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- Under the Sun Solar & Electric
Solar Panel Installation in Citrus Heights
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Electrical contractor serving Citrus Heights homeowners with expert solar panel installation.
Citrus Heights is one of the best locations in California for solar. With over 265 sunny days per year and 5.8 peak sun hours daily, a properly sized solar system here can dramatically cut, or eliminate, your monthly electricity costs. Whether you’re looking to install a ground-up system, add battery storage, or pair solar with an EV charger, our crew handles every part of the project in-house.
If you’re ready to stop watching your electric bill climb and start generating your own clean energy, call us at (916) 899-3062 or request a free estimate online.
Citrus Heights is one of the best locations in California for solar. With over 265 sunny days per year and 5.8 peak sun hours daily, a properly sized solar system here can dramatically cut — or eliminate — your monthly electricity costs. Whether you’re looking to install a ground-up system, add battery storage, or pair solar with an EV charger, our crew handles every part of the project in-house.
- 10 + Years Serving the Sacramento Region
- 100 + Solar Projects Completed
- Fully Licensed & Insured — CA Contractor’s License 1141678
- All Permits Pulled In-House
- SMUD-Approved Solar Installer
- Free, No-Obligation Estimates
Solar Panel Installation Services in Citrus Heights
We offer a full range of residential solar services in Citrus Heights — from initial energy audit through final system activation. Every installation is designed around your specific roof, energy usage, and financial goals.
Residential Solar Panel Systems
Our core service is the design and installation of complete rooftop solar panel systems for single-family homes in Citrus Heights. We assess your current electricity usage, roof orientation, shading conditions, and SMUD rate structure to size a system that maximizes your savings. Most Citrus Heights homes benefit from systems in the 6–12 kW range. We handle structural assessment, panel layout, electrical wiring, and SMUD interconnection paperwork from start to finish. Learn more about our broader solar work on our solar panel installation page.
Battery Storage (Solar + Storage Systems)
Under SMUD’s current Solar and Storage Rate, battery storage is more important than ever. SMUD credits exported energy at only 7.4¢/kWh — well below what you pay for grid power — so storing your excess solar production and using it in the evening is the smarter financial move. We install battery storage systems alongside new solar installations or as add-ons to existing systems, and they qualify for the same 30% federal Investment Tax Credit. SMUD also offers its “My Energy Optimizer” battery incentive program, which can earn qualifying homeowners $50–$250 per kWh of storage capacity.
EV Charger Integration with Solar
Pairing an EV charger with a home solar system is one of the best ways to maximize your investment in Citrus Heights. We install Level 2 EV chargers and configure your system so that daytime solar production charges your vehicle directly — reducing your transportation fuel costs along with your utility bill. SMUD customers may also qualify for EV charger rebates that reduce upfront costs further.
Solar System Upgrades & Panel Additions in Citrus Heights
If you already have solar but it’s not keeping pace with your energy needs — due to an EV, home addition, or rising rates — we can evaluate your existing system and add panels or upgrade components to restore full coverage. We work with most major panel and inverter brands and can integrate new equipment into your current setup.
Solar Permitting & Interconnection
Every solar installation in Citrus Heights requires a city building permit and SMUD interconnection approval before the system can go live. We manage the entire permitting process in-house — drawing plans, submitting applications, coordinating inspections, and filing SMUD paperwork — so you never have to deal with the bureaucracy yourself.
Why Citrus Heights Homeowners Choose Under the Sun Electric
- We’re Electricians, Not Just Solar Installers. Solar is fundamentally an electrical system, and our team’s background in licensed electrical contracting means we do the job right — from panel capacity and wiring gauge to code-compliant breaker sizing and grounding. Many solar-only companies sub out the electrical work. We don’t.
- We Pull Every Permit. Some contractors cut corners by skipping permits or pulling them after the fact. We pull all required city and SMUD permits before work begins — every time. This protects your home’s resale value and ensures your system qualifies for tax incentives and warranties.
- Honest System Sizing. We don’t oversell. We design systems based on your actual energy usage, roof conditions, and budget — not on maximizing our ticket price. A properly sized system outperforms an oversized one, and we’ll explain exactly why.
- Local Knowledge of SMUD’s Rate Structure. Understanding how SMUD’s Solar and Storage Rate affects your economics is essential to sizing your system and recommending the right storage solution. We know SMUD’s programs inside and out, including the battery incentive program and current export rates.
- Single Point of Contact, Start to Finish. From your first call through the day your system goes live, you work with our team directly. No hand-offs to subcontractors, no confusion about who’s responsible for what.
What Does Solar Panel Installation Cost in Citrus Heights?
The following cost ranges are based on current local market data from EnergySage and FindEnergy for Citrus Heights and Sacramento County (2025–2026). Your actual cost will vary based on system size, roof conditions, panel brand, and whether you include battery storage.
| System Size | Typical Price Range (Before Incentives) | After 30% Federal Tax Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kW (small home / low usage) | $11,766 – $15,500+ | ~$8,236 – $10,850 |
| 6–7 kW (average home) | $16,000 – $19,000+ | ~$11,200 – $13,300 |
| 10–12 kW (larger home / EV) | $23,500 – $30,000+ | ~$16,450 – $21,000 |
| Battery storage add-on | $8,000 – $15,000+ | Qualifies for 30% ITC |
Permit and interconnection fees in Sacramento County typically add $1,045–$2,572 to your project total. We include permit fees in every proposal so there are no surprises. Request a free estimate and we’ll provide exact pricing for your home.
