30% federal tax credit, SGIP battery rebate, California property tax exclusion - all stackable, with real Central Valley examples.
Going solar in Fresno in 2026 means stacking three distinct incentives, each from a different government level. Stacked correctly, they typically reduce net system cost by 35 to 60 percent off the gross install price. This is the breakdown:
None of these reduce the others. They are independent. Below is a real Fresno example with all three stacked.
The federal Investment Tax Credit was extended and expanded by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. For systems installed in 2026, the credit equals 30 percent of qualified expenses. Qualified expenses include:
Claim it on IRS Form 5695 (Residential Energy Credits) with your federal tax return for the year the system is placed in service - meaning the year PG&E grants Permission to Operate (PTO). Most Fresno installs take 6 to 12 weeks from contract to PTO; budget accordingly when planning the tax year.
The ITC is non-refundable but it carries forward indefinitely. For a typical Fresno middle-class household with $80K-$150K W-2 income, the full credit is usable within 1 to 3 tax years. For lower-income households or seniors on fixed income, the carry-forward can take longer - but the credit is never lost.
The IRA also added stackable bonus credits:
The Self-Generation Incentive Program is California's state-funded per-kWh rebate for residential battery storage. It is administered by PG&E for Fresno customers (and the other IOUs in their territories).
SGIP applications must be filed before installation begins. NMS files for every Fresno battery install: we confirm tier eligibility, prepare the reservation, secure the rebate amount, and submit final paperwork after PTO. No work on your end.
Under California Revenue and Taxation Code section 73, "active solar energy systems" (solar PV, solar thermal, and qualifying battery storage installed alongside solar) are excluded from property tax reassessment. In Fresno County, this means:
The exclusion currently runs through January 1, 2027. Legislation may extend it; legislation may also let it expire. Installing before January 1, 2027 locks you into the current exclusion for the life of your system.
Recent NMS install in northeast Fresno - 3,000 sq ft home, 2 adults, 2 kids, PG&E E-TOU-C rate plan:
Your numbers will differ based on system size, roof orientation, your tax situation, SGIP tier, and rate plan. We model your specific situation on the first call.
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (also called the solar ITC) is 30 percent of total installed system cost in 2026. It applies to solar panels, inverters, racking, labor, permits, sales tax, and any battery storage installed alongside (or added to) the solar system. The 30 percent rate is locked through 2032. After that it steps down: 26 percent in 2033, 22 percent in 2034, then expires. Claim it on IRS Form 5695.
It is a credit, not a rebate or refund. The 30 percent ITC reduces what you owe the IRS dollar-for-dollar. If your tax liability is smaller than the credit, the unused portion carries forward indefinitely. For most Fresno middle-class homeowners with W-2 income, the full credit is usable within 1 to 3 tax years. Confirm with your tax professional.
SGIP (Self-Generation Incentive Program) is California's per-kWh rebate for residential battery storage. The general residential tier pays roughly $200 per kWh of usable battery capacity - about $2,700 for a single Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh). The Equity Resiliency tier pays substantially more, often covering 85 to 100 percent of total battery cost. Equity Resiliency eligibility includes homes in PG&E High Fire Threat District (HFTD) Tier 2 or 3 zones, PG&E medical baseline customers, and homes in disadvantaged community census tracts. Many foothill areas above Clovis - Tollhouse, Auberry, Prather - qualify automatically.
No. California Revenue and Taxation Code section 73 excludes 'active solar energy systems' from property tax reassessment through January 1, 2027. Your home's assessed value does not increase because you added solar (or solar plus battery). The exclusion automatically applies - your Fresno County Assessor does not reassess. After 2027 the rule may change; if you install before then you are locked into the current exclusion.
Three to know: (1) PG&E does not currently offer a direct solar rebate, but it does offer EV-2A rate plan benefits if you add an EV charger; (2) the City of Fresno offers expedited solar permitting via SolarAPP+ - not money, but it saves typically 3 to 5 weeks of project time; (3) SGIP (state, not utility) is filed through PG&E for Fresno customers. NMS files SGIP for every Fresno install.
Yes - they are independent. A typical Fresno solar plus Powerwall install can claim all three: 30 percent federal ITC on the full system, SGIP rebate on the battery portion, and the California property tax exclusion automatically. SGIP does NOT reduce the basis used for ITC calculation in most cases (consult your CPA). The IRA also added two stackable adders to the ITC: 10 percent for domestic-content systems and 10 percent for energy-community siting, potentially pushing the effective credit to 50 percent for qualifying projects.
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Net Metering Systems
55 E Shaw Ave #201
Clovis, CA 93612
