"Daniel is very good at his job. Makes you feel as a valued customer. He was very helpful through our nearly 3 month solar panel install project. He was proactive throughout the project always letting us know what to expect in the next step and was quick to respond to our questions. The SunSolar Solutions crew that we dealt with from the installers, their inspector, and Angel, the last tech who came through to finish up the project were all very polite, informative, and professional. Would recommend them when considering solar panels."
⭐ 174 Five-Star Reviews · Serving Riverside, CA
Solar Panels Riverside, CA — Slash Your SCE Bill
Riverside summers are brutal — and SCE's $0.28–$0.32/kWh rates make every air conditioning hour expensive. Solar-plus-battery lets you run your home on sunshine and stored energy.
$0.28–$0.32
SCE Rate per kWh in Riverside
$0
Down to Get Started
7–9 yrs
Average Payback Period
Riverside's Solar Expert — Independent, Trusted, 174 Five-Star Reviews
Daniel Hadobas · Licensed Solar Agent · SCE Rate Specialist
Riverside is one of Southern California's hottest markets for solar — literally and figuratively. Located inland from the coast, Riverside County sees extreme summer temperatures that regularly push above 100°F, sending air conditioning costs through the roof. SCE customers in the Riverside area currently pay $0.28 to $0.32 per kilowatt-hour, with average monthly electricity bills running $180 to $220 during summer months — and higher for larger homes. That high usage combined with strong sun exposure (Riverside averages more peak sun hours than coastal LA) makes solar a particularly smart investment, with most homeowners seeing payback in 7 to 9 years.
Under California's NEM 3.0 framework, Riverside solar customers benefit most from systems designed for maximum self-consumption — and the hot climate actually helps with that. Riverside homes tend to use more daytime electricity for cooling, which means more of your solar production gets consumed directly rather than exported at the low NEM 3.0 export rates. A well-designed 8–10 kW system can cover most of a Riverside home's annual consumption, and adding a battery ensures your stored solar covers evening peak hours when SCE's time-of-use rates are highest. The 30% federal ITC and California SGIP rebate both apply, making this an excellent time to lock in your energy costs and insulate yourself from future SCE rate increases.
Solar Incentives — Riverside, CA
Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
Riverside homeowners qualify for the 30% federal ITC on their entire solar and battery system. On a typical Riverside installation of $22,000–$30,000, that's $6,600–$9,000 back in federal taxes. Available through 2032 — no income cap for most homeowners.
California SGIP Battery Rebate
Riverside is in SCE territory, which participates in the SGIP battery rebate program. Standard rebates run $200–$400/kWh. Riverside County has several Tier 2 high-fire-risk areas that qualify for the equity budget at $850–$1,000/kWh. Check with Daniel for your specific zone eligibility.
California Property Tax Exclusion
California's active solar energy system exclusion means your solar installation doesn't trigger a Prop 13 reassessment. Your home's market value increases, but the solar system value is excluded from property tax assessment — your tax bill stays the same.
NEM 3.0 Net Metering (SCE)
SCE is under California's NEM 3.0. Excess solar exports earn Avoided Cost Calculator credits at $0.06–$0.08/kWh. Because Riverside's high daytime temperatures drive high daytime consumption, Riverside homeowners naturally self-consume more solar than coastal areas — making NEM 3.0 less of a penalty here than in milder climates.
5.0
174 Verified Google Reviews
"What a great experience with Daniel at Sunder Energy. We were actually going to go with another solar company, but when Daniel showed up, he pitched us his services. He walked us through the different products and which solar company would be installing our equipment. Daniel was with us every step of the way. Even when we had some issues with the installation of the equipment, Daniel made the calls to have the technicians come back and fix everything. Even when he was out of country, Daniel always returned our calls and text messages in a timely manner. Truly responsive! A few days after the installation, he even stopped by and had us load solar apps on our devices and walked us through what to expect. Although we were nervous in the beginning, Daniel made the whole experience worthwhile. Totally awesome customer service! If you're looking into solar, look no further. Give Daniel a call — you won't regret it!"
"This review is long overdue but I am glad we are finally getting to rave about how amazing our experience with Daniel and Sunsolar has been. I was EXTREMELY skeptical about the whole solar idea since my husband and I had such a horrible interaction with another solar company. A few weeks later Daniel knocked on our door. He politely asked if he could return the next day with a more in-depth proposal and if we were still not interested, he would 'kick rocks'. The following day he showed up on time, fully explained every detail, and even I, the self-proclaimed queen of skepticism, couldn't turn down the offer. A HUGE plus is that he didn't try to over-sell us more equipment than we needed. From start to finish the project took less than a month — not at all what we expected. From our interactions with Daniel down to every employee we spoke with, we were 100% impressed. We are now extremely happy solar owners and would highly recommend them to anyone on the fence about solar."
"Daniel at Sunsolar Solutions is great. He is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. He made sure I understood everything from start to finish. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to go solar."
"Daniel was a pleasure to work with from the very first day he came to our house. He thoroughly explained the complete process step by step. He was always available when we had questions."
"We highly recommend Sunsolar Solutions, especially our rep, Daniel Hadobas, who made the whole experience super easy and smooth. Our system is performing great and our bills are down dramatically."
Solar FAQs — Riverside, CA
How much does solar cost in Riverside, CA?
Riverside solar installations run $2.90–$3.30 per watt before incentives. A typical 8 kW system costs $23,200–$26,400 before the 30% federal ITC, and $16,240–$18,480 after. Larger systems are common in Riverside due to higher air conditioning loads. Adding a battery adds $8,000–$12,000 before SGIP rebates. $0 down financing available.
Is solar worth it in Riverside with SCE rates?
Yes. Riverside's combination of high SCE rates ($0.28–$0.32/kWh), extreme summer heat, and strong sun exposure makes it one of the better inland solar markets in California. Most homeowners save $150–$280 per month, with payback typically in 7–9 years. Homes with large AC loads, pools, or EVs often save even more.
How does SCE net metering work under NEM 3.0?
SCE participates in California's NEM 3.0 framework. Excess solar production exported to the grid earns Avoided Cost Calculator credits — currently $0.06–$0.08/kWh. Those credits offset future SCE charges. For Riverside homeowners, high daytime AC usage means more self-consumption and less export, which actually makes NEM 3.0 less impactful here than in cooler coastal markets.
Does Riverside get enough sun for solar?
Yes — Riverside gets more peak sun hours than coastal Los Angeles, typically averaging 5.5–6.0 peak sun hours per day versus 5.0–5.5 for the LA coast. The inland heat that drives up your electricity bill also drives up your solar production. Riverside is consistently ranked among the better solar climates in Southern California.
What solar incentives are available in Riverside in 2025?
Riverside homeowners qualify for: (1) the 30% federal ITC on solar and battery systems, (2) California SGIP battery rebates through SCE ($200–$1,000/kWh depending on eligibility), (3) California's property tax exclusion for solar, and (4) NEM 3.0 net metering credits through SCE. Some Riverside County areas also qualify for additional low-income program incentives.
Should I get battery storage with solar in Riverside?
For Riverside homeowners, battery storage is highly recommended under NEM 3.0. Riverside's hot evenings mean high energy consumption after sunset — exactly when stored solar makes the most financial sense. A battery lets you avoid expensive SCE peak-rate electricity from 4 PM onward. The federal ITC and SGIP rebates both reduce battery cost, and SCE's time-of-use rate structure rewards stored-energy use.
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