Yuba City, CA Solar Panels
Solar Power in Yuba City
Yuba City homeowners are increasingly turning to solar energy—and for good reason. With California electricity prices increasing 56% from 2020 to 2024, switching to solar panels for your home makes more sense than ever.
This guide covers everything you need to know about solar installation in Yuba City, from costs and incentives to choosing the right system for your home.
CALIFORNIA by the Numbers
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Yuba City, CA?
Our calculator uses real installation data from Yuba City homes—including neighborhoods like Plumas Lake, Linda, and Olivehurst—to show you accurate solar costs. See what local homeowners actually paid, based on system size, equipment, and installation details specific to your area.
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Cost
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You can still access the solar tax credit through Palmetto. Talk to us today to find out how.
Key Takeaways
- Yuba City averages 5.6 peak sun hours daily making it an excellent location for solar energy production year-round.
- California electricity rates increased 40% from 2021 to 2024 while solar provides stable, predictable energy costs for 25+ years.
- A typical Yuba City solar system pays for itself in 6-7 years then generates free electricity for decades afterward.
Yuba City Electricity Prices
Understanding your electricity costs is the first step toward making informed energy decisions for your Yuba City home.
California electricity rates have climbed steadily, rising from 22.8 cents per kWh in 2021 to 31.9 cents in 2024—a 40% increase in just three years that significantly impacts household budgets.
Solar panels allow homeowners to generate their own electricity, reducing dependence on the grid and protecting against future rate increases. This predictability helps families budget more effectively for their energy needs.
Over a solar system’s 25-year lifespan, Yuba City homeowners can save substantially by locking in lower energy costs today while utility rates continue their upward trend.
Price of Energy: California vs National Average
Yuba City Area Utility Providers
Yuba City residents are served by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), where 2023 electricity rates averaged 34.0¢ per kWh—significantly above the national average of 16.0¢ per kWh.
California’s electricity costs remain elevated due to infrastructure investments, wildfire prevention programs, and the state’s transition to renewable energy sources. PG&E’s rates also reflect transmission costs across its large service territory.
With rates substantially higher than the national average, Yuba City homeowners face increasing electricity expenses. Solar panels allow you to generate your own power, helping stabilize long-term energy costs despite utility rate fluctuations.
Yuba City Utilities Electricity Rates
California Solar Incentives
Yuba City homeowners have access to several state and local programs designed to reduce the upfront cost of solar installation, making clean energy more accessible and affordable.
California offers a range of solar incentives in California including property tax exemptions, specialized programs for disadvantaged communities, and equity-focused rebates. These programs can significantly lower your initial investment while helping you take control of rising electricity costs.
Review the incentives below carefully, as program availability and requirements change over time. Acting promptly ensures you don’t miss opportunities that could make solar more attainable for your 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’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 varies based on your home’s location and the size of your solar system, but it can result in significant savings over time. For example, if your solar installation 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. This exemption applies to solar systems installed on both new and existing homes in California. The exemption remains in effect through the life of your solar system, providing ongoing savings year after year. There are no income requirements or application fees to qualify—the exemption automatically applies to eligible solar installations, making it a straightforward benefit for all California homeowners who choose to go solar.
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 low-income 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
• Live 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 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 under Assembly Bill 209, providing $630 million in funding to help low-income California homeowners afford energy storage systems. This program operates through 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 kilowatt-hour) 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 kilowatt-hour battery system could qualify for rebates ranging from $1,500 to $10,000, significantly reducing your upfront costs. Customers in CARE programs also receive approximately 35% off their electric bills, while FERA participants receive about 18% off, providing additional ongoing savings beyond the battery rebate.
Net Billing in California is a program that credits you for the excess solar energy your system sends back to the electric grid. Unlike older net metering programs that credited exports at retail rates, Net Billing (often called “NEM 3”) credits your excess solar energy at rates that vary by hour and reflect the actual value to the grid at that time. The credit you receive depends on when your solar system exports energy—typically, exports during peak demand hours (like late afternoon and evening) receive higher credits than exports during midday when solar production is abundant across the grid.
