Turlock based. Built around your utility.
Solar, batteries and electrical upgrades shaped by how your property uses power, and how your electric utility bills it.
TID · Modesto · Merced · Lodi Electric · SMUD · PG&E
One local team
Homes · Businesses · Agriculture · New construction
Headquartered in Turlock
Serving California since 2015
C-10 electrical contractor
CSLB #1014016
Solar + storage + electrical
One coordinated project
Local power. Local knowledge.
Select your utility to see published fees, ongoing charges and the way solar is credited. Start with the account’s actual rate plan.
Residential cost snapshots
These are utility charges. Your complete CSS project quote also accounts for solar and battery equipment, installation, permits and any electrical or utility upgrades. Commercial and agricultural rates need a separate review.
Turlock & surrounding electric service areas
TID solar can offset energy use within monthly time-of-use periods. Your highest grid-demand interval remains a separate part of the bill.
Where solar can work well
Households with substantial daytime use and a plan to manage import peaks. Compare solar alone with storage or load scheduling using interval data.
2026 residential DG example
One-time utility fee
Residential solar application. An optional generation meter is listed at $600; additional inspections may cost extra.
Monthly base charge
2026 customer charge. Standard non-solar DE service also has a $26 customer charge.
Demand charge
Winter / summer, based on the highest 15-minute grid import. Energy and surcharges are additional.
Solar export treatment
Monthly on/off-peak netting; remaining net surplus is paid at the published variable SRMC.
At $4 per kW, a 10 kW maximum imported demand produces $40 of demand charges. Add the $26 customer charge: $66 before energy, surcharges and taxes. This is an illustration, not a predicted bill.
Worth checking. 2026 DG energy prices are 6.22–12.94¢/kWh by season and time. A battery must actually reduce the monthly maximum imported kW to reduce demand charges.
Checked October 22, 2026. These are published residential examples. The linked tariff, approved account and configuration control eligibility.
Electric customers of Modesto Irrigation District
Modesto’s NEM 2 pays a set credit for excess generation. Solar used at home can avoid a retail purchase instead.
Where solar can work well
Homes and businesses that can use a substantial share of solar as it is produced. Review approved expansion size and battery settings before adding equipment.
Residential D + Modesto NEM 2 example
One-time utility fee
Interconnection below 100 kW AC CSI per meter. At 100 kW or more the listed fee is $1,800.
Monthly base charge
Standard Residential D fixed charge, also paid without solar. Eligible CARES accounts have a reduced charge.
Base energy range
Per kWh on the published residential tiers, depending on season and use. Adjustments and taxes are extra.
Solar export treatment
Modesto NEM 2 excess-generation credit. Imported and exported energy are tracked separately.
At 7.6¢ per kWh, 1,000 kWh of compensated excess generation creates a $76 credit. Solar consumed on site instead reduces retail energy purchases. This credit example is not total system savings.
Worth checking. Modesto’s NEM 2 tariff excludes excess-generation compensation for customers with grid-charged battery storage. Confirm the approved charging configuration before comparing storage options.
Checked October 22, 2026. These are published residential examples. The linked tariff, approved account and configuration control eligibility.
Electric customers of Merced Irrigation District
Merced’s July 2026 residential NEM 2 rate includes demand billing. Solar production and the timing of your highest grid use both matter.
Where solar can work well
Customers with daytime solar use and a practical way to manage large evening or simultaneous loads. Compare solar with controlled storage and load scheduling.
Residential NEM 2 · effective July 1, 2026
One-time utility fee
Residential application fee. Nonresidential applications are listed at $1,200; other project costs can apply.
Monthly base charge
Minimum customer charge under the July 2026 residential NEM 2 rate. This replaces the older $65 amount.
Demand charge
Winter / summer, based on the highest 15-minute district-supplied load each billing period.
Solar export treatment
Published excess-generation credit in the July 2026 tariff. Credits do not offset demand charges.
10 kW × $8.19 produces $81.90 of summer demand charges. With the $30 customer charge, that is $111.90 before energy, adjustments and taxes. Solar credits cannot cancel the demand charge.
Worth checking. Published base energy is 13.88¢/kWh, with adjustments and mandated charges additional. Review interval data: an evening peak can remain even when solar covers much of the day’s energy.
