The cost depends on the proposed system capacity, equipment selection, roof conditions, electrical infrastructure, and installation requirements. Adding battery storage or requiring electrical panel modifications can also affect the price.

When comparing proposals, review the equipment specifications, installation scope, permitting responsibilities, project pricing, warranties, and payment terms. Nabu Energy provides project-specific pricing based on the property’s requirements.

Residential solar installations in Lafayette must meet applicable building and electrical requirements. The Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department handles relevant building plan checks and inspections, while additional planning or agency review may apply depending on the property and project.

Qualifying residential rooftop solar PV and solar-plus-storage projects may be eligible for the County’s SolarAPP+ permitting pathway. Projects that do not meet its eligibility requirements may need to follow the standard permitting process.

Official resource: Contra Costa County – Solar Permits Through SolarAPP+

Lafayette is included among the jurisdictions eligible for the County’s SolarAPP+ pathway. However, eligibility depends on the property, installation type, and proposed system configuration.

The County’s requirements include restrictions involving certain structures, ballasted systems, specified FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas, airport safety zones, and registered historic properties. Additional project-specific conditions may apply. A property should not be assumed eligible simply because it is located in Lafayette, so review the current County checklist.

Official resource: Contra Costa County – SolarAPP+ Eligibility and Permitting

The City of Lafayette lists both Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Marin Clean Energy (MCE) among its utility providers.

For customers enrolled in MCE’s generation service, MCE supplies the generation portion of electricity service, while PG&E continues to provide delivery and maintain the distribution system. Check your current electricity bill to confirm your provider, enrollment, and rate arrangement.

Official resource: City of Lafayette – Utilities

Solar electricity can first be used to meet a property’s electricity demand when the system is generating power. Excess electricity may be exported to the grid, with compensation determined by the applicable utility program, tariff, and customer eligibility.

Eligible PG&E customers may be subject to the Net Billing Tariff, also known as the Solar Billing Plan. MCE customers should review MCE’s applicable solar customer program and their PG&E delivery bill, since generation and delivery arrangements are separate.

Export credits should not be assumed to equal the retail price of electricity purchased from the grid. The applicable arrangement depends on your utility enrollment, rate schedule, and interconnection eligibility.

Official resources: California Public Utilities Commission – Net Energy Metering and Net Billing; PG&E – Solar Billing Plan; MCE – Solar Billing Plan; MCE – Net Energy Metering for Solar Customers

Some hillside properties in Lafayette may be suitable for rooftop solar. The property’s roof orientation, slope, usable installation area, structural condition, shading, and equipment access should be evaluated. Steep slopes and difficult roof access may also affect installation planning and project requirements. A property-specific assessment is necessary to determine a suitable design.

Mature trees, nearby structures, and surrounding vegetation can cast shadows on rooftop solar panels at different times of the day and throughout the year, which can affect panel placement and the amount of electricity a system generates.

For properties with substantial tree cover, the assessment should consider roof orientation, usable roof area, seasonal shading patterns, and available sunlight across potential panel locations, rather than relying on a general estimate.

No. Battery storage is not required for every solar installation. A solar-only system may be suitable depending on the property’s electricity use, utility arrangement, energy requirements, and budget.

A home battery can store available solar electricity for later use and, when configured with compatible backup equipment, may supply selected circuits during a utility outage. Whether storage is appropriate depends on your priorities, equipment compatibility, and proposed configuration.

Possibly. An existing solar system may be suitable for a battery upgrade, depending on its inverter, system configuration, electrical panel capacity, and compatibility with the proposed battery equipment.

Additional electrical modifications, permitting, or utility interconnection updates may be required, and changes to an existing system may affect how it is treated under your utility’s billing rules. Assess the existing installation before selecting a battery and determining the retrofit scope.

A standard grid-connected solar PV system generally shuts down during a utility outage for electrical safety. Solar panels alone should not be assumed to provide electricity when the grid is unavailable.

A compatible battery storage system with the appropriate backup configuration may supply designated household circuits during an outage. Available backup power and duration depend on battery capacity, inverter configuration, connected loads, and available stored or solar-generated electricity. Whole-home backup should not be assumed.

If your roof needs repairs or is approaching the end of its serviceable life, those requirements should be considered before installing solar panels. Roof condition, material, structural suitability, and remaining service life can affect installation planning. Completing necessary repairs first may help avoid removing and reinstalling solar equipment for later roof work. Roofing work must be performed by an appropriately licensed contractor.

The timeline depends on property assessment, system design, equipment availability, permitting, installation complexity, inspections, and utility interconnection. Projects requiring additional electrical work or planning review may involve further steps. We can discuss a project-specific schedule after reviewing the property, proposed system, and approval requirements. A completion date should not be assumed before these factors are assessed.

Before selecting a solar contractor, check the contractor’s current California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license status and classification. Also review the proposed equipment, system design, installation scope, pricing, warranties, permitting responsibilities, and written contract terms. Ask who will perform the installation and which responsibilities are handled by the contractor, homeowner, utility, and permitting authority.

Nabu Energy LLC holds CSLB license #1052356, classified as a C-10 Electrical Contractor. You can verify current status and classification through the CSLB Contractor License Check.