Solar rules by electric utility — and what changes for your project
The panels on two identical roofs can be identical; the bill they produce is not. Your electric utility sets how exported power is credited, what the interconnection paperwork looks like and how long approval takes. Cali Energy files in LADWP, SCE, Burbank and Glendale territory — here is what each one means for a solar project.
Get a free solar estimateFour utilities, four rulebooks
Pick yours — each page covers what changes for a solar project, and what we file on your behalf.
LADWP
Serves the City of Los Angeles, including most of the San Fernando Valley. Municipal, so it sets its own solar credit rules rather than following the state’s NEM 3.0. Bills roughly every 60 days.
Solar with LADWP › Investor-owned utilitySouthern California Edison
Serves most of LA County outside the city limits, plus Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. New solar connects under the state’s Solar Billing Plan, which changes how exports are valued.
Solar with SCE › Municipal utilityBurbank Water & Power
Burbank runs its own utility on net billing — exports credited by time of day and season, a 150% sizing cap for permits applied for from 2026, grandfathering of earlier systems through 2046, and a battery rebate.
Solar with BWP › Municipal utilityGlendale Water & Power
Glendale is municipal too, and has kept net energy metering. Applications run through PowerClerk, and systems up to 10 kW are exempt from the usage cap.
Solar with GWP ›Want them side by side? Compare all four utilities in one table ›
Why the utility decides more than the panels do
Two identical rooftops on opposite sides of a city line can produce the same power and save very different amounts of money. The hardware is the small variable; the billing program is the large one. Three things change with the utility:
- How exports are valued. California’s investor-owned utilities — SCE among them — connect new solar under the Solar Billing Plan, where power you send to the grid is credited at hourly export values rather than at the retail rate. Municipal utilities like LADWP set their own credit rules, which is why solar-only systems often offset more of a municipal bill.
- How the paperwork runs. Interconnection applications, forms, review queues and inspection sequences differ by utility. This is the part we handle, and the part that decides how long the project takes after the panels are up.
- Whether a battery changes the math. When exports are worth less than retail power, storing production for the evening can matter more than adding another panel. That calculation is utility-specific, and it belongs in your proposal — not in a brochure.
Not sure who serves you?
Look at the top of your electric bill — the utility name is on it, and that answer is the one that counts. City boundaries do not always match utility boundaries: an address with a Los Angeles mailing city can still be served by a neighboring municipal utility, and parts of the county sit in SCE territory. If you send us your address, we confirm the utility before quoting anything.
For the full city-by-city breakdown, including cities we do not list here, see our reference: who’s my electric utility in the LA area.
Our service cities by utility
Each city links to real projects we completed there.
LADWP (16 cities)
SCE (11 cities)
Municipal utilities
Frequently asked
Does my electric utility change how much solar saves me?
Yes, substantially. The utility sets how exported power is credited, what the fixed monthly charges are and which rate plans you can choose. Two identical systems on opposite sides of a utility boundary can produce the same kilowatt-hours and offset very different amounts of money.
Is LADWP better than SCE for solar?
They are different, and you do not get to choose — your address does. LADWP is municipal and sets its own credit rules, so solar-only systems tend to offset more of the bill. SCE connects new systems under the state’s Solar Billing Plan, where exports are credited at hourly values, which often makes storage more valuable. The right design is different in each case.
Who handles the interconnection paperwork?
We do. Every utility has its own application, review queue and inspection sequence, and filing and following up is part of our scope on every project — not something we hand back to the homeowner.
How do I find out which utility serves my address?
The name is printed on your electric bill, and that is the definitive answer. City names can mislead: utility boundaries do not always follow city limits. Send us the address and we confirm it before quoting.
Do you install in Burbank and Glendale, which have their own utilities?
Yes. Both are municipal utilities with their own rules, and we file with them directly. Our completed work is on the Burbank and Glendale project pages.
Related reading
Sources
Program details on this page come from the utilities’ own published materials, checked August 31, 2026. Rates and program terms belong to the utilities and change on their schedule — confirm current terms before making a decision.
Tell us the address — we’ll confirm the utility
Send the property address and a recent bill. We identify the utility, model the system against your actual usage under that utility’s rules, and put a line-item quote in front of you.
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Prepared by Cali Energy, August 31, 2026. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Utility programs, rates and interconnection requirements change; confirm current terms with the utility. See our Content Disclaimer. Cali Energy · 19201 Parthenia St, Unit E, Northridge, CA 91324 · +1 (323) 844-7777 · CSLB #1032379 (B, C-10, C-39)