Checked October 22, 2026. These are published residential examples. The linked tariff, approved account and configuration control eligibility.
Lodi Electric Utility customers
Lodi’s Energy Purchase program credits exported solar. Solar used on your property reduces the electricity you need to buy.
Where solar can work well
Properties with recurring daytime loads that can use solar directly. Compare storage against the difference between avoided purchases and export credits, including ECA.
Standard residential + Energy Purchase example
One-time utility fee
Single-phase 60–200A metering/interconnection, July 2026–June 2027. Three-phase 200–400A: $1,479.
Monthly base charge
Standard residential customer charge per meter. This is an ordinary service charge, not a new solar fee.
Base energy tiers
Per kWh in the currently linked residential rate summary. Monthly ECA and taxes are additional.
Solar export treatment
Energy Purchase credit for exports, effective July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027.
At the current 8.43¢ Energy Purchase rate, 1,000 exported kWh creates $84.30 in credits. Energy consumed on site is neither billed nor credited. This is an export example, not an annual savings estimate.
Worth checking. Lodi’s current solar guide does not allow third-party electricity-sale PPAs. Financing-style equipment leases are allowed. Ownership and financing options need to fit that rule.
Checked October 22, 2026. These are published residential examples. The linked tariff, approved account and configuration control eligibility.
Sacramento-area SMUD customers
SMUD’s Solar and Storage Rate credits exports at a fixed rate. A battery can move available solar toward the weekday 5–8 p.m. peak window.
Where solar can work well
Solar owners who can shift use out of the evening peak, or qualify for a participating battery program. Review legacy NEM eligibility before accepting incentives.
Standard residential TOD + SSR example
One-time utility fee
Residential systems under 10 kW; 10–under 20 kW: $900. Adding a battery to existing solar has no additional fee.
Monthly base charge
Standard System Infrastructure Fixed Charge. A qualifying Low Use plan has a different charge.
Energy-rate range
Per kWh on current standard Time-of-Day rates, depending on season and time. Discounts may apply.
Solar export treatment
SSR export compensation, effective June 1, 2026, regardless of hour or season.
At 9.6¢ per kWh, 1,000 SSR export kWh creates $96 in energy credits. Your standard fixed charge remains. Compare the complete solar-and-storage cost with expected energy savings.
Worth checking. Eligible battery interconnection applications received on or after September 23, 2026 can qualify for up to $6,000 in My Energy Optimizer Partner+ enrollment incentives. Eligible equipment, SSR participation and SMUD battery control are required; enroll within 90 days of PTO. Confirm the actual incentive and eligibility.
Checked October 22, 2026. These are published residential examples. The linked tariff, approved account and configuration control eligibility.
PG&E electric customers
PG&E’s electricity prices can create substantial value for solar used on site. Storage and export timing shape the Solar Billing Plan case.
Where solar can work well
Customers with high avoidable energy costs and solar that matches their use. Compare storage for evening imports and valuable export periods using the actual tariff.
Bundled residential E-ELEC + Solar Billing example
One-time utility fee
Standard NEM 2 / NBT interconnection request at or below 1 MW. Service or grid upgrades are separate.
Monthly base charge
Base Services Charge, billed daily. About $6 CARE / $12 FERA or qualifying housing. Applies with or without solar.
Bundled energy range
Per kWh in the current E-ELEC bundled tariff, by time and season. CCA generation rates can differ.
Solar export treatment
Solar Billing export credits vary by month, hour and day type. They are not a fixed retail-rate credit.
At the published 33.358¢ E-ELEC bundled summer off-peak rate, avoiding 100 kWh of purchases is about $33.36 in energy charges. This illustrates one rate period, not annual savings or battery payback.
Worth checking. The Base Services Charge replaced the previous minimum-charge structure; do not add the old E-ELEC $15 charge again. Confirm original NEM status and remaining legacy eligibility before expansion.
Checked October 22, 2026. These are published residential examples. The linked tariff, approved account and configuration control eligibility.
Understand what remains on the bill. Base charges can apply with or without solar. Energy, demand, adjustments and taxes may remain after installation. Existing NEM and discounted accounts can have different terms. Modesto and Merced Irrigation Districts are separate utilities.
