Financing Solar + Storage Under Net Billing in Dublin

Thinking about adding solar and a battery in Dublin but unsure how California’s new Net Billing rules affect your cash flow and financing? You’re not alone. With PG&E billing and East Bay Community Energy generation in the mix, it can feel complex. In this guide, you’ll learn how Net Billing changes savings, why storage often improves the numbers, and what lenders and appraisers want to see so you can plan with confidence. Let’s dive in.

Net Billing in Dublin: What changed

California replaced traditional net metering with a successor framework often called Net Billing. The headline for you: you pay for the electricity you use at retail rates, and you receive separate credits for energy you export to the grid at values that vary by time and are usually lower than retail. For program background, start with the California Public Utilities Commission’s main site at the CPUC.

In Dublin, PG&E handles wires, interconnection, and billing, and your generation may come from PG&E or East Bay Community Energy. Export credits and implementation details are applied through PG&E’s system, so you’ll want to confirm current terms directly with PG&E’s solar and interconnection resources and check whether your account is on EBCE generation service.

How this shifts cash flow

Export credits are usually lower than what you pay for electricity, especially midday when solar output is high.
Self-consuming your solar energy is more valuable than exporting it at low-value hours.
Solar-only systems sized to your daytime loads often pencil better than oversized arrays that export a lot.
Batteries can store midday solar and discharge when retail prices and export credits are higher, which can improve savings.

Why batteries change the math

Batteries help you time-shift energy from low-value export periods to higher-value use or export hours. That can increase your bill savings under Net Billing. They also provide backup power during outages, which many buyers value.

Time-shifting: Use daytime solar at dinner time when rates are often higher.
Export shaping: Reduce low-value noon exports and shift to late afternoon or evening when credits may be better.
Resilience: Backup capability can be a real differentiator in buyer demand and comfort.
Cost and warranties: Batteries add upfront cost and have cycle-life limits, so it’s important to compare the incremental savings with the incremental investment.

For technical insights on how solar and storage create value, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory offers useful research and modeling approaches.

Incentives and tax credits

Federal Investment Tax Credit: Many solar and solar-paired storage projects may qualify. Review the IRS page and confirm with your tax advisor using the IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit.
State and utility programs: California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program offers potential battery rebates. Program details can change, so check current guidance through the CPUC and your installer.

Appraisals and resale in Dublin

Owned solar and storage can support value if you document the system clearly. Appraisers look for verifiable ownership, production or modeled performance, and bill savings history. Because comparable sales with both solar and batteries are still emerging in many neighborhoods, appraisers may adjust from solar-only comps or use an income-based approach to reflect bill savings. The Appraisal Institute offers resources on valuing energy improvements.

Documentation that helps:

System size (kW), battery usable capacity (kWh), serial numbers, and warranty documents.
Interconnection agreement and any export compensation schedule.
Inverter portal production and export history.
Recent PG&E bills showing realized impacts under your time-of-use schedule.
Incentive paperwork (such as SGIP), contractor invoices, and scope of work.

For property records and assessor contacts, refer to Alameda County resources.

Financing options in the East Bay

You have several pathways to finance solar and storage. The right choice depends on your goals, timing, and how you plan to position the home for resale.

Cash purchase: Cleanest for resale and appraisal. Simple ownership proof.
Secured or unsecured solar loans: Monthly payment vs. monthly bill savings matters for household cash flow.
HELOC or home equity loan: Treated as a home improvement; often flexible and well-understood by lenders.
PACE financing: Attaches to property taxes and may allow no upfront cost, but it can add complexity during a sale. Review local programs like Ygrene and HERO, and confirm your mortgage lender’s policies.
Third-party ownership or PPA/lease: Reduces upfront cost but complicates a future sale because the contract must be transferred or bought out.

How lenders underwrite solar and storage

Ownership proof: Lenders prefer owned systems. Leases and PPAs can be viewed as encumbrances.
Production evidence: Actual inverter logs are best for existing systems; modeled production works for new installs.
Incentive assignment: Clarify who claims the tax credit or rebate.
System value treatment: Some lenders consider added property value for owned systems, while others focus mainly on your credit profile and cash flow.

