San Francisco, California
Solar & battery for San Francisco roofs.
SF is its own solar puzzle — CleanPowerSF billing, fog that varies block to block, and older roofs that need a careful eye. We design for the city you actually live in, not a generic sunny suburb.
San Francisco at a glance
Local solar, done right
Why San Francisco homeowners choose Starlight Energy
San Francisco solar rewards a local touch more than almost anywhere in the Bay. The city’s famous microclimates mean a roof in sunny Bernal Heights or the Mission produces differently than one in the foggy Sunset or Richmond — and a good design accounts for that instead of assuming a flat, sunny average.
SF homes bring their own quirks too: older roofs, shared walls, hills and neighbor shading, and stricter city permitting. We handle all of it, and we size systems to your real usage and your actual electricity provider — which, for most of the city, is CleanPowerSF, not PG&E generation.
The result is a system built for your block, your roof, and your bill — with an honest written proposal and no pressure to sign.
The CleanPowerSF detail
What CleanPowerSF means for your solar credits
Most San Francisco homes get their electricity generation from CleanPowerSF, the city’s Community Choice program run by the SF Public Utilities Commission, while PG&E delivers the power over its poles and wires. When you go solar, you apply through PG&E and are then served under CleanPowerSF’s solar billing.
Here’s the local upside: for its net-metering solar customers, CleanPowerSF credits net surplus generation at about $0.0893 per kWh — more than PG&E pays, and it has proposed an extra $0.01/kWh local energy credit for Solar Billing Plan customers to reflect the value of power generated right here in the city.
It’s still well below what you pay for grid power, which is exactly why storage matters. But it means SF’s own provider treats your exported sunshine a little more generously — one more reason a well-designed local system pays off.
CleanPowerSF rates cited from the provider as of 2026 and subject to change; some credits noted are proposals pending approval. Confirm current rates for your account. Figures here are general, not a quote. Systems interconnected before April 14, 2023 are generally grandfathered on their prior NEM tariff for 20 years.
Where we work
Serving every San Francisco neighborhood
Sun belt or fog belt, we design for your block.
Common questions
San Francisco solar, answered
Does solar work in foggy San Francisco?
Yes — panels run on daylight, not just direct sun, so they still produce on overcast days, just less than in full sun. What matters is designing for your specific microclimate: a fog-belt roof in the Sunset needs a slightly different plan than a sunny one in Bernal Heights. We size around your block’s real conditions, not a citywide average.
How does CleanPowerSF affect my solar?
Most SF homes get generation from CleanPowerSF and delivery from PG&E. You apply for solar through PG&E and are billed under CleanPowerSF’s solar plan. Notably, CleanPowerSF credits net surplus generation at about $0.0893 per kWh — more than PG&E — and has proposed an added local credit for power generated in the city.
Do I need a battery to go solar in San Francisco?
Not strictly, but under the Net Billing Tariff a battery is what makes the economics work. Because exported power earns only a few cents per kWh, storing your production and using it during expensive evening hours captures far more value than selling it back to the grid.
Can you handle SF’s older roofs and permitting?
Yes. Older roofs, shared walls, and the city’s permitting are routine parts of SF installs. If your roof needs work first, we’ll flag it up front so you’re not installing panels twice, and we manage the permitting and interconnection process for you.
Are you a licensed San Francisco solar installer?
Yes. Starlight Energy is a licensed and insured California contractor, CSLB #1132072, serving San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. You can verify any California contractor’s license and status on the CSLB website before hiring.
Get a free San Francisco solar assessment.
An honest look at your roof, your microclimate, and your provider — with a written estimate and real 2026 pricing. No pressure to sign.