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Oakland, CA · Solar · Batteries · Electrical · Updated September 2026

Oakland Solar Installer & Electrician. Local since 2002.

From Rockridge bungalows to homes in the Oakland Hills, Ally designs and installs solar, battery backup, panel upgrades, and EV chargers for Oakland homeowners. We're a family-owned direct installer just up I-580 in Richmond, so there's no sales company or subcontractor between you and the crew on your roof.

Get a Free Oakland Quote Call (510) 559-7700
Serving Oakland since 2002 CSLB #806465 · C-10 & C-46 BBB Accredited · A+ SolarAPP+ same-day permits SGIP-Approved Developer Family owned
2002Serving Oakland since
1,000+Bay Area installations
(510)Local office, local crew
0Middlemen

Solar for every Oakland neighborhood

Oakland isn't one kind of house or one kind of weather. A 1920s bungalow near Lake Merritt, a hillside home in Montclair, and a flat roof in Fruitvale each need a different design. We've worked across the city for more than two decades.

North Oakland

Rockridge · Temescal · Piedmont Ave · Longfellow

Craftsman bungalows and brown-shingle homes with smaller roofs and older electrical. We design tidy, all-black arrays that suit the architecture and upgrade the panel when needed.

Oakland Hills

Montclair · Piedmont Pines · Skyline · Redwood Heights

Trees, slopes, and PG&E wildfire-season shutoffs. We plan around shade and steep roofs, and size battery backup so your essentials stay on when the power is cut.

Around the Lake

Grand Lake · Adams Point · Crocker Highlands · Trestle Glen

Mixed-era homes and small multi-unit buildings. We handle meter and panel questions and design for tight rooflines and neighbors' trees.

Laurel & Dimond

Laurel · Dimond · Glenview · Maxwell Park

Classic mid-century and older homes that often need electrical updates before adding solar, batteries, heat pumps, or an EV charger.

East Oakland

Fruitvale · Allendale · Millsmont · Eastmont

Sunny roofs and plenty of homes with original panels. Solar plus a battery, with SGIP rebate help for eligible households.

West Oakland & Downtown

West Oakland · Uptown · Jack London · Old Oakland

Victorians, converted buildings, and small businesses. Residential and commercial solar and electrical work.

What's different about going solar in Oakland

A few things we plan for on almost every Oakland job.

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Older homes need electrical first

Much of Oakland's housing predates modern electrical loads. We regularly find original panels, Federal Pacific and Zinsco breakers, and undersized service. As licensed electricians (C-10) as well as solar contractors (C-46), we fix that in the same project, with no second contractor.

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Hills, fire season & power shutoffs

Parts of the Oakland Hills sit in high fire-hazard areas where PG&E may cut power during wildfire-season weather. A backup battery automatically keeps the circuits you choose running, and solar recharges it during the day.

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Same-day Oakland permits with SolarAPP+

Oakland accepts SolarAPP+, an automated permit review for rooftop solar, and it includes battery backup and the related electrical work. Ally uses it on eligible Oakland projects, so your permit can be issued the same day instead of waiting in the plan-check line. We then schedule the City of Oakland inspection and handle PG&E interconnection.

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Ava Community Energy's SmartHome Battery program

Most Oakland homes get their electricity from Ava Community Energy (formerly East Bay Community Energy). Ava's SmartHome Battery program offers an installation rebate for approved batteries, higher for income-qualified households, plus monthly payments for sharing part of your battery's capacity. We'll help you compare it with SGIP to see which fits your home.

Every company added to your project is another hand in the pot

Each company involved has to make a profit, and that profit is built into your price. Oakland homeowners get plenty of door-knockers and online solar ads. Here's the difference with a local direct installer.

A typical solar sale

  • A national brand or sales company signs you up
  • A commissioned rep or lead seller takes a cut
  • A subcontracted crew does the install
  • A separate electrician handles the panel work
  • When something goes wrong, you figure out who to call

An Ally project

  • Ally designs and quotes your system
  • Ally handles City of Oakland permits and PG&E
  • Ally's own crew installs the solar and battery
  • Ally's own electricians do the panel and EV work
  • One contract and one local phone number: (510) 559-7700

Our services in Oakland

Everything your home's energy system needs, from one licensed local contractor.

Solar panel installationREC, Qcells, and Silfab panels with Enphase microinverters, designed for your roof and shade.Solar → Battery backupTesla Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ Battery, and FranklinWH for outages and evening savings.Batteries → Main panel upgradesReplace Federal Pacific, Zinsco, and undersized panels. SPAN smart panels available.Panel upgrades → EV chargersLevel 2 home charging, including solar-aware Enphase IQ EV Charger 2.EV charging → SGIP battery rebatesWe check eligibility and file the SGIP application for you.SGIP → Home electrificationElectrical capacity for heat pumps, induction, and EVs. QuitCarbon partner contractor.Electrification →

How an Oakland project works

From first call to turning your system on, one team the whole way.

Site visit

We look at your roof, shade, panel, and PG&E bills, then design around how you use power.

