Solar and battery installer
in Folsom, CA.
Most of Folsom is on SMUD, which means the battery rebate of up to $10,000 applies to most Folsom homeowners. Some areas near the eastern edge and along Highway 50 are on PG&E. We confirm your utility before any design work, because it changes everything about how the math looks.
- SMUD rebate up to $10,000
- We confirm your utility first
- HOA communities welcome
- CSLB licensed. No pressure.
Is your Folsom address
on SMUD or PG&E?
Folsom sits on the boundary between SMUD and PG&E service territories. The City of Folsom is primarily served by SMUD, including most of the established neighborhoods from Empire Ranch and Broadstone through Willow Creek and Natoma Station. Newer eastern developments in Folsom Ranch and areas near the El Dorado County line are more likely to be on PG&E.
This is not a minor distinction. SMUD and PG&E customers face completely different solar economics. SMUD customers qualify for the battery rebate up to $10,000 and are not subject to NEM 3.0. PG&E customers are on NEM 3.0, which cut export credits by 75% in 2023, and have no SMUD rebate eligibility.
The fastest way to confirm: look at the top of your electricity bill. It will say SMUD or PG&E. We ask you this before we design anything, because the system sizing, the battery selection, and the financial projections all depend on it.
If you're on SMUD
Battery rebate up to $10,000. Not on NEM 3.0. Solar and Storage Rate. We design for the rebate stack.
SMUD rebate detailsIf you're on PG&E
No SMUD rebate. NEM 3.0 applies. A battery is essential. We design for the rate arbitrage picture.
NEM 3.0 explainedEmpire Ranch, Broadstone, Russell Ranch.
HOAs can't say no to solar.
Many of Folsom's most desirable neighborhoods are HOA communities. Empire Ranch, Broadstone, Willow Creek, Russell Ranch, and others all have architectural review processes. Many homeowners in these communities assume the HOA can block solar. Under California Civil Code §714, they cannot.
An HOA can require solar panels to be placed so they are not visible from the street. It can specify that panels match the roof color or line up with roof edges. It can require an architectural review submission before installation. What it cannot do is reject the installation outright, impose requirements that increase system cost by more than a specified percentage, or unreasonably delay approval.
We work in HOA communities in Folsom regularly. We know what the architectural review submissions typically require, how to document the installation plan for approval, and what timeline to expect. It adds a step. It does not block the project.
What Folsom HOAs can and cannot do
Source: California Civil Code §714 and §714.1. Consult an attorney for questions specific to your HOA situation.
Folsom neighborhoods
we work in regularly.
Folsom has grown significantly over the past decade. We install across older and newer Folsom, from the original neighborhoods near the Historic District to the newer Folsom Ranch developments south of Highway 50:
In an area not listed? Call 916-461-9961. We cover all of Folsom.
Primary utility in Folsom
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
Most of Folsom is SMUD. Some eastern areas near the El Dorado County border and along Highway 50 in Folsom Ranch may be PG&E. Check your electricity bill to confirm. We ask before we design.
smud.orgWhat's available for
most Folsom SMUD customers.
SMUD Rebate
Up to $10,000 for qualifying Folsom SMUD customers. We file the paperwork within the 90-day PTO window.
Full details →Powerwall vs Enphase
Both qualify for the SMUD rebate. Powerwall 3 earns $110/quarter in the SMUD VPP. Enphase pairs with existing Enphase solar.
Compare →Battery Backup Power
What stays on during an outage. How long a Powerwall lasts. How to size it for your Folsom home.
Learn more →Property Tax Exclusion
California §73 keeps solar off your Sacramento County property tax assessment through Jan 1, 2027.
See the details →We install across NorCal.
What Folsom homeowners
ask us most.
Is Folsom on SMUD or PG&E?
Most of Folsom is served by SMUD. Some areas of Folsom, particularly in newer developments in Folsom Ranch and along Highway 50 near the El Dorado County border, may be served by PG&E. The fastest way to check: look at the top of your electricity bill. It will clearly state SMUD or PG&E. We confirm this before any design work because SMUD and PG&E customers have very different solar economics and incentive structures.
Do HOAs in Folsom allow solar?
California Civil Code §714 prohibits HOAs from unreasonably restricting solar installations. Folsom HOA communities including Empire Ranch, Broadstone, and Russell Ranch can require architectural review and specify panel placement for visibility, but cannot ban solar outright or impose requirements that significantly reduce system performance or add more than a specified amount to the cost. We work in HOA communities in Folsom regularly and know what the submission process typically involves.
Does the SMUD battery rebate apply in Folsom?
Yes, for Folsom homeowners who are SMUD customers. The SMUD My Energy Optimizer Partner+ program pays up to $10,000 per household for a qualifying home battery. We file the enrollment paperwork within the 90-day window from Permission to Operate. If your address is in the PG&E pocket area of Folsom, the SMUD rebate does not apply. We confirm utility first, then design accordingly. Full details at SMUD Rebate.
Find out what the math looks like
for your Folsom home.
We confirm your utility, design your system from your actual bill, and show you the SMUD rebate math if it applies. Free consult. No same day pressure. HOA communities welcome.