Solar, Battery Storage & Home Electrification in Berkeley
Berkeley is leading California's clean energy transition — and Ally Electric & Solar has been helping Berkeley homeowners achieve energy independence since 2010. Solar panels, battery backup, EV chargers, and panel upgrades under one C10 & C46 license.
Berkeley homeowners face rising PG&E rates, a progressive climate agenda, and one of California's most motivated solar markets. With 260+ sunny days a year and a city committed to clean energy, the case for solar has never been stronger.
💡
Lower PG&E Bills
Offset rising electricity costs and eliminate or drastically reduce your monthly PG&E bill with rooftop solar.
🌿
Berkeley Climate Goals
Solar supports Berkeley's Climate Action Plan and electrification ordinances — reduce your home's carbon footprint.
🔥
Hills Fire Zone
Berkeley Hills sits in a PSPS zone. Battery storage keeps your home powered automatically during PG&E shutoffs.
🏡
Increase Home Value
Solar adds ~4% to Berkeley property values — in one of the Bay Area's most competitive housing markets.
🚗
Charge Your EV Free
Pair solar with a Level 2 EV charger and drive on sunshine — near-zero cost per mile.
🏛️
Gas Ban Compliance
Berkeley has led California's gas appliance phaseout. Solar + battery + heat pump = full electrification done right.
🏛️
Berkeley's Building Electrification — What Homeowners Need to Know
Berkeley was the first U.S. city to ban natural gas in new buildings, and its electrification policies continue to evolve. Homeowners replacing HVAC, water heaters, or stoves may need to go electric — and solar is the most cost-effective way to power those new electric appliances. Ally Electric & Solar designs systems that account for your full electrification load: heat pump, induction cooking, EV charging, and all. Call (510) 559-7700 to discuss your home's electrification plan.
🔧
Our Services in Berkeley
One call, one crew, one contractor — from solar design to city permit to PG&E interconnection.
Most Popular☀️
Solar Panel Installation
Custom-designed for your PG&E bill, roof orientation, and Berkeley's tree canopy. All permits and PG&E interconnection included.
Berkeley's Tree Canopy — Does Shading Affect Your Solar?
Berkeley's mature trees are beautiful — and they can shade your roof. We conduct a full shading analysis before designing your system. For homes with partial shading, we recommend Enphase IQ8 microinverters or SolarEdge power optimizers, which ensure shade on one panel doesn't drag down the rest of your system. Don't assume shading rules you out — let us assess it first.
🔋
Solar + Battery = Energy Independence
Under NEM 3.0, battery storage transforms your solar investment. Store daytime solar and use it during PG&E's expensive peak hours (4–9pm) — dramatically improving your payback period and protecting against outages.
Without Battery
Solar Only — NEM 3.0
Export excess solar at just $0.05–$0.08/kWh. Buy it back at $0.35+/kWh during peak hours. Much longer payback period.
With Battery
Solar + Battery — Optimized
Store solar during the day, use it at night during peak hours. Pay near-zero for expensive evening power. 8–10 year payback.
Tesla Powerwall 3
Whole-home backup
13.5
kWh capacity
Built-in solar inverter · Storm Watch · Tesla app · 10-year warranty
Enphase IQ Battery 10C
Microinverter system
10
kWh capacity
Best with Enphase solar · Panel-level monitoring · Expandable
FranklinWH
Whole-home backup
13.6
kWh capacity
Whole-home backup · aGate energy management · Flexible install
Each battery system can be configured to protect NEM 1.0 or NEM 2.0 status for grandfathered customers — or optimized for NEM 3.0 self-consumption. Call us to discuss the right setup for your home.
We identify every dollar you qualify for and handle all applications as part of your project. You don't file anything yourself.
Program
Benefit
Who Qualifies
Status
PG&E Net Billing (NEM 3.0)
Export credits ~$0.05–$0.08/kWh — highest during evening peak hours
All Berkeley PG&E solar customers
Active
SGIP RSSE Battery Rebate
Up to $21,700 solar + $11,000 battery
Income-qualified (≤80% AMI or CARE/FERA enrolled)
Waitlist
DAC-SASH
Up to $3/watt upfront (~$15,000 on 5kW system)
Low-income homeowners in disadvantaged communities
Active
DAC Green Tariff
20% monthly PG&E discount + 100% renewable energy
Renters & owners in DAC zones — no installation needed
Active
SOMAH (Multifamily)
Up to $3.50/AC watt for solar on affordable housing
Income-restricted multifamily property owners
Ends Jun 2026
PACE Financing
$0 down — repay via property tax over 10–25 years
All Berkeley homeowners (credit check applies)
Active
CARE / FERA
18–35% monthly PG&E discount + better NEM 3.0 adders
Income-qualified PG&E customers
Active
Note: SGIP General Market funding closed Dec 31, 2025. RSSE waitlist applications accepted as reservations open.
