Plug-in solar savings on Hetch Hetchy Power (SFPUC)
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The short answer: on Hetch Hetchy Power (SFPUC)'s R-1 rate of 35.96¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $285 a year and pays for itself in about 3.5 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on Hetch Hetchy Power (SFPUC)
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $375 | 2.7 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $285 | 3.5 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $207 | 4.8 years |
Power you send back to the grid is valued at $0, so a kit sized to what you use during the day saves the most. Run your own numbers, including how savings add up over the years.
Where this rate comes from
Hetch Hetchy Power's R-1 residential schedule, effective July 1, 2026: $0.29969 for the first 227 kWh (summer) or 252 kWh (winter), $0.35963 up to 524 or 579 kWh, and $0.53944 above that, the same price all year. We use the middle tier. Hetch Hetchy serves parts of San Francisco such as Treasure Island and the Hunters Point Shipyard; most of the city is PG&E (with CleanPowerSF).[source]
Discounts
CARE and FERA are CPUC programs for investor-owned utilities, so they don't apply here. City, district and co-op utilities run their own discount programs, which we haven't verified.
SB 868 and Hetch Hetchy Power (SFPUC)
SB 868 covers local publicly owned utilities such as Hetch Hetchy Power (SFPUC), as well as investor-owned utilities. Hetch Hetchy Power (SFPUC) may ask you to register a qualifying kit through a simple online form, but can't charge fees related to it.[source] Read SB 868 explained and run through the checks before you buy.
Estimates only. Not electrical, legal or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
- How much could a plug-in solar kit save on Hetch Hetchy Power (SFPUC)?
- About $285 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at Hetch Hetchy Power (SFPUC)'s R-1 rate of 35.96¢/kWh, paying back in about 3.5 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to Hetch Hetchy Power (SFPUC) customers?
- Yes. The law covers both investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities. Hetch Hetchy Power (SFPUC) may ask you to register a qualifying kit online, but can't charge fees related to it.