Calabasas, CA · October 2022 – June 2023 · Southern California Edison / City of Calabasas
The re-roof permit waited on a condenser on the roof, then the panel and the solar followed
A new roof, a 100-to-200-amp panel upgrade and 24 modules. The city would not issue the re-roof permit until an air-conditioning condenser already on the roof had its own permit.
This Calabasas project combined a new roof, a service panel upgrade from 100 to 200 amps and a 9.6 kW system: 24 Q Cells Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10+ 400 W modules on Enphase IQ8PLUS microinverters. Cali Energy took the re-roof and solar permits from the City of Calabasas, filed the SCE interconnection application on 14 March 2023, installed the system on 19 April and passed the final on 1 May 2023; the system was approved under NEM 2.
At a glance
- System
- 9.6 kW
- Modules
- 24 × Q Cells Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10+ 400
- Microinverters
- Enphase IQ8PLUS, one per module
- Roof
- New cool-roof shingle, deck replaced
- Service
- 100 A to 200 A, same meter location
- Final passed
- 1 May 2023
- Net metering
- NEM 2
The story
The house ran on a 100-amp service, and the roof needed replacing before any solar went on it. The plan was all three in one project: a new roof, a new 200-amp panel and 24 modules. SCE confirmed in December 2022 that the new panel could stay at the existing meter location. The roof went first — the standard order, because replacing the roof before solar means the array never has to come off for roofing later.
The re-roof permit went first. Calabasas asked for an aerial view with the area of work outlined, and the aerial view showed an air-conditioning condenser on the roof with no permit on record. Building and Safety would not issue the re-roof permit until the condenser was approved where it stood.
The homeowner wanted the condenser to stay, and took it up with the city. The city agreed to legalize it, the homeowner obtained the mechanical permit for it on 7 February 2023, and the re-roof permit was issued the next day. The solar and panel permit followed: applied for on 13 February and issued on 16 February.
With the permit in hand, the interconnection application went to SCE on 14 March 2023, a month before the 14 April deadline for applications under NEM 2. What that deadline meant is set out in NEM 2 grandfathering.
The re-roof started on 10 April. Once the old roof was off, the deck needed replacing across the roof, and it was replaced before the new shingles went on: an Owens Corning cool-roof shingle in Shasta White over synthetic underlayment. The roofing final was booked for 17 April, and the solar went on two days later. More on light-colored shingle under solar is in the cool roof requirement.
On 19 April the 24 modules went on, Q Cells 400 W with an Enphase IQ8PLUS microinverter under each, 9.6 kW, and the 100-amp panel was replaced with a 200-amp one at the same location, set into an opening in the stucco. On 26 April the crew came back to finish the run through the attic and the wall.
The final inspection was on 1 May 2023 and it passed. That afternoon all 24 microinverters were reporting and the array was producing just over 7 kW. By 26 June SCE had granted permission to operate, and the system was approved under NEM 2.
How it ran
| 15 December 2022 | SCE approves the existing meter location |
|---|---|
| 7 February 2023 | Homeowner obtains the permit for the rooftop condenser |
| 8 February 2023 | Re-roof permit issued |
| 16 February 2023 | Solar and panel permit issued |
| 14 March 2023 | SCE interconnection application filed |
| 10 April 2023 | Re-roof begins; deck replaced |
| 19 April 2023 | 24 modules installed; panel upgraded to 200 A |
| 26 April 2023 | Attic and wall run finished |
| 1 May 2023 | Final inspection passed |
Filed with SCE a month before the NEM 2 deadline.
What we did
- Took the re-roof permit once the rooftop condenser was approved.
- Took the solar and panel permit from Building and Safety.
- Filed the SCE interconnection application before the NEM 2 deadline.
- Replaced the roof deck and the roof covering.
- Installed 24 modules and upgraded the panel from 100 A to 200 A.
- Passed the final inspection.
System specifications
| Modules | 24 × Q Cells Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10+ 400 |
|---|---|
| System size | 9.6 kW |
| Microinverters | Enphase IQ8PLUS, one per module |
| Roof | Owens Corning cool-roof shingle over a new deck |
| Service panel | 200 A, replacing 100 A, same location |
| Utility / AHJ | Southern California Edison / City of Calabasas |
Is your project like this one?
- Your roof needs replacing before solar.
- Your house is on a 100-amp service.
- You have equipment on the roof, such as an AC condenser.
- You live in Calabasas and want to know the permit order.
Cali Energy in Calabasas
Calabasas is its own city in Los Angeles County: rooftop solar there goes through the City of Calabasas Planning Division and then Building and Safety, and interconnection through Southern California Edison.
Calabasas reviews a re-roof the way it reviews solar: as its own permit, with an outline of the work on an aerial photo. Whatever that photo shows on the roof becomes part of the review.
- License and classifications: CSLB #1032379
- Official reference for this process: California Public Utilities Commission — net energy metering
- Official reference for this process: Southern California Edison — Net Energy Metering
Frequently asked questions
Why did the Calabasas re-roof permit wait on the AC condenser?
Because the aerial view of the roof, which the city asked for with the area of work outlined, showed an air-conditioning condenser that had no permit. Building and Safety would not issue the re-roof permit until the condenser was approved, so the homeowner obtained a mechanical permit for it on 7 February 2023, and the re-roof permit was issued the next day.
Why is this system on NEM 2 and not NEM 3?
Because the interconnection application went to SCE on 14 March 2023, before the 14 April 2023 deadline for applications under NEM 2. The system was installed in April, passed its final on 1 May, and was approved under NEM 2.
What was done to the roof under this array?
The old roof was removed, the deck was replaced across the roof, and a new Owens Corning cool-roof shingle went on over synthetic underlayment. Every mount hole was ringed with sealant before its flashing went down.
Does Cali Energy do roof, panel and solar together in Calabasas?
Yes. On this Calabasas house Cali Energy replaced the roof, upgraded the panel from 100 to 200 amps, installed 24 modules, took the permits from the City of Calabasas and filed with SCE in time for NEM 2. License CSLB #1032379.
What this would look like on your roof
Planning solar in Calabasas? Tell us your utility, your roof and what your bill looks like now, and we will model what a system like this would do on your house before you commit to anything.
Or call +1 (323) 844-7777 · Cali Energy, Northridge · CSLB #1032379 (B, C-10, C-39) — design, permits, install and electrical under one licensed contractor.
Related
Updated October 2026.