10 Solar Myths in California, Debunked for 2026
Straight answer: most “solar doesn’t work” claims are outdated or half-true. Panels produce every winter day — a Los Angeles roof makes about 40% less in December than in August, not nothing; they won’t power your home in a blackout without a battery; and the 30% federal credit ended for owner-bought systems at the end of 2025. Below, ten common myths checked against primary sources.
Get a free estimate
- Winter and cloud cut output; they do not stop it. The typical December day in Northridge makes 87% of the best December day in NREL’s typical-year weather; storm days drop to a few percent.
- Grid-tied solar shuts off in a blackout by design; a battery with backup equipment is what keeps power on.
- Solar rarely means a $0 bill: SCE keeps a $24.15 monthly Base Services Charge, and LADWP’s standard rate a $10 monthly minimum.
- Panels fade slowly — about 0.5% a year for modules, 0.75% for whole systems — and premium warranties promise 89–92% at year 25.
| The myth | The reality | Source |
|---|---|---|
| “Solar doesn’t work in winter or clouds” | December makes 57% of August’s output in Northridge; storm days fall to a few percent | NREL PVWatts |
| “Hotter days make more power” | Cells lose about 0.30% per °C above 25°C; heat costs a Northridge roof about 6% a year | CEC, PVWatts |
| “Solar keeps the lights on in a blackout” | Only with a battery: grid-tied inverters must stop within about 2 seconds | IEEE 1547, UL 1741 |
| “Solar means a $0 bill” | SCE $24.15/month Base Services Charge; LADWP R-1A $10/month minimum | SCE, LADWP |
| “There’s still a 30% tax credit” | Ended for owner-bought systems after December 31, 2025 | IRS |
| “Solar isn’t worth it under NEM 3.0” | A 2026-start SCE export earns about 6¢ + 1.6¢ at midday; value moves to self-use and batteries; LADWP isn’t on NEM 3.0 | SCE, Schedule NBT |
| “Panels ruin your roof” | Flashed, rafter-anchored mounts don’t leak; an old roof should be replaced first | — |
| “Panels need constant upkeep” | No moving parts; inverters are the part most likely to need service — Enphase microinverters carry 25-year warranties, SolarEdge inverters 12 | Enphase, SolarEdge |
| “Panels stop working at 25 years” | They fade: 0.5%/yr modules, 0.75%/yr fleets | NREL, PV Fleet |
| “Wait — much cheaper panels are coming” | Installed prices have fallen only $0.1–0.2/W a year since 2014 | Berkeley Lab |
Myth 1: “Solar panels don’t work in winter or on cloudy days”
Reality: they make less, not nothing. In NREL’s PVWatts model a south-facing 20° roof in Northridge produces about 100 kWh per installed kW in December against 175 in August — 57%. Shorter days and a low sun drive the drop, not cold. Cloud matters most on storm days: in the model’s typical-year weather the dullest December day produced 4% of the brightest, but the median December day produced 87% of it. Month-by-month numbers are in solar in a California winter.
Myth 2: “The hotter and sunnier it is, the more power you get”
Reality: sunlight helps; heat hurts. Modules lose power as cells warm above 25°C — the median CEC-listed 350 W+ module from 2024–2026 loses 0.30% per °C (CEC). In PVWatts, heat costs a Northridge roof about 6% of its yearly output. Details in how heat affects solar output.
Myth 3: “If I have solar, I’ll keep my power in a blackout”
Reality: not on its own. Grid-tied inverters must include anti-islanding protection and stop energizing your wiring within about two seconds of losing the grid (IEEE 1547, UL 1741), so a solar-only home goes dark even at noon. Staying on needs a battery with backup equipment that isolates the house — see solar in a power outage and the PSPS battery model.
Myth 4: “Going solar means a $0 electric bill”
Reality: rarely. SCE charges a Base Services Charge of $24.15 a month ($12.08 FERA, $6.00 CARE) that solar credits do not pay, along with non-bypassable charges and taxes (SCE). LADWP’s standard R-1A rate keeps a $10 monthly minimum ($20 on a two-month bill) plus city tax (LADWP). Why a bill remains, line by line: still have a bill after solar.
Myth 5: “There’s still a 30% federal solar tax credit”
Reality: not for owner-bought systems. The Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems paid for after December 31, 2025 (IRS); ads still showing “30% off” are out of date. With a lease or PPA the owner may claim a business credit, which the 2025 federal law is also tightening. Details: the 30% credit ended. General information, not tax advice.
Myth 6: “Solar isn’t worth it under NEM 3.0”
Reality: it changed where the value is. On SCE’s Solar Billing Plan a 2026-start system earns about 6¢ for a summer-midday export plus a 1.6¢ bonus credit, and about 21¢ on a summer evening (SCE, Schedule NBT), so savings come from using your own solar and, often, a battery. LADWP is not on NEM 3.0; it nets exports against imports kilowatt-hour for kilowatt-hour (LADWP net metering). Whether it pays for your home is a calculation: is solar still worth it?
