Pleasant Hill residents generally receive electricity generation service through MCE (Marin Clean Energy), while PG&E continues to provide electricity delivery, maintain the power lines, and manage billing. PG&E also provides natural gas service. Your generation provider may differ if you have opted out of MCE’s service. Before planning a solar installation, review your current electricity bill to understand how your generation and delivery charges are structured.

For more information, visit the City of Pleasant Hill’s electricity and MCE information page.

PG&E manages electricity delivery and billing for Pleasant Hill customers, even when MCE supplies the electricity generation. Your bill may include separate charges for generation through MCE and delivery services through PG&E. Understanding these charges can help you evaluate your household’s electricity use before considering a solar PV system. We can review your available electricity usage information during the initial consultation.

MCE’s Solar Billing Plan is relevant to eligible customers who install solar and send excess electricity back to the grid. Exported electricity is credited according to the applicable program rules, while electricity imported from the grid is billed separately.

Eligibility depends on your utility interconnection status and the applicable program requirements. For example, MCE identifies eligibility for new installations with a completed Permission to Operate (PTO) application through PG&E after April 14, 2023. Review the current program requirements before proceeding, including how your expected electricity usage may affect the value of exported solar energy.

Learn more about the MCE Solar Billing Plan.

Pleasant Hill residents can choose to opt out of MCE’s electricity generation service and remain with PG&E for generation, subject to the applicable utility and program requirements. However, your choice of generation provider does not remove the need to follow PG&E’s solar interconnection requirements, and the billing arrangement and export compensation rules may differ depending on your provider and enrollment status.

Confirm your current electricity provider and review the applicable solar billing arrangements before finalizing your system design. The City of Pleasant Hill’s MCE information explains electricity service options.

No. The city’s SolarAPP+ program is intended for eligible residential rooftop solar PV retrofit projects that meet the program’s technical and eligibility requirements. The proposed system must satisfy the applicable checklist before it can be submitted through this streamlined process. Projects that do not meet the requirements may need to follow the city’s standard building permit review process.

We review the proposed system requirements and consider the applicable permitting route during project planning. For current eligibility details, visit the City of Pleasant Hill’s SolarAPP+ information page.

SolarAPP+ is primarily intended for qualifying residential rooftop solar PV retrofit installations. Battery storage, electrical panel upgrades, and EV charger installations may involve additional technical requirements, permits, or separate reviews depending on the proposed work. For example, adding a battery to an existing solar system may require an assessment of the electrical configuration, equipment specifications, and applicable safety requirements.

We evaluate these requirements during project planning so the installation can follow the appropriate permitting and inspection process. You can review the city’s SolarAPP+ information and Building Division resources for further details.

The City of Pleasant Hill Building Division handles applicable building permits and inspections for solar installations within the city. Depending on the project scope, the process may involve SolarAPP+ eligibility review or the city’s standard permit application process, and additional electrical or structural work may also require review.

For official information, visit the Pleasant Hill Building Division and its Permits and Handouts page .

A standard grid-connected solar PV system generally shuts down during a utility power outage. This safety feature helps prevent electricity from flowing back into the grid while utility crews may be working on power lines.

If you want backup power during an outage, your system may need battery storage and compatible backup equipment. The circuits supported depend on the battery capacity, system configuration, and household electricity requirements. We can assess your backup power priorities and explain the available configurations.

Battery storage may be worth evaluating if you want to store some of your solar generation for use after sunset or have backup power available during a utility outage. Under MCE’s Solar Billing Plan, the value of storing or exporting electricity depends on the applicable compensation rules, your consumption patterns, battery costs, and system configuration.

A battery is not automatically the most cost-effective option for every property. We assess your electricity usage, backup power requirements, and installation conditions before discussing whether storage makes sense for your home.

The cost depends on several property-specific factors, including your household’s electricity consumption, roof size and condition, system capacity, equipment selection, and electrical requirements. Adding battery storage, upgrading an electrical panel, or completing other related work can also affect the overall cost.

We evaluate these requirements before preparing a project-specific proposal, so you can understand the proposed system configuration, equipment, installation scope, and associated costs before making a decision.