Clear proposal

Equipment, price, financing options, and warranty info in writing, with no pressure.

Permits & install

We file through SolarAPP+ for same-day City of Oakland permits on eligible systems, install with our own crew, and pass inspection.

PG&E & turn-on

We handle interconnection and set up your monitoring app, then stay your service contact.

See our warranty info for your project specifics →  ·  Compare financing →

Oakland neighbors who went solar with us

Much of our Oakland work comes from referrals, one neighbor telling another.

The Garafolis · OaklandSaving on their electric bill with Ally solar since 2016.
Pamela · OaklandChose Ally for an installation that looks clean and beautiful on her roof.
Google Reviews ↗ Yelp Reviews ↗ BBB A+ ↗ Verify CSLB #806465 ↗ Testimonials →

Oakland solar FAQs

Questions we hear most from Oakland homeowners.

Do you install solar in Oakland?
Yes. We've worked in Oakland since 2002, from North Oakland and the Lake to the Oakland Hills and East Oakland. Our office is in Richmond, a short drive up I-580.
Do you handle City of Oakland solar permits?
Yes. For most rooftop solar and battery systems, we use SolarAPP+, the automated permit review Oakland accepts, so the permit can be issued the same day. For projects that don't qualify, we prepare plans and go through standard City of Oakland plan review. Either way, we schedule inspections, meet the inspector, and handle PG&E interconnection.
What is SolarAPP+?
SolarAPP+ is an automated, standardized permit review for residential rooftop solar. In Oakland it covers most roof-mounted solar on the main home, including battery backup and related electrical work, and it must be filed by a California-licensed contractor. Eligible permits can be issued the same day, which saves several days compared with traditional review.
What is Ava Community Energy's SmartHome Battery program?
Ava Community Energy (formerly East Bay Community Energy) supplies electricity to most Oakland homes. Its SmartHome Battery program offers Ava customers an installation rebate for approved batteries, with a higher rebate for income-qualified households, plus monthly payments for sharing part of the battery's capacity during peak demand. It works for new solar-plus-battery systems or a battery added to existing solar. Funding is first-come, first-served and it may not combine with some other programs, so we'll help you compare it with SGIP.
Is solar worth it in Oakland under NEM 3.0?
For many Oakland homes, yes, especially paired with a battery. Under California's Net Billing Tariff (often called NEM 3.0), exported solar earns less, so storing daytime solar for evening use is where most of the savings come from. We run the numbers for your home and usage before you decide.
Will a battery keep my Oakland Hills home powered during PG&E shutoffs?
Yes, if it's sized and wired for backup. During a PG&E outage or wildfire-season shutoff, a backup battery automatically powers the circuits you choose, such as your fridge, lights, internet, and medical devices, and solar can recharge it during the day.
My Oakland house is old. Do I need a panel upgrade for solar?
Sometimes. Older homes often have original, Federal Pacific, or Zinsco panels, or not enough capacity for solar, a battery, or an EV charger. Some systems can avoid an upgrade with smart controls. Because we're licensed electricians too, any panel work is included in the same quote and done by our own team.
Can I put solar on a shaded or hillside roof?
Often, yes. We use Enphase microinverters, one per panel, so a shaded panel doesn't drag down the rest. We check shade from trees and neighbors and design around it, and we'll tell you honestly if your roof isn't a good fit.
Are there battery rebates for Oakland homeowners?
Yes, there are two main options. California's SGIP program offers battery rebates for eligible PG&E customers, and Ally is an SGIP-approved developer that handles the application. Oakland homes served by Ava Community Energy may also qualify for Ava's SmartHome Battery program. We'll help you figure out which one fits your home.
How much does solar cost in Oakland?
Most Oakland solar systems we install run about $2.60 to $3.50 per watt before incentives. For example, a typical 6 kW system would be roughly $15,600 to $21,000. Where your project lands in that range depends on the panels and inverters you choose, your roof type and pitch, and how complex the electrical work is. Batteries and any main panel upgrade are priced separately. We give you an exact, itemized price after a free site visit.
What warranties come with an Oakland installation?
Every installation includes Ally's workmanship warranty plus the manufacturer warranties on your equipment. See our warranty info for your project specifics.
Do you offer financing in Oakland?
Yes, including HDM Capital's Prepaid PPA (ownership transfer per HDM's agreement terms) and GoGreen Home loans through participating lenders. Compare financing options.
How long does an Oakland solar installation take?
Most home installations take one to a few days on site. The full timeline, including City of Oakland permitting, inspection, and PG&E approval, usually runs a few weeks to a couple of months. We'll give you an estimate for your project.

Get a free solar quote for your Oakland home

Talk to the family business that will actually do the work.

Get a Free Quote Call (510) 559-7700

Also serving nearby:

BerkeleyPiedmontEmeryvilleAlamedaSan LeandroEl CerritoRichmondOrinda

Ally Electric & Solar Inc. · 855 Marina Bay Pkwy, Ste. 280, Richmond, CA 94804 · (510) 559-7700 · CSLB #806465 (C-10 & C-46) · Serving Oakland and the East Bay since 2002