Which Way Should Solar Panels Face in California?
Straight answer: for the most total energy, face panels south. But under NEM 3.0 — California’s rules for SCE, PG&E and SDG&E — a west- or southwest-facing roof can save more for some households, because it shifts output into the expensive 4–9 p.m. peak when export credits are low. On LADWP’s own schedules south still leads — and a battery makes direction matter far less.
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- South makes the most total energy over a year — the classic answer, and still the right one on LADWP’s own schedules or if you add a battery.
- Under NEM 3.0 (SCE, PG&E, SDG&E), a west- or southwest-facing roof can save more for some households by shifting output into the expensive late-afternoon peak — even though it makes slightly fewer kWh.
- East covers morning use, tilt matters far less than direction, and most Los Angeles roof pitches are already close to ideal.
The short answer
If you only care about total kilowatt-hours, face your panels south. If you care about your bill under California’s current Net Billing rules (NEM 3.0), west or southwest is often the smarter play — it moves production into the pricey evening window. Most roofs only face one or two useful directions, so the real question is how to make the most of the faces you have.
Two things decide what a solar array is worth: how much energy it makes and when it makes it. For decades only the first mattered, so “face south” was the whole answer. Under NEM 3.0 the timing now carries real money, which is why orientation is worth a second look before you approve a design. Every figure below is relative and illustrative — your roof, shading, usage and utility set the real numbers.
Solar panel orientation compared (illustrative)
Roughly how each direction stacks up in Southern California. The kWh column is relative to a south-facing roof, and the bill-value column assumes an investor-owned utility on NEM 3.0 (SCE, PG&E, SDG&E). LADWP works differently — see below.
| Which way it faces | Relative annual kWh | Bill value under NEM 3.0 (SCE / PG&E / SDG&E) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| South (~180°) | ~100% (most) | Good, but much of the output lands midday when the export credit is low | Most total energy; LADWP homes; anyone adding a battery |
| Southwest (~215°) | ~95–98% | Often the best economics — shifts output toward the 4–9 p.m. peak | The practical NEM 3.0 sweet spot for many homes |
| West (~270°) | ~80–90% | Strong — most output falls in the pricey late-afternoon on-peak hours | Peak-rate self-consumption without a battery |
| East (~90°) | ~80–90% | Modest — production lands in cheaper morning hours | Covering morning use (pre-work, AC pre-cool, an EV) |
| North (~0°) | ~60–70% | Weak on both counts | Generally avoid; only as a last-resort fill |
Directional output based on EnergySage orientation & angle data and NREL PVWatts; NEM 3.0 value framing from Aurora Solar. Percentages are relative and illustrative, not a production guarantee.
Why south still makes the most energy
In the Northern Hemisphere the sun sits in the southern sky, so a true-south roof (about 180° azimuth) keeps panels pointed at the sun for the most hours and produces the highest annual total. Swing to due east or west and you lose roughly 15–20% of yearly output; a gentle southeast or southwest angle costs only a few percent. If your goal is the biggest kWh number — or you’re on a rate plan that values every kWh about the same — south wins. That also describes LADWP, which runs its own program (more on that below).
Why west or southwest often wins the money under NEM 3.0
NEM 3.0 — California’s Net Billing Tariff for SCE, PG&E and SDG&E — changed the math. Power you export now earns a time-varying credit that is usually far below retail (an illustrative 5–8¢/kWh at common midday hours, though a few late-summer evening hours are worth much more). Meanwhile the electricity you buy during the 4–9 p.m. peak can run 50¢+ per kWh. So a midday kWh you export is worth pennies, while a late-afternoon kWh you use yourself avoids the priciest rate of the day.
A west- or southwest-facing array pushes more of its output into that late window, so more of it offsets expensive peak usage instead of being dumped to the grid for a low credit. In one installer’s NEM 3.0 modeling, a southwest layout came out on the order of ~5% ahead of due-south on bill savings, while a due-east layout trailed by around 20% — slightly less energy, but far better-timed. Treat those as illustrative results, not promises: the gain depends on your usage pattern, rate plan, shading and whether you have storage.
East-facing helps if your home wakes up early
East roofs make their power in the morning. If your household runs hard before work — AC pre-cooling on a hot day, an EV topping off, breakfast loads — east-facing panels quietly cover that usage so you buy less from the grid. Many homes end up with a mix (say east plus west across two roof planes), which spreads production across the day.
What about tilt?
Direction matters more than tilt. The theoretical best fixed tilt roughly equals your latitude — about 34° in the Los Angeles area — but a typical residential roof pitch (about 18° to 37°, or 4/12 to 9/12) already sits within a few percent of ideal. A flatter roof gives up a little; a steeper one leans slightly toward winter output. Unless your roof is nearly flat or unusually steep, tilt is not worth losing sleep over — and tilting panels up off the roof plane adds cost and visual bulk that rarely pays back.