The financial benefit varies significantly by utility and time of day. For the three major investor-owned utilities (PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E), Net Billing began April 15, 2023, with hourly export rates determined by each utility’s Avoided Cost Calculator. Any excess credits remaining 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 currently pays $0.0698 per kWh settled monthly. LADWP operates differently as a municipal utility and still offers traditional 1:1 net metering where credits roll over indefinitely as dollar credits.
If you submitted a complete interconnection application by April 14, 2023 with PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E, you may be grandfathered under the previous NEM 2.0 program with more favorable rates. However, you cannot increase your system size at all, or decrease it by more than 20%, without losing this grandfathering and moving to Net Billing. Because Net Billing credits are lower than previous programs, pairing your solar system with battery storage can significantly improve your savings by allowing you to store excess daytime solar energy and use it during higher-rate evening hours rather than exporting it to the grid.
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 QuoteYuba City 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.
Yuba City enjoys abundant sunshine year-round, with hot, dry summers maximizing solar production. Even cooler, cloudier winter months generate substantial energy, making solar highly effective here.
Solar Production in Yuba City 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 Yuba City
We’ve mapped every solar installation across the United States to help you explore solar adoption in your area. Use this interactive map to discover which Yuba City neighborhoods have already made the switch to clean energy!
Leasing Solar Panels
Yuba City homeowners served by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) have access to Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) through Palmetto. With a PPA, you pay only for the solar energy your system produces at a set rate per kilowatt-hour, typically lower than PG&E’s current rates. This means no large upfront investment, no maintenance responsibilities, and immediate electricity savings from day one.
Unlike purchasing a system outright, a PPA requires no cash down and eliminates concerns about equipment maintenance or repairs—Palmetto handles everything. Your monthly solar costs fluctuate with seasonal production, but annual savings remain consistent. This approach makes solar accessible without the financial burden of ownership while still protecting you from PG&E’s rising electricity rates.
Learn more about whether buying or leasing solar is right for you, or explore Palmetto’s LightReach program to discover flexible solar options designed for California homeowners.
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 Yuba City. With 5.6 peak sun hours daily and California electricity rates at 31.9¢/kWh—nearly double the national average—solar provides substantial savings. A typical system pays for itself in 6-7 years, then generates free electricity for decades.
Yuba City’s abundant sunshine, combined with rising utility costs and available state incentives like property tax exemptions, creates ideal conditions for solar investment. Most homeowners see immediate monthly savings while protecting themselves from future rate increases.
Yuba City residents served by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) operate under California’s Net Billing program (NEM 3.0), which replaced traditional net metering in April 2023. Rather than receiving full retail credit for excess solar energy, you earn hourly export credits based on the grid’s avoided costs at that specific time.
Export rates vary throughout the day—typically higher during evening peak hours and lower during midday when solar production is abundant. Excess credits accumulate and are paid out annually at approximately 3-5 cents per kWh. Pairing solar with battery storage helps maximize savings by storing daytime energy for use during higher-rate evening hours.
Yes, solar panels increase home value in Yuba City. Research from Zillow shows solar panels increase home values by an average of 4.1% across the United States. For a typical Yuba City home valued at $400,000, that translates to approximately $16,400 in added value.
California’s property tax exemption for solar installations means you gain this home value increase without higher property taxes. Homes with solar also tend to sell faster, as buyers recognize the value of lower electricity costs and protection from rising utility rates.
Solar installation costs in Yuba City 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 complete installations including equipment, labor, and permits. With California’s property tax exemption, you avoid additional taxes on your home’s increased value. Most Yuba City systems pay for themselves in 6-7 years through electricity savings.
Yes, solar is financially worth it in Yuba City. With California electricity rates at 31.9¢/kWh—nearly double the national average—and 5.6 peak sun hours daily, a typical system pays for itself in 6-7 years through electricity savings.
Over 25 years, homeowners save approximately $97,000 while protecting against future rate increases. California’s property tax exemption adds further value by preventing higher taxes on your home’s increased worth from solar installation.
We’re Palmetto Solar, a national solar company with deep local expertise. Since 2020, we’ve completed over 7,123 installations across California, helping homeowners like you switch to clean energy.
We offer flexible financing options and work with trusted local installation partners to ensure quality service. Our team guides you through every step—from design to activation—making solar simple and accessible for Yuba City residents.