Why do I need a battery with solar under NEM 3.0?

Under California's current Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0), SCE pays you a much lower rate for excess solar energy you send to the grid than what you pay for energy you pull from it. A battery lets you store your excess solar energy during the day and use it at night, so you avoid buying it back from SCE at the higher retail rate. For most SCE solar customers, a battery significantly improves the value of going solar.

How long will a battery power my home during an outage?

It depends on your battery capacity and what you are running. Most home batteries can power essential loads — refrigerator, lights, outlets, and Wi-Fi — for several hours to a full day or more. We help you prioritize which circuits to back up so your battery lasts as long as possible during an outage.

Can I add a battery to my existing solar system?

Yes. We can retrofit a battery to most existing solar installations. We assess your current system, inverter, and panel to determine the best integration method, then install and configure the battery for backup and self-consumption.

Can a battery power my whole home?

It depends on your home's energy usage and the battery capacity. Some homeowners choose whole-home backup with multiple batteries; others back up only essential loads with a single battery. We design the system based on your budget and priorities.

Do you handle permits for battery installation?

Yes. We pull all required permits from your city and schedule the inspection. Battery installations involve electrical work that must be permitted and inspected — we handle the entire process for you.

Solar Battery Storage in Huntington Beach, CA

Solar battery storage in Orange County — store excess solar energy for backup power and energy independence.

A solar battery lets you store the energy your panels produce during the day and use it at night — or during a power outage. For Southern California Edison (SCE) customers under California's current Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0), pairing a battery with your solar system is one of the smartest ways to maximize value. Instead of exporting your extra solar energy to the grid at a low rate, you keep it and use it yourself. OC Electric & Solar designs and installs solar battery systems for homes across Huntington Beach and Orange County, backed by CSLB License #1080439.

What's Included

Solar battery system design

We size your battery based on your evening energy usage and backup priorities — whole-home or essential loads only.

Battery installation

Wall-mounted or floor-mounted battery systems installed in your garage or exterior, wired to your main panel or a backup sub-panel.

Solar-plus-storage integration

Connect your battery to your existing or new solar system so it charges automatically during the day.

Backup power configuration

Designate which circuits stay on during an outage — refrigerator, lights, garage door, medical equipment, and more.

Monitoring setup

App-based monitoring so you can see your solar production, battery charge level, and home energy usage in real time.

Permitting & inspection

We pull all required permits and schedule inspections so your battery installation is fully code-compliant.

Signs You Need Solar Battery Storage

You have solar and want to use your excess energy instead of exporting it at a low rate

You experience power outages and want backup power for your home

You are installing solar under NEM 3.0 and want to maximize your savings

You want to run essential loads — fridge, lights, medical devices — during an outage

You are adding an EV charger and want to charge it on stored solar energy

You want energy independence from rising utility rates

Our Process

Energy assessment & design

We review your energy usage and solar production to size the right battery capacity and configure your backup loads.

Permitting

We pull the required permits from your city building department for the battery installation and any electrical modifications.

Professional installation

Our licensed electricians install the battery, wire it to your panel or backup sub-panel, and integrate it with your solar system — all to NEC and California Electrical Code.

Inspection & activation

We schedule the city inspection, verify everything passes, and activate your battery system with monitoring.

Why Choose OC Electric & Solar

CSLB Licensed #1080439 — licensed electrical contractor, not a battery sales company

Expertise with NEM 3.0 and SCE net billing — we size your system for real value

Backup power configuration tailored to your priorities

Clean, code-compliant installation with permits and inspection

Local to Huntington Beach — ongoing support after installation

Reviews

What Orange County Customers Say

"Lucian was the best electrician we've had in years. The job was well done at a very competitive price, and we'll call again for future needs."

John Campbell

"Very professional and clean. I really appreciated this company and strongly recommend them to my friends."

Mary Widdop

See our reviews on Google

Solar Battery Storage FAQs

Why do I need a battery with solar under NEM 3.0?: Under California's current Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0), SCE pays you a much lower rate for excess solar energy you send to the grid than what you pay for energy you pull from it. A battery lets you store your excess solar energy during the day and use it at night, so you avoid buying it back from SCE at the higher retail rate. For most SCE solar customers, a battery significantly improves the value of going solar.
How long will a battery power my home during an outage?: It depends on your battery capacity and what you are running. Most home batteries can power essential loads — refrigerator, lights, outlets, and Wi-Fi — for several hours to a full day or more. We help you prioritize which circuits to back up so your battery lasts as long as possible during an outage.
Can I add a battery to my existing solar system?: Yes. We can retrofit a battery to most existing solar installations. We assess your current system, inverter, and panel to determine the best integration method, then install and configure the battery for backup and self-consumption.
Can a battery power my whole home?: It depends on your home's energy usage and the battery capacity. Some homeowners choose whole-home backup with multiple batteries; others back up only essential loads with a single battery. We design the system based on your budget and priorities.
Do you handle permits for battery installation?: Yes. We pull all required permits from your city and schedule the inspection. Battery installations involve electrical work that must be permitted and inspected — we handle the entire process for you.

Get a Free Estimate for Solar Battery Storage

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