Plug-in solar savings on Silicon Valley Power
Last updated
The short answer: on Silicon Valley Power's D-1 rate of 17.95¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $142 a year and pays for itself in about 7.0 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on Silicon Valley Power
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $187 | 5.3 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $142 | 7.0 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $103 | 9.7 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
Silicon Valley Power's D-1 residential rate, Resolution 25-9516, effective January 1, 2026: $0.15612 for the first 300 kWh a month and $0.17946 above that, all year. We use the upper tier. The 2.85% public benefits charge, the state surcharge and the monthly meter charge are excluded.[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 Silicon Valley Power
SB 868 covers local publicly owned utilities such as Silicon Valley Power, as well as investor-owned utilities. Silicon Valley Power 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 Silicon Valley Power?
- About $142 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at Silicon Valley Power's D-1 rate of 17.95¢/kWh, paying back in about 7.0 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to Silicon Valley Power customers?
- Yes. The law covers both investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities. Silicon Valley Power may ask you to register a qualifying kit online, but can't charge fees related to it.