 kW system is about $19,288. The federal 30% residential solar tax credit is no longer available for cash purchases following the 2025 federal law change. See the calculator above for details; actual costs depend on your home and energy use.

A solar lease means a provider owns the panels and you pay monthly instead of buying them. For a typical 6.67 kW Long Beach system, LightReach is estimated at $88/month, using 1,440 kWh/kW/year and $0.11/kWh.

There’s no upfront cost; one payment covers panels, installation, monitoring, maintenance and protection, including a 90% production guarantee. It may be less than your electricity bill, enabling day-one savings. For SCE homes, Palmetto lists a PPA, not a lease; payments vary with production.

Solar can make sense in Long Beach because the area gets plenty of sunshine and electricity costs are relatively high. A well-sized system may reduce how much power a home buys from the grid, though savings depend on roof condition, shade, energy use, system cost, and SCE’s export-credit rules.

LightReach, Palmetto’s solar lease program, removes the upfront cost barrier entirely: homeowners can go solar with no money down and start saving from day one. Compare the agreement’s payments and terms with your expected utility-bill savings.

Solar panels are generally low maintenance. Long Beach homeowners may occasionally need to clear debris or address buildup that affects panel output, but routine upkeep is usually minimal.

With LightReach, Palmetto owns the system and handles monitoring, maintenance, and repairs at no extra cost. The agreement also includes a 90% Production Guarantee.

Long Beach homeowners may qualify for SGIP battery-and-solar rebates, DAC-SASH rooftop solar, or SOMAH multifamily incentives. DAC-GT offers eligible customers a 20% rate discount; GoGreen offers repayable solar-plus-battery financing. Qualifying solar may receive a property-tax exclusion through Jan. 1, 2027; sales-tax exclusion requires project approval.

SCE customers receive variable export credits under California’s Solar Billing Plan. The 30% federal residential credit no longer applies to cash purchases after the 2025 law change. Palmetto says LightReach leasing still benefits from the commercial ITC, passing savings through in payments.