Documents to have ready

Contractor invoice and scope of work.
Manufacturer, model, and warranty information for panels, inverters, and battery.
PG&E interconnection agreement and billing rate schedule.
12 to 24 months of PG&E bills and inverter production or export reports.
Proof of SGIP reservation or payment, and your intended handling of the federal tax credit.

Seller checklist for Dublin homes

If you’re preparing to list a home with solar and a battery, a clean file can increase buyer confidence and support appraisal.

Confirm the system is owned, not leased, and locate the title or purchase documents.
Gather a complete dossier: invoices, permits, HOA approvals if applicable, interconnection agreement, warranty certificates, maintenance records, and contractor contacts.
Provide inverter portal access or export production reports.
Pull 12 to 24 months of PG&E bills to show actual bill impacts by time of use.
Ask your contractor for a one-page “annualized production and savings” summary under current Net Billing assumptions, plus a version that shows the storage impact.
Share the dossier early with the appraiser and the buyer’s lender to streamline underwriting.

Buyer checklist for evaluating a solar home

When you’re considering a Dublin home with solar or solar plus storage, clarity on ownership and performance is key.

Confirm whether the system is owned, financed, or leased. If leased, review transfer or buyout options.
Request inverter portal access and recent PG&E bills to see real consumption, production, and export history.
Ask the installer to model bill savings using the home’s actual rate schedule and Net Billing export assumptions.
Check with your lender on how they treat solar and storage in qualification and valuation.

Working with contractors and lenders

Ask your contractor to provide an account-specific cash flow model that clearly states assumptions for time-of-use periods and export credit values under Net Billing. Request the documentation lenders and appraisers typically need, and coordinate on incentive timing.

For interconnection and billing rules, review PG&E’s guidance. For policy context and program updates, use the CPUC. If your account is on EBCE generation, review EBCE’s offerings and confirm whether any CCA-specific rules affect your export compensation.

Appraisal and negotiation tips

Package the system file and present it upfront. The more verifiable data you provide, the easier it is to justify value.
Focus on ownership and performance. Owned, warrantied systems with documented savings resonate with buyers.
Highlight resilience thoughtfully. If your battery provides backup, note the capability and any buyer interest observed, while staying neutral and factual.

What to verify for your property

Before you finalize financing or pricing assumptions, verify these items for your specific address:

Your PG&E rate schedule and time-of-use periods.
Whether your generation service is with EBCE and if any CCA terms affect export crediting.
The export compensation methodology used for your account and season.
Your interconnection agreement status and any relevant meter data.
Historic production and export logs from your inverter portal.

Key resources to share

Program rules and decisions: California Public Utilities Commission
Billing and interconnection details: PG&E solar resources
Local generation service: East Bay Community Energy
Federal tax credit guidance: IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit
Technical and modeling research: NREL
Appraisal education: Appraisal Institute
County property resources: Alameda County
Local PACE providers: Ygrene, HERO

Final thoughts

Under Net Billing, solar still makes sense in Dublin, especially when you prioritize self-consumption and consider storage to shift energy to higher-value hours. The key is to model your household’s actual usage and rates, document the system thoroughly, and choose financing that supports both your monthly cash flow and your future resale plans. If you’d like a tailored conversation about preparing your home for market or evaluating a solar-equipped property, schedule a complimentary white-glove consultation with the Unknown Company team.

FAQs

Does Net Billing reduce solar savings in Dublin?

Net Billing reduces the value of uncontrolled midday exports but increases the value of self-consuming your solar or time-shifting with a battery, so savings depend on usage and system design.

Do batteries usually pay for themselves under California’s Net Billing?

It depends on your load profile, battery size, rate schedule, export timing, and costs; storage can improve savings by shifting energy to higher-value hours and by providing backup power.

How should I document solar and storage for appraisal in the East Bay?

Provide ownership proof, inverter production and export logs, recent PG&E bills, interconnection agreements, warranties, and any incentive paperwork to help appraisers quantify value.

What financing options work well for solar plus storage in Dublin?

Common options include cash, solar loans, HELOCs, and PACE; third-party leases and PPAs can complicate resale, so review transfer terms early.

Which official sources should I share with my contractor and lender?

Start with the CPUC for policy, PG&E for interconnection and billing, EBCE for generation service, the IRS for tax credit guidance, and NREL for technical research.