Articles

Large array of solar panels on the roof of an new office building.

Understanding California’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) Evolution

Why California's Solar Compensation Has Changed For nearly three decades, California has led the nation in encouraging customer-owned solar energy. As millions of solar panels...
Industrial refrigeration and pumping equipment on a rooftop

Phase One Without Storage: When Batteries Pencil and When They Do Not

Ask most solar contractors about California's Net Billing Tariff and the answer arrives quickly: you will need batteries. It is not bad advice. It is...
Rooftop solar array above an air conditioned retail building

Reading Your Commercial Electric Bill

A commercial electric bill is not one charge. It is several different charges, computed different ways, and solar affects each of them differently. Businesses that...
Commercial rooftop solar installation near the San Francisco Bay

The Commercial Solar Tax Credit Ends December 31, 2027

Published September 2026. Deadlines described here reflect federal law as enacted. Consult your tax professional regarding your own eligibility. The federal Investment Tax Credit for...
Small businesses with rooftop solar panels along a waterfront street

The Section 232 Solar Tariffs: What Commercial Buyers Should Know

Published September 2026. Policy dates and figures below reflect the proclamation as issued; we will update this article as implementation details are clarified. In August...
Commercial tilt-up solar array overlooking the San Francisco Bay

Defeating the 75% Sell-Back Reduction

For most of the history of California solar, exporting power to the grid was the whole point. Build big, run the meter backward, and let...
Warehouse rooftop solar array installed by Light Ray Electric

Sizing to the Bill, Not the Roof

Most commercial solar proposals begin with a satellite photo of your roof. That is the wrong starting point. The roof tells you the maximum system...