Your savings are calculated based on three real numbers: your current utility rate (SDG&E averages over 50 cents per kWh among the highest in the nation), your household energy consumption based on your actual bills, and your solar production estimate based on your roof's orientation and California sun exposure. We pull all three of these together in your assessment and show you a clear savings projection tied to your actual numbers — not a national average or a best-case scenario. We also show you what happens to those savings as utility rates continue to increase, because historically they increase every year. The projection we give you is the conservative one, not the optimistic one.

You can but here's what solar without battery backup actually means in California: when the grid goes down (wildfire shutoff, storm outage, rolling blackout), your solar panels shut off automatically. This is a safety requirement — grid-tied solar cannot export power to a live grid during an outage. So without a battery, you lose power exactly when you need it most, even with panels on your roof. Battery backup stores the energy your panels generate and makes it available to your home 24/7, grid or no grid. It also protects you from time-of-use rate spikes — when SDG&E charges peak rates in the evening, your battery covers your usage instead of the grid. Complete energy independence requires both solar and battery together. One without the other is a partial solution.

System size depends on your home's energy consumption, your roof's available space and orientation, your utility provider's net metering policy, and your goals whether that's eliminating your bill entirely, covering outages only, or somewhere in between. Battery capacity ranges from 5kW for homes focused on backup protection to 222kW for larger properties or complete grid independence. We don't recommend a system size before assessing your actual home and reviewing your actual usage any company that gives you a size recommendation before doing that isn't designing a system for you, they're selling you an inventory item.

Semper Solaris offers multiple financing structures depending on your situation and goals. Options typically include solar loans with $0 down, Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) where you pay a fixed rate per kWh that's lower than your current utility rate, and outright purchase. For most California homeowners, the monthly financing payment on a Solar + Battery system is lower than their current utility bill which means energy independence with no increase in monthly expenses and an asset that builds home equity. Your actual payment depends on your system size, your credit profile, and the structure you choose. We walk through all options in detail during your assessment so you understand exactly what each one means for your finances before you decide anything.

The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) currently allows eligible homeowners to claim a credit equal to 30% of the total cost of their solar + battery system against their federal income tax liability. For a $30,000 system, that's a $9,000 tax credit. This is not a deduction it's a direct credit against taxes owed. Eligibility depends on your federal tax liability for the year of installation, as the credit offsets taxes you owe rather than generating a refund if you owe nothing. California also offers additional incentives including the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) for battery backup systems, which can further reduce your net cost. We walk through every available incentive during your assessment. For specific tax advice based on your individual situation, always consult a licensed tax professional.

From your initial assessment to full system activation, the typical timeline is 4 to 8 weeks. The process includes system design and engineering (1-2 weeks), permit applications and approvals (1-3 weeks depending on your municipality), equipment delivery and installation (1-2 days on-site), city inspection scheduling and completion (1-2 weeks), and utility interconnection approval (1-2 weeks). The majority of that timeline is permit and utility processing not installation time. Semper Solaris manages every step so you're not chasing paperwork or calling the city yourself. We give you a timeline at the start and keep you updated throughout.

The lifetime warranty covers your solar panels' production performance and workmanship for the life of the system. Most premium panels come with a manufacturer's production guarantee ensuring they produce at a minimum percentage of rated capacity (typically 80-90%) for 25+ years. Semper Solaris's workmanship warranty covers the installation itself mounting, wiring, roof penetration sealing, and system performance. Battery backup systems are covered under manufacturer warranty (terms vary by battery brand and model) plus Semper Solaris workmanship coverage. Critically: you have direct access to our team to exercise that warranty. You're not filing a claim through a portal and waiting you call us directly and we resolve it. We've been honoring warranties since 2012 and every customer who's needed support has received it.

When the grid goes down, your battery backup system automatically detects the outage and disconnects from the grid within milliseconds. Your home transitions to battery power seamlessly most homeowners don't notice the switch. Your solar panels continue generating power during daylight hours and charge the battery as your home uses it. At night or during extended overcast periods, your battery runs down at the rate of your home's consumption. Battery size determines how long you can run before needing grid recharge a properly sized system for your home's essential loads can run for 24+ hours on battery alone, longer with daytime solar generation replenishing it. We design your system around your specific outage protection goals so you know exactly what your battery covers before you commit.

Yes completely. Semper Solaris manages every piece of paperwork and every approval required to install and activate your system. This includes: building permit applications with your city or county, structural engineering documentation required by most municipalities, HOA application and approval coordination if applicable, utility interconnection agreement submission to SDG&E, SCE, or PG&E, net energy metering (NEM) enrollment, and final city inspection scheduling and completion. You don't make a single call to a government office or utility company. We handle it and keep you updated at every stage. This is one of the most significant differences between Semper Solaris and lower-cost competitors — the administrative burden of a California solar installation is real, and we carry it entirely so you don't have to.

Most California roofs in good condition are suitable for solar installation without any additional work. During your assessment, we evaluate your roof's age, condition, orientation, and shading to determine suitability. If your roof needs replacement or repair before installation which is worth addressing before putting panels on it Semper Solaris also offers roofing services so you can handle both in a single coordinated project rather than managing two separate contractors. If your roof has significant remaining life and good structural integrity, we install directly. If there are concerns, we tell you honestly and give you a clear picture of what makes sense before any decision is made.

Three things, specifically.

First, we combine solar and battery backup as a complete system — not as solar with an optional add-on. Complete energy independence is the mission, and we design every system around achieving it.

Second, we're veteran-owned and operated with 13 years of California installations behind us. We were here before the solar boom and we'll be here long after the companies that appeared to chase incentives have moved on. Our accountability to every homeowner we've served is the foundation of everything we do.

Third, you have direct access to our team before, during, and after your installation not a call center, not a ticket system, not a commissioned rep who has moved on to the next prospect. The people who installed your system are the people accountable for it for the life of the warranty. That combination complete system, established company, real accountability is what 1,000+ California families chose, and it's the difference you'll feel throughout the entire process.