🏆
Why Berkeley Homeowners Choose Ally
⚡
Dual C10 & C46 License
Solar, electrical, battery, and EV charging — all legal under one license. No subcontractors, no gaps.
🌳
Shading Analysis Experts
We assess Berkeley's tree canopy impact before designing your system — and spec the right technology for your roof.
📋
All Permits Included
Berkeley city permits, PG&E interconnection, and incentive applications — we handle everything start to finish.
🏛️
Electrification Ready
We design systems sized for your full electric home — heat pump, induction, EV, all included in the load calculation.
📍
Berkeley Local Since 2010
We know Berkeley's building department, PG&E processes, and older housing stock inside and out.
⭐
1,000+ Happy Customers
Including hundreds of Berkeley families from Elmwood to the Hills who've trusted us since 2010.
💬
What Berkeley Homeowners Say
★★★★★
We have a lot of tree cover in our backyard. Ally did a shading analysis, recommended Enphase microinverters, and our system performs better than we expected. They knew exactly what they were doing.
Berkeley Homeowner
Elmwood, Berkeley CA
★★★★★
Solar, Powerwall, and EV charger all installed in one week. Our PG&E bill went from $420 to zero. The Powerwall has kicked in twice during outages — completely seamless. Outstanding team.
The Pho Family
North Berkeley, CA
★★★★★
We wanted to go fully electric — solar, heat pump, induction range, EV charger. Ally designed the whole system together and sized the solar for our future load. Exactly what we needed.
Bay Area Homeowner
South Berkeley, CA
📍
Berkeley Neighborhoods We Serve
From the flatlands to the hills — we've worked across every Berkeley neighborhood.
North Berkeley
South Berkeley
West Berkeley
Elmwood
Claremont
Rockridge
Thousand Oaks
Panoramic Hill
Temescal
Gourmet Ghetto
Northbrae
Solano Ave
Lorin
Telegraph Ave
Downtown Berkeley
Albany border
Also serving Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, and all surrounding East Bay cities. (510) 559-7700
❓
Berkeley Solar — Questions Answered
Yes. Berkeley was the first U.S. city to ban natural gas in new buildings, and its electrification policies continue to expand. Going solar and transitioning to electric appliances aligns with Berkeley's goals and may qualify for additional local incentives. Ally handles all Berkeley city permits and PG&E interconnection as part of every project.
It can. Berkeley has a mature tree canopy — especially in the hills and older flatland neighborhoods. We conduct a full shading analysis before designing your system. For homes with partial shading, we recommend Enphase IQ8 microinverters or power optimizers, which ensure shade on one panel doesn't reduce the output of the rest of your system. Don't assume shading rules you out — it usually doesn't.
Yes. Battery storage is especially valuable in the Berkeley Hills, which sits in a PG&E PSPS fire zone. A Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ Battery, or FranklinWH keeps your home powered during Public Safety Power Shutoffs automatically — no generator noise, no fuel, no action required. We size the battery to your actual load and design for multi-day backup if needed.
Berkeley homeowners on PG&E can access NEM 3.0 net billing export credits, SGIP RSSE battery rebates for income-qualified households, DAC-SASH upfront incentives for low-income homeowners (up to $3/watt), PACE financing with no money down, and CARE/FERA monthly utility discounts. Ally handles all applications — you don't file anything yourself.
If you're a grandfathered NEM 1.0 or NEM 2.0 customer, adding battery storage without increasing your solar system size does not affect your NEM status. We can configure your battery as a non-export system to protect your existing net metering arrangement while still giving you backup power and peak-hour savings. Call us to discuss your specific situation — this is one of our specialties.
Ready to Go Solar in Berkeley?
Solar panels, battery storage, EV chargers, or full home electrification — call Berkeley's most experienced licensed solar and electrical contractor.
