Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

about Bay Area SunShares

Currently, single-family homeowners living in any of the nine Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma) are eligible to participate in SunShares program. We are exploring offering SunShares to multifamily and small businesses, so stay tuned!

The SunShares discount is available for any solar and/or battery configuration, including adding onto an existing system. Already have solar and want to get a battery? No problem. Only want a battery without having solar? Our installers can help! Looking to add additional panels to your current system? We've got you covered. SunShares covers any combination of solar and battery:

• Solar only
• Battery only
• Solar + battery
• Solar and/or battery added to an existing solar and/or existing battery system

Sign up and speak to our installers about your project!

The SunShares discount is specifically for solar systems and battery storage, and applies to the total cost including labor, equipment, warranties, and permitting. It does not apply to other measures added on like panel upgrades and EV charging.

The installer proposal will show the price with and without the SunShares discount. For specific information on pricing this season, visit the Products & Pricing page.

SunShares will forward your contact information to our selected installer(s) based on what you indicate on the sign-up form. The Installer(s) will contact you directly and will conduct a free evaluation of your home's suitability for Solar and/or Battery Storage, either virtually or a no-contact site visit. Based on your roof type, sun exposure, electricity usage, and other factors, our installers will design a system for your home and submit a proposal to you. You'll receive a free proposal with zero commitment!

After you receive your proposal(s), you'll have until December 15th, 2026 to sign a contract with your preferred installer. You must sign a contract by the deadline to secure the SunShares discount pricing.

The installation process, from signing the contract to installing your system, may vary depending on when you sign up, availability of equipment, permitting, and any necessary home upgrades. For a step-by-step breakdown, visit the Solar Installation Process page.

If you are a homeowner interested in installing Solar and/or Battery Storage, sign up during the registration period (Fall 2026: September 1 - November 15) and we'll send your information to the Installer(s) that you selected. They'll contact you to initiate your no-cost, no-obligation process. You choose your preferred Installer, sign the contract, and schedule the installation.

If you are a renter interested in powering your home with 100% clean energy, you can get 100% renewable energy through your electricity provider - visit the Get 100% Renewable Energy page for the how-to details.

Absolutely! We do our best to keep our Incentives & Rebates page up to date with the latest programs offered locally, statewide, and federally. Talk to an installer to learn more about what you may qualify for.

The individual residential Federal Solar Tax Credit ended on December 31, 2025. However, there are still ways to capture the savings via the commercial Solar Tax Credit through prepaid TPOs (Third-Party Ownership), like leases or PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements). The prepaid lease/PPA option allows homeowners to benefit from the commercial solar tax credits to see a net total similar to the traditional residential tax credit in past years.

The value of the lost residential tax credit will be captured as an upfront discount. Instead of waiting on a tax credit, your savings are built into your pricing from the start — so you pay less upfront and begin benefiting right away. Speak with our installers about your options!

Whether you pursue a prepaid PPA or not, installing solar and battery storage still makes sense! The installers that Bay Area SunShares partners with offer an average discount of about 15%, and solar and battery storage are still great investments given the continual rise in utility rates and power outages!

Our installers offer various PPA, lease, and loan options with various financial institutions. For a list, visit the Products & Pricing page. Sign up today and talk with the installer about your options!

We've done the homework for you to ensure that our installers provide:

• Labor and equipment warranties
• System monitoring
• Service option for installing EV charging (additional costs apply)
• Evaluation of electrical panel for full upgrades (additional costs apply)
• Education to homeowners about energy rate plans with your energy provider (PG&E or your local Community Choice Energy provider)

SunShares Installers are chosen based on a number of criteria including product offerings, quality of customer service, business longevity, and the competitiveness of their pricing. They're selected through a proposal evaluation and price negotiation process by an independent proposal evaluation committee made up of experts in the local solar + storage market, all nominated by our community Outreach Partners. Following a competitive proposal submission and evaluation process, the committee selects the SunShares installers and SunShares pre-negotiates discounts off the normal "turn-key" cost of solar and battery storage installations.

Please note: While the Bay Area SunShares Program is being offered through participating outreach organizations, neither the Program Administrator (Act Now Bay Area) nor outreach partner organizations endorse any Installer companies and do not endorse the company that you select. Any participant who enters into the Program does so in his/her/their own personal capacity and at his/her/their own risk, and will expressly hold each of the participating organizations harmless from any liability associated with his/her/their decision to participate in this Bay Area SunShares Program.

If you are a solar and/or battery installer interested in partnering with SunShares, please reach out to sunshares@actnowbayarea.org to be notified of the next RFP release.

You can join a free SunShares Webinar or watch one of the past recordings.

Learn the basics of Solar & Battery Storage, why adding solar is advantageous and battery storage can be a lifesaver, and what your Solar + Battery Storage options are. Learn more about how the SunShares program works and get your questions answered by SunShares' pre-vetted installers during our live Q & A!

The #1 reason to go through the Bay Area SunShares program is that we negotiate discounts on the cost of solar and battery storage installations with pre-vetted installers . They're established California companies and experts who specialize in these installations. We're able to negotiate these discounts forSunShares participants because we represent 60+ major employers, municipalities, and organizations across the Bay Area. Our pooled purchasing power and outreach capacity offsets our selected installers' marketing and customer acquisition costs, meaning they can offer homeowners excellent prices on high quality equipment and services.

SunShares' goal is to offer you the best price available on high-quality equipment and services from trusted solar and battery storage providers. Prices between installers can vary drastically due to equipment, business models, project installation scope, etc. As you compare bids, make sure to make an "apples to apples" comparison, as different installers may offer different equipment, servicing, etc.

Act Now Bay Area is a regional 501(c)3 public benefit non-profit that curates climate solutions and delivers resources to the general public to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from our energy, buildings, and transportation. Act Now Bay Area recently took over the SunShares program from the Business Council on Climate Change.

The Bay Area SunShares Program is administered by Act Now Bay Area on behalf of a coalition of San Francisco Bay Area cities and counties, municipal agencies, local organizations, and major employers. Take a look at "Who are the SunShares Outreach Partners?" just below for the list.

SunShares partners with municipalities, companies, and nonprofits to spread the word about SunShares to people across the Bay Area. Below are the 50+ nonprofit, municipal, and corporate partners:

Nonprofit: Act Now Bay Area, Acterra, BayREN, Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC), Business Council on Climate Change (BC3), Resilient Neighborhoods, Ride and Drive Clean, Sustainable Lafayette, Sustainable Marin, University of California San Francisco (UCSF)

Corporate: 3 Degrees, Autodesk, Dolby, Gilead Sciences, Google, LinkedIn, Marsh / Oliver Wyman, Okta, Pinterest, Recology, San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Service Now, Treasury Wine Estates, Workday

Municipal: Alameda, Berkeley, Brisbane, Burlingame, Clean Power SF, Concord, Contra Costa County, Corte Madera, Dublin, El Cerrito, Fremont, Marin Clean Energy, Marin County, Martinez, Millbrae, Oakland, Palo Alto, Piedmont, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Jose, San Jose Clean Energy, City and County of San Francisco, San Leandro, City of San Mateo, Santa Clara County, Sausalito, Silicon Valley Power, Walnut Creek, WestLight Energy (formerly PCE)

If you'd like to join SunShares as an Outreach Partner to help spread the word and track your impact, email us at sunshares@actnowbayarea.org for more information!