San Jose, California
Solar & battery installation, built for San Jose bills.
Most San Jose homes buy their power through San Jose Clean Energy and PG&E — a billing setup a national installer rarely accounts for. We design every system around it, so more of your rooftop sun offsets the bill you actually get.
San Jose at a glance
Local solar, done right
Why San Jose homeowners choose Starlight Energy
We’re based right here in San Jose, and solar makes more sense in this city than almost anywhere. San Jose sees sun most of the year, electricity rates rank among the highest in the country, and the local grid rewards homeowners who can store their own power and lean on it through the expensive evening hours.
But San Jose has a wrinkle most installers gloss over: your electricity doesn’t come from PG&E alone. Since 2019, San Jose Clean Energy has been the default electricity generation provider for most of the city, while PG&E still delivers the power and handles the poles and wires. That split affects how your solar credits are calculated — and getting it right is the difference between a system that looks good on paper and one that actually lowers your bill.
We size every system to your real usage, design around self-consumption and storage rather than exporting cheap power, and give you a written proposal with the numbers laid out line by line. No pressure, no inflated savings promises.
The San Jose Clean Energy detail
What SJCE means for your solar credits
As a San Jose Clean Energy customer, you’re on SJCE’s Solar Billing Plan, which follows California’s Net Billing Tariff. The power you use inside your home still offsets your bill at full retail value — that part hasn’t changed. What changed is the credit for surplus power you send back to the grid.
Here’s the local upside worth knowing: as of April 1, 2026, SJCE pays about $0.03575 per kWh for your net surplus solar — a rate it reports is 25% higher than PG&E’s. It’s still far below retail, which is exactly why a battery matters, but for the same rooftop, San Jose Clean Energy customers get paid a bit more for what they do export.
The practical takeaway is the same one that holds across NEM 3.0: design for self-use, add storage, and stop treating the grid as a savings account. That’s how we build every San Jose system.
SJCE export rate cited as of April 1, 2026 and subject to change — confirm current rates for your account. Figures here are general, not a quote. If you enrolled in solar before April 14, 2023, you’re likely grandfathered on your original NEM tariff for 20 years.
Where we work
Serving every San Jose neighborhood
From the foothills to the flats, if it’s in San Jose, we install there.
Common questions
San Jose solar, answered
Is solar still worth it in San Jose in 2026?
For most homeowners, yes — but the reason has shifted. With high San Jose electricity rates and strong year-round sun, a well-designed solar-plus-battery system still pays off over its lifetime. The federal residential tax credit ended for purchased systems at the end of 2025, so the case now rests on bill savings and energy independence rather than a tax break.
Do I need a battery to go solar in San Jose?
You don’t strictly need one, but under the Net Billing Tariff a battery is what makes the math work. Because exported power earns only a few cents per kWh, storing your midday production and using it during expensive evening hours captures far more value than selling it back.
How does San Jose Clean Energy affect my solar?
Most San Jose homes get generation from San Jose Clean Energy and delivery from PG&E. You’re on SJCE’s Solar Billing Plan under the Net Billing Tariff. Self-used solar still offsets your bill at retail value, and as of April 2026 SJCE pays roughly $0.03575 per kWh for net surplus exports — a rate it states is 25% higher than PG&E’s. We design your system with your specific provider in mind.
How much does solar cost in San Jose?
California residential solar generally runs in the range of roughly $2.40–$3.15 per watt installed in 2026 before any incentives, so a typical home system lands somewhere in the mid-tens of thousands, with a battery adding on top. The only accurate number is an itemized proposal for your roof, usage, and equipment — which is what our free assessment provides.
Are you a licensed San Jose solar installer?
Yes. Starlight Energy is a licensed and insured California contractor, CSLB #1132072, based in San Jose. You can verify any California contractor’s license and status on the CSLB website before hiring.
Get a free San Jose solar assessment.
An honest look at your roof, your usage, and your provider — with a written estimate and real 2026 pricing. No pressure to sign.