New-solar residential snapshots, checked October 22, 2026. Fees cover the stated project sizes and service types in each profile. Base charges are recurring service costs, not necessarily solar-specific charges. Legacy programs, discounts, larger projects and equipment changes can differ.
| Utility | One-time fee | Monthly base | Residential demand | Export / surplus treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TID | $450 | $26/mo | $3.40 winter / $4.00 summer per kW | Monthly TOU netting; surplus SRMC varies |
| Modesto | $900 | $32/mo | Not listed on standard Residential D | 7.6¢/kWh, subject to NEM 2 eligibility |
| Merced | $600 | $30/mo | $5.19 winter / $8.19 summer per kW | 4.95¢/kWh published excess-generation credit |
| Lodi Electric | $839 | $19.50/mo | Not listed on standard residential schedule | 8.43¢/kWh through June 30, 2027 |
| SMUD | From $475 | $27/mo | Not listed on standard residential TOD | 9.6¢/kWh under SSR |
| PG&E | $145 | About $24/mo | Not listed on residential E-ELEC | Varies by month, hour and day type |
Application fees, base charges, demand and export credits measure different things. The lowest fee or highest export credit alone does not identify the lowest total cost or best solar payback.
The starting bill matters
Published monthly bill comparison · 750 kWh/month
Source: SMUD’s published comparison, June 1, 2026 ↗. This is a utility-bill benchmark, not a solar-savings or post-installation estimate. Merced and Lodi are not included in this source.
Understand the line items
Look at the type of charge as well as the total. Each one responds to a different part of the energy plan.
kWh
Grid power used when solar or stored energy does not cover the load. Time-of-use plans also price when you use it.
kW
On demand-billed plans, the highest grid load during the utility’s measurement interval matters. Lower total energy use can still leave a high peak.
$
Customer or infrastructure charges can remain with solar. Review the actual rate plan and any eligible discounts.
±
The value of energy sent to the grid, and which charges credits can offset, depend on your approved solar program.
Use your own electric bill and agreement alongside the utility profile above.
Before equipment is selected
Utility rules can affect the system size, approved equipment, cost and sequence of work. We review those details as part of the design.
01
Review the rate plan, existing solar approval and proposed changes. System-size limits, export rules and legacy eligibility can affect what the utility will approve.
02
An application fee covers the stated utility service. Permits, engineering, meter work or approved electrical upgrades can be separate. Confirm the requirements and responsibilities for your property.
03
Building inspections and utility operating authorization have different roles. Some utilities require approval before installation. The sequence and final operating requirements follow your utility and project type.
Already have solar?
New loads, import timing, ongoing charges or a production issue can each affect the result. Monitoring and billing history help us identify which one needs attention.
Use the official requirements in your utility profile for the applicable process. For examples, see Modesto’s application and modification guidance and SMUD’s legacy-program rules.
A useful place to start
Build a short checklist for your conversation with CSS. No account numbers or personal details needed here.
Clear answers
Start with the actual electric account, the property and the proposed work.
Yes. Local electric utilities have their own solar programs and interconnection requirements. We review the provider, rate plan and property before recommending a design.
No. A program name alone does not establish the billing rules. PG&E’s Solar Billing Plan, Modesto’s NEM programs, Lodi’s Energy Purchase program and SMUD’s Solar and Storage Rate need their own review.
It can. We review original approvals, legacy eligibility, proposed changes and any incentive conditions. Separate equipment alone does not preserve an existing utility arrangement; the configuration must qualify.
That depends on the utility and approved arrangement. Review each account and meter rather than assuming credits can move between properties. Pump schedules, seasonal loads and export treatment also affect the design.
No. The utility amounts are separate from solar panels, batteries, installation, permitting and any required electrical or grid work. CSS reviews the property and issues a project-specific scope and quote.
Compare the full picture: avoided electricity purchases, export treatment, ongoing charges, interconnection requirements and eligible incentives. A high export credit or a low application fee alone does not predict the best savings. Your profile shows the costs and value drivers to review.
Start with the electric-service section of your bill and the service address. Choose “Not sure” in the checklist and bring what you have. We’ll help identify the right starting point.
Tell us your utility, your property and what you want to accomplish. We’ll help define a practical next step.
