Reduce Your Energy Bills with Smart Clean Energy

Clean Energy Renewables is a Silicon Valley–based firm licensed in California (Lic #1119067). We specialize in solar, battery backup, EV charging, and clean energy consulting for premium homes.

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Solar Installation in Palo Alto, CA

Solar in Palo Alto works differently from solar in the rest of the Peninsula, and the reason is the utility. Palo Alto owns its electric utility. The City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) oversees net metering billing and interconnection agreements, while the city’s Building Department handles PV permits and final approvals. Advice written for PG&E customers, including the net billing tariff that applies elsewhere, does not describe your situation.

Clean Energy Renewables is a Silicon Valley-based, California-licensed contractor (License #1119067). Journeyman electricians and C-10 contractors oversee the electrical and roof work on every installation.

How Palo Alto's utility changes the math

The City’s published program describes two tiers. The original NEM 1 program pays export credit at retail rates for 20 years from interconnection for customers who qualified before the cap. Solar customers who joined after January 1, 2018 are served by NEM 2, which credits exports at the EEC-1 rate, lower than retail because it reflects the value of local energy and avoided costs, not the full price you pay. Palo Alto’s guidance says that the best way to get value is to use the electricity you generate while you generate it.

That affects system size and battery decisions. We model your CPAU bills and a few system sizes, including storage that shifts solar energy into the evening. If you already have a Palo Alto system, we check which program it is on before suggesting any expansion, because adding capacity can change terms.

CPAU’s process asks for interconnection pre-approval for solar and storage, and the property owner signs the agreement. We prepare the application and handle the paperwork with your input.

Modern home with rooftop solar panels.
Solar technician inspecting rooftop solar panels to ensure proper alignment and performance after home upgrades

Our Solar Panel Installation Process

Our streamlined process makes it easy for homeowners to transition to solar with confidence, from your first consultation to a fully operational system built for years of dependable performance:

Free Consultation & System Sizing

1

we evaluate your energy usage, roof condition, and future electricity needs.

Site Assessment

2

a detailed inspection of roof orientation, shading, and structural integrity.

Custom Engineering

3

every system is professionally engineered to California building and electrical standards.

Permitting & Utility Coordination

4

we manage paperwork and coordinate with local authorities and utility providers.

Professional Installation

5

completed by journeyman electricians working alongside licensed C-10 contractors.

Inspection & Activation

6

we coordinate final inspections, utility approvals, and smart monitoring setup.

Permitting in Palo Alto

Palo Alto has adopted SolarAPP+ for qualifying single-family, roof-mounted systems by licensed contractors. The program does not accommodate homes on the City’s Historic Registry or non-single-family projects, and eligibility rules apply for system and service size.

Projects that do not qualify use the standard building permit path. We prepare drawings, submit to the city, handle inspections, and complete interconnection through Permission to Operate.

Technician using a power tool to repair solar panels on a rooftop.
Close-up of a technician cleaning solar panels with a brush tool during routine maintenance.

Eichlers, older neighborhoods, and tree cover

Palo Alto’s housing ranges from the historic homes of Professorville to mid-century Eichler neighborhoods and 1950s tract houses. Eichler roofs are commonly low-slope, which affects attachment methods and roofing material. Homes in historic districts may face additional review. Mature trees across the city create shading, so we map sun across the seasons and use Enphase microinverters to limit the effect of partial shade.

Batteries and backup

We install Tesla Powerwall and Enphase IQ batteries. Under CPAU’s rules, storage goes through the same pre-approval process as solar, so we plan the two together. Backup design starts with which circuits you want powered, not with the biggest battery.

WHAT WE OFFER

Professional Services

Let us help reduce your energy bills with solar panels, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging. As one of the best solar companies serving the Bay Area, Peninsula Valley, we offer complete design, permitting, and installation services so you can tap into clean electricity while maintaining grid independence. Our crew includes journeyman electricians and licensed C-10 solar energy contractors to ensure electrical code compliance and durable installations.

multiple electric vehicles queued at a busy public charging station in San Francisco

EV charging

We install Tesla Wall Connectors and other Level 2 chargers, after reviewing panel capacity. For homes with electric heating, cooking, or heat pumps, we count those loads in the review.

Incentives

The City of Palo Alto’s own solar page notes that the federal residential solar and battery tax credits expired on December 31, 2025, and that CPAU continues to offer residents rebates to help electrify their homes. Program details change, so we point you to the City’s current listing, and we do not promise amounts.

Schedule a Palo Alto Consultation

Call (650) 906-7626 or use our contact page. Consultations and system sizing are free.

Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Installation in Palo Alto, CA

Is Palo Alto on PG&E's net billing?

No. Palo Alto residents get electricity from the City of Palo Alto Utilities, which runs its own net metering programs.

The City says SolarAPP+ cannot accommodate homes on its Historic Registry. Those projects use another permit path, and we will explain the steps.

Many Eichlers have low-pitch roofs, which affects mounting and roofing details. We inspect the roof and plan around it.

Often, yes. CPAU requires pre-approval for storage, and we check compatibility with your equipment.

    Have a Question About Solar, Batteries, or EV Chargers? Feel Free to Contact Us

    Contact Information

    Phone No:
    US (650) 906-7626

    2072 New Town, Xblock Street WA 98370 United State

    Email Hours:
    Monday – Friday
    8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

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