Choosing a solar installer in Fresno comes down to a few checks: a valid license, clear PG&E and permit answers, written warranties and an itemized quote. You can do every one of them yourself, and none of them take long.
This is the checklist we would want a friend to use — including on us.
1. Verify the Contractor's License
Start with the license. The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) lists several license classifications that are allowed to install solar energy systems, including:
- C-46 Solar Contractor — the solar specialty license
- C-10 Electrical Contractor
- A General Engineering and B General Building (B within the state's rules for general building work)
- A few specialty classes for solar water heating and pool heating
See CSLB's solar consumer page.
How to look a license up:
- Ask for the license number and make sure it matches the company name on your proposal.
- Search by license number, business name or personnel name on CSLB's Check a License page.
- Confirm the license is active and carries one of the classifications above.
- If a salesperson visits, look up their Home Improvement Salesperson (HIS) registration on the same page.
2. Ask Who Handles PG&E Interconnection
Your installer normally submits the application to connect your system to PG&E's grid — PG&E's getting started with solar page lists it as a contractor step. Ask each company:
- Who submits the interconnection application and follows up if PG&E asks for corrections?
- When do you expect Permission to Operate (PTO)? PG&E says not to turn a system on until it gives official written permission to operate.
- Which billing plan will the system be on?
That last question matters. According to PG&E, customers who submitted interconnection applications after April 14, 2023 are enrolled on the Solar Billing Plan, also called the Net Billing Tariff or NEM 3.0. The CPUC explains that export credits under the plan are based on its Avoided Cost Calculator — usually lower than retail rates, though they can rise above the retail rate on late summer evenings.
A good installer designs around that, with more self-consumption, often a battery, and panels placed where their output is worth the most. Our NEM 2.0 vs NEM 3.0 comparison and NEM 3.0 guide for Fresno cover the details. Be wary of anyone who promises full retail credit for every exported kWh on a new system. That describes the old rules, not the current ones.
3. Ask How They Handle Local Permits
The City of Fresno uses SolarAPP+ for eligible residential rooftop solar, and Fresno County, Clovis, Madera and the foothill communities each have their own process. Ask:
- Who pulls the permit and pays the fee, and is it in the quoted price?
- Who schedules and attends the inspection?
- Does the project qualify for SolarAPP+, or will it go through standard plan review?
Read how Fresno's SolarAPP+ same-day permits work and the Fresno SolarAPP+ permit process.
4. Get Every Warranty in Writing
"Warranty" can mean several different promises. Ask for each one in writing, with the length, what it covers and who stands behind it:
- Panel product warranty — defects in the panels themselves
- Panel performance warranty — how much output the panels are guaranteed to keep over time
- Inverter warranty — string inverter, microinverters or optimizers
- Battery warranty — including any limits on capacity or cycles
- Workmanship warranty — the installer's own promise on the installation
- Roof penetration or leak warranty — who fixes a leak around a mount
Ask which warranties come from the manufacturer and which from the installer, and who you call for service.
5. Get More Than One Quote and Compare Line by Line
Price per watt alone does not tell the story. Put quotes side by side:
| Compare | What to look for |
|---|---|
| System size | Panel count and total kW |
| Estimated production | Annual kWh, and how it was modeled for your roof |
| Equipment | Panel, inverter and battery make and model |
| Price | Total price and what it includes: permits, electrical panel upgrades, roof work, monitoring |
| Financing | APR and fees for loans; rate, term and yearly escalator for leases and PPAs |
| Incentives | Only programs you actually qualify for |
| Timeline | Design, permit, install, inspection and PG&E approval |
On incentives: the IRS says the Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. A quote for a 2026 home installation that counts that credit deserves a hard second look. Our 2026 Fresno solar incentives update covers what is still available. For payment options, see 3 forms of financing available for solar and the honest payback math.
6. Expect the California Solar Consumer Protection Guide
The CPUC requires solar providers that submit interconnection applications for residential customers in PG&E territory to collect your initials and signature on the California Solar Consumer Protection Guide, and you must be given time to read it before signing. It covers contracts, licensing, financing and the Solar Billing Plan. Read the guide on the CPUC website.
Red Flags
- The license does not check out, or the business name does not match the contract.
- Pressure to sign today. CSLB's solar page advises homeowners not to be pressured into a rash decision.
- A large deposit. CSLB says the down payment on a home improvement contract cannot be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. Review CSLB's home improvement contract rules.
- Work that starts before you can change your mind. Most home-improvement contracts have at least a three-business-day cancellation period; confirm the period printed in your contract.
- "Free solar." Every option — cash, loan, lease or PPA — has a cost. Ask what you pay, for how long, and what happens if you sell the house.
- Steep escalators or lien language in a lease or PPA. CSLB flags excessive cost escalators and contract terms involving liens.
- Promises based on old rules, like full retail export credit or the expired federal residential credit.
A Quick Fresno Checklist
- License checked on CSLB, active, with a solar-eligible classification
- Name on the license matches the name on the contract
- Clear answer on who handles PG&E interconnection and Permission to Operate
- Clear answer on who handles the permit and inspection for your city or county
- Every warranty in writing, with who stands behind it
- More than one itemized quote, compared line by line
- California Solar Consumer Protection Guide provided, with time to read it
- No pressure, no oversized deposit and no work before the cancellation window closes
FAQs
What license does a solar installer need in California? CSLB lists the C-46 Solar and C-10 Electrical classifications, along with A General Engineering and B General Building, among those authorized to install solar energy systems.
How do I look up a solar contractor's license? Use CSLB's Check a License tool and search by license number, business name or personnel name.
Should I choose a local solar company? A nearby company is easier to reach for service calls, but hold every installer to the same checklist. See our Fresno solar installation page for how we work in the city.
Net Metering Systems is a family-owned solar installer based in Clovis. Put us through this checklist too: request a free, itemized quote, read customer reviews, or learn more about our team.