What actually moves the needle
Shading
One afternoon shadow from a tree or a neighbor’s roofline can erase a west array’s whole advantage. A good designer maps shading hour by hour before choosing which planes to use.
Your usage pattern
An empty house until 6 p.m. wants west or southwest (and ideally a battery). A work-from-home household that uses power all day cares much less about direction.
A battery
Storage lets a south array make its big midday total and save it for the evening peak, which largely neutralizes the orientation question. See whole-home vs. critical-loads backup.
Roof planes available
Most homes can’t simply pick a direction — you work with the faces you have. Splitting panels across two planes spreads output and hedges your bet.
System size
Orientation interacts with how many panels fit each plane. Our panel-count guide walks through sizing for your usage.
Your utility
NEM 3.0 (the IOUs) rewards evening output; LADWP’s own program leans back toward maximizing total kWh. The right answer follows your rate.
Add storage and orientation matters far less
Under NEM 3.0 the whole orientation debate exists because midday exports are cheap and evening power is dear. A home battery sidesteps it: face panels south for the most total energy, store the midday surplus, and discharge it during the 4–9 p.m. peak. With storage you are optimizing when you use your own power instead of chasing the roof’s direction.
In the City of LA, the calculus shifts back to south
LADWP is a municipal utility and is not on the CPUC’s Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0). It runs its own solar rate schedules, so the low-midday-credit logic that favors west roofs does not apply the same way — the classic “south for the most kWh” guidance generally holds up better here. Confirm the current schedule that applies to your account before finalizing a design.
How we approach it on a real roof
On a recent Northridge install we split panels across two roof planes to catch both morning and late-afternoon sun rather than forcing everything onto one face — a common, practical compromise. There is no single “best” direction that beats a design matched to your roof, shading, usage and utility. Whether the whole project pencils out is a separate question we work through in is solar still worth it in California? As always, these are estimates, not guarantees.
Get a free layout & savings estimateFrequently asked
Which way should solar panels face in California?
For the most total energy, face them south. But if you are on NEM 3.0 (SCE, PG&E or SDG&E), a west- or southwest-facing roof can save more for some households, because it pushes production into the expensive 4–9 p.m. peak when the grid pays little for exports. On LADWP’s own schedules, south is generally still best. A battery makes the choice matter much less.
Do west-facing solar panels really produce less than south?
Yes — a bit. A due-west array typically makes on the order of 10–20% fewer kWh per year than the same panels facing south. Under NEM 3.0 it can still come out ahead financially, because the afternoon power it does make offsets your priciest peak-rate hours instead of being exported for a low credit. These are illustrative ranges, not a guarantee.
Is east or west better for solar panels?
They make similar total energy, but at different times. West favors the late-afternoon peak, which is where the money is under NEM 3.0. East favors the morning — useful if your home uses a lot of power early (pre-cooling, an EV, breakfast loads). Many homes split panels across both to spread production across the day.
What is the best tilt angle for solar panels in Los Angeles?
Roughly your latitude — about 34° for the LA area — is the theoretical best for annual output. In practice a normal roof pitch (about 18° to 37°) already sits within a few percent of ideal, so tilt rarely drives the decision. For most homes, direction matters more than tilt.
Does panel direction matter if I have a battery?
Much less. With storage you can face panels south for the biggest total, bank the midday surplus, and use it during the 4–9 p.m. peak — so you capture peak value without chasing a west roof. See whole-home vs. critical-loads backup for how much battery you would size.
Does orientation work differently on LADWP?
Yes. LADWP is a municipal utility and is not on the CPUC’s NEM 3.0 Net Billing Tariff; it runs its own solar rate schedules. That generally shifts the answer back toward the classic south-for-maximum-kWh guidance. Confirm the current schedule on your account before locking in a layout. More on the state rules in NEM 3.0 explained.
Related reading
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page come from the primary sources below and, where noted, from Cali Energy calculations using the stated assumptions. Rates, incentives, and program terms change; each was verified July 14, 2026.
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Get a free estimatePrepared by Cali Energy, July 14, 2026. This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, financial, engineering, or utility advice. Rates, incentives, codes, permit requirements, equipment specifications, prices, and program terms may change; figures and timelines are estimates, not guarantees. Confirm current requirements with the applicable utility, AHJ, program administrator, manufacturer, or a licensed professional. See our Content Disclaimer. Cali Energy · 19201 Parthenia St, Unit E, Northridge, CA 91324 · CSLB #1032379 (B, C-10, C-39)