Is Solar Worth It in Citrus Heights?
For most Citrus Heights homeowners, the answer is yes — and the math has gotten stronger as electricity rates have climbed. SMUD customers have seen rates rise significantly in recent years, and locking in your energy costs with a solar system now protects you from future increases. According to EnergySage, Citrus Heights homeowners with an average-sized system can expect to save approximately $180,897 over 25 years on electricity costs after accounting for the upfront system cost.
The typical payback period for a solar installation in the Sacramento area is around 6.3 years, according to Palmetto’s 2025 solar analysis for the region. After that point, your system is generating essentially free electricity for the remaining 15–20 years of its warranty life. Homes with owned solar panels also sell for 5–10% more than comparable homes without solar, according to research published by Solar Insure — making solar a real estate asset, not just a utility play.
The 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is the most significant financial incentive available to Citrus Heights homeowners in 2025. It allows you to claim 30% of your total system cost — including installation labor and battery storage — as a direct credit against your federal income taxes. SMUD’s “My Energy Optimizer” battery program adds additional value if you include storage. Talk to our team about how these incentives apply to your specific situation.
Solar in Citrus Heights: What to Expect from the Process
Step 1: Free Energy Assessment and Proposal
We review your last 12 months of electricity bills and assess your roof during a free in-home consultation. We use this data to design a system sized to your actual usage and present a full proposal — including system specs, projected savings, permitting costs, and applicable incentives — before you commit to anything.
Step 2: Permitting and HOA Approval (If Required)
Once you approve the proposal, we prepare engineering drawings and submit permit applications to the City of Citrus Heights and SMUD. If your neighborhood has an HOA, we’ll help you navigate the approval process there as well. California law (AB 2188) generally limits HOA authority to restrict solar installations, which works in your favor.
Step 3: Installation Day
Most residential solar installations in Citrus Heights are completed in one to two days. Our crew handles roof mounting, panel wiring, inverter installation, and connection to your main electrical panel. We leave your property clean at the end of each workday.
Step 4: Inspection and SMUD Interconnection
After installation, a city inspector signs off on the work, and we submit final interconnection documentation to SMUD. Once SMUD approves the interconnection and installs a net metering meter, your system goes live. This process typically takes 2–4 weeks after installation.
Step 5: System Monitoring and Support
Your solar system will include monitoring software that lets you track production in real time from your phone or computer. If anything looks off, give us a call — we stand behind our work and are available for any questions or service needs after your system is live.
Serving Citrus Heights and Surrounding Areas
Under the Sun Electric installs solar panels throughout the greater Sacramento region. In addition to Citrus Heights, we serve homeowners in Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin, Folsom, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Gold River, and surrounding communities. If you’re not sure whether we serve your area, give us a call — we’re happy to help.
Get a Free Solar Estimate in Citrus Heights
Ready to find out exactly how much you could save with solar panels on your Citrus Heights home? Our team will review your energy usage, assess your roof, and provide a detailed proposal at no cost and with no obligation. Call us at (916) 899-3062 or request your free estimate online — we typically respond within one business day.
You can also learn more about our solar work across the Sacramento region on our solar panel installation page, or visit our Citrus Heights electrician page to see the full range of electrical services we offer in your area.
Yes. A building permit from the City of Citrus Heights and interconnection approval from SMUD are both required before your system can legally operate and connect to the grid. Under the Sun Electric handles all permitting in-house as a standard part of every installation — you don't need to deal with the city or utility directly.
Under SMUD's current Solar and Storage Rate, excess electricity you send back to the grid is credited at 7.4¢/kWh — much lower than the retail rate you pay for grid electricity. This means the most cost-effective solar strategy in Citrus Heights is to size your system to cover your daytime loads and add battery storage so you can use your solar production in the evening rather than export it. We design every system with SMUD's rate structure in mind.
From signed proposal to system activation, most Citrus Heights solar projects take 6–12 weeks. The installation itself is typically 1–2 days, but permitting, inspection scheduling, and SMUD interconnection approval account for most of the timeline. We keep you informed at every stage and manage the process end-to-end.
A standard grid-tied solar system without battery storage will shut down automatically during a grid outage — this is a safety requirement to protect utility workers. If backup power during outages is a priority for you, we recommend adding a battery storage system, which can keep critical circuits running when the grid goes down.
It depends on your roof's current condition and remaining lifespan. Solar panels are typically warrantied for 25 years, so installing them on a roof that's nearing the end of its life can create headaches down the road when the roof needs to be replaced and panels must be removed and reinstalled. We assess your roof as part of our initial consultation and will let you know honestly if we recommend re-roofing first.
We install panels from leading manufacturers known for efficiency, durability, and strong warranty terms — the brands we recommend vary based on system design and budget, and we'll walk you through the options during your proposal. All panels we install carry manufacturer product and performance warranties of at least 25 years.
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