Myth 7: “Solar panels will ruin your roof”
Reality: a proper installation doesn’t. Mounts are fastened into the rafters and sealed with flashing; leaks come from poor flashing or a roof that was already failing. If the roof is near the end of its life, replace it first rather than paying to remove and reinstall the array — see replace your roof before solar? and choosing a roofing contractor.
Myth 8: “Panels need constant, expensive maintenance”
Reality: panels have no moving parts. The electronics are what most often need service, and their warranties are long: Enphase covers IQ8 and IQ9 microinverters for 25 years, SolarEdge its inverters for 12 (Enphase, SolarEdge). Monitoring shows a drop in production; cleaning is occasional.
Myth 9: “Solar panels stop working after 20–25 years”
Reality: they fade, they don’t switch off. NREL’s review of more than 11,000 measurements puts the median module loss at about 0.5% a year (Jordan & Kurtz); whole US fleets lose about 0.75% a year (PV Fleet), and a study of home rooftops found 1.3% a year once dirt and growing shade are counted (Deceglie et al.). Current premium warranties promise 89–92% of rated power at year 25 — see solar panel degradation.
Myth 10: “Wait — cheaper, better panels are just around the corner”
Reality: prices move slowly now. Berkeley Lab finds installed prices fell only about $0.1–0.2 per watt a year on average since 2014, after the steep declines of the preceding decade, and soft costs make up roughly 80% of a home system’s price (LBNL). Waiting mostly means more months on the full utility bill. Start from what solar costs in Los Angeles.
Three quick tests
Is it about California and your utility? Export and incentive rules differ between SCE and LADWP. What is the date? 2023–2026 rewrote much of the rulebook. Does the number have a primary source? A utility tariff, a national lab or a statute beats a blog. The facts on this page are dated September 2026.
Get a straight answer for your roofFrequently asked
Do solar panels work on cloudy days and in winter?
Yes, at reduced output. NREL’s PVWatts model puts December at 57% of August for a south-facing Northridge roof. Storm days fall to a few percent of a clear day, but in the model’s typical-year weather the median December day still made 87% of the best December day.
Will solar power my house during a blackout?
Not by itself. Grid-tied inverters must stop energizing your wiring within about two seconds of losing the grid (IEEE 1547, UL 1741). A battery with backup equipment that isolates the house is what keeps power on.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
Not for owner-bought systems — the 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems paid for after December 31, 2025. A lease or PPA owner may claim a business credit, which is also tightening. See the 30% credit ended.
Will solar make my electric bill $0?
Rarely. SCE keeps a $24.15 monthly Base Services Charge plus non-bypassable charges and taxes that solar credits do not pay; LADWP’s standard R-1A rate has a $10 monthly minimum plus city tax. See still have a bill after solar.
Do solar panels stop working after 25 years?
No. Modules lose a median of about 0.5% a year in NREL’s review, whole US fleets about 0.75%, and home rooftops about 1.3% once dirt and shade are counted; premium warranties promise 89–92% of rated power at year 25. See solar panel degradation.
Is solar still worth it in California under NEM 3.0?
It depends on your usage, rate and whether you add a battery. A 2026-start SCE system earns about 6¢ plus a 1.6¢ bonus for a summer-midday export, so value comes from self-use; LADWP is not on NEM 3.0. See is solar still worth it?
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 September 29, 2026.
- NREL (NLR) — PVWatts Calculator, v8 runs for Northridge (monthly and hourly output, typical-year weather)
- California Energy Commission — PV Module List (temperature coefficients)
- IEEE 1547 — Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources
- UL 1741 — Inverters and interconnection system equipment for distributed energy resources
- SCE — Base Services Charge
- SCE — Solar Billing Plan export values
- SCE — Schedule NBT (Energy Export Bonus Credit)
- LADWP — Rates FAQ, Residential Solar Rate (archived May 19, 2024): R-1A minimum charge
- IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit
- Jordan & Kurtz — Photovoltaic Degradation Rates: An Analytical Review (NREL)
- NREL — PV Fleet Performance Data Initiative, final technical report (2025)
- Deceglie et al. — Fleet-scale energy-yield degradation of residential and nonresidential PV systems
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — U.S. Distributed Solar and Storage 2025 Data Update (price trends)
- Enphase — US limited warranty, IQ microinverters
- SolarEdge — Limited Product Warranty, January 2026
Get straight answers about solar, not myths
Tell us your roof and a recent bill and we'll show you the real numbers for your home — month-by-month output, what stays on the bill, and whether a battery pays. No hype, no pressure.
Get a free estimatePrepared by Cali Energy, September 29, 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)