California's Commercial Energy Savings Specialist
Last updated:
Why targeting works
It's not how much you use — it's when you use it. The same kWh costs $0.10 at midnight and $0.62 in the evening. Storage shifts the bill, solar cuts usage.
| Time of day | Standard rate | With SolarPorts |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Peak (1am–6am) | $0.12/kWh | — |
| Morning (7am–10am) | $0.22/kWh | — |
| Midday (11am–3pm) | $0.17/kWh | $0.05/kWh |
| Peak (4pm–8pm) | $0.57/kWh | $0.05/kWh |
| Evening (9pm–12am) | $0.12/kWh | — |
Typical business owners waste $100,000 annual cash flow and lose $5M in property value paying high-cost Peak prices and Demand charges.
A strategic combination of battery and solar (rooftop and carport) can eliminate Peak charges and target Demand charges.
Using Power System Purchase financing owners retain far more benefits than traditional PPA or C-PACE financing.
In California, with some of the highest rates in the country, the results are compounded by avoiding the rapidly escalating energy prices.
While the 'Big Three' utilities charge $0.50/kWh, SolarPorts locks in a Levelized Cost of $0.05/kWh. We don't just lower your bill; we give you a 90% discount on your building's most expensive fuel, avoiding future increases for 30 years.
The 20x Rule: In a 5% cap rate market, every $1 you shave off your operating expenses adds $20 to your building's value.
Beyond the savings, you gain a new revenue stream. Monetize your parking lot by selling low-cost energy to tenants via EV charging—turning a static amenity into a profit center.
By the numbers
California Energy Costs
$0.50/kWh
vs US average $0.16/kWh — 312% higher than the national average.
SolarPorts Energy Costs
$0.05/kWh
Including stacked Federal and State incentives.
Typical Annual NOI Gain
$100k/yr
Per site. Direct, recurring impact on the bottom line.
Business Value Gain
$5.0M/site
Capitalized property value increase from a stabilized solar asset.
Your gains will improve as utility prices rise. We model the full 30-year cash flow before you sign — including federal ITC, MACRS depreciation, California SGIP, and demand-charge reduction.
Click on your Service Area to see your local prices.
How Financing Works
Our preferred financial structure is designed specifically for California commercial property owners who want to maximize their asset value without the restrictive terms of a traditional Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
Most commercial solar providers push 20-25 year PPAs. While these require $0 down, they capture the majority of the financial incentives (Tax Credits, Depreciation, and Inflation) for the provider, not the owner. SolarPorts utilizes a short-term financing bridge that transitions into ownership, allowing you to retain significantly more equity.
Forecast model last updated in 2026. Assumes a 7% average annual utility-rate increase (consistent with CPUC and PG&E filings).
| Feature | Power System Purchase Recommended | Traditional PPA | Do Nothing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Monitoring & Maintenance | Required | Required | Needed |
| Financial Benefits Retained | 95%-100% | 20%-30% | 0% |
| Levelized Cost Of Energy | $0.05 | $.30 - $.50 | $1.68 |
| Impact on Property Value | High (Owner Asset) | None (Leased Equipment) | None |
| Metric | Power System Purchase | Traditional PPA | Do Nothing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Monthly bill | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 |
| Annual Solar+Battery Offset | $60,000 | $60,000 | $0 |
| Payback Years | 1-4 | 14 | never |
| Lifetime Cost | $120,000 | $4,100,000 | $9,100,000 |
What we do
We start by examining your energy usage in 15-minute intervals and tailor a solution to maximize your return on investment. Laser focused on designing the smallest system possible to reduce your Peak and Demand charges, to avoid the highest costs — and their increases over 30 years.
For a typical 50,000 sq-ft commercial building in California, Year 1 energy cost savings range from $30,000 (battery only) to $60,000 (battery paired with rooftop or carport solar). Net system costs after federal and state incentives are roughly 25% of the pre-incentive sticker price — see the per-configuration breakdown below.
| Year 1 Savings | Net Cost (with incentives) | Pre-Incentives cost |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $60,000 | $240,000 |
Battery storage time-shifts away from high-cost Peak rates, flattens demand charges, qualifies for incentives, and ride through grid outages. Sized to your load profile, not a catalog.
Energy Storage details| Year 1 Savings | Net Cost (with incentives) | Pre-Incentives cost |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $100,000 | $400,000 |
Rooftop solar generates power to use for your battery, and offsets more Peak and Demand charges. You can also use it to sell low-cost EV charging at your property.
EV Charging details| Year 1 Savings | Net Cost (with incentives) | Pre-Incentives cost |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $120,000 | $480,000 |
Custom designs using our patent-pending pre-engineered solutions for rapid installation at the lowest prices.
Solar Carport detailsWhy SolarPorts
Proprietary Software
SolarPorts proprietary software graphically places solar carports, rooftop solar, Battery Energy Storage Systems, and electric vehicle chargers on property satellite photos (Google Maps) reducing the process of estimating and designing commercial solar systems from months to minutes.
This allows businesses to immediately see the benefits of installing solar, and instantly create submittable plans for installing their solar system.
Revolutionary approach to commercial solar design and estimation
Projects Completed
Since 1992
Years of Experience
Industry Pioneer
Lifetime
Proven Track Record
Guest parking with EV charging
Customer convenience & savings
Added income and property value
Employee benefits & sustainability
How it works
By targeting your highest cost Peak and Demand charges, we can significantly reduce your costs with a small system. Sometimes, no solar is needed at all, just battery.
Share your address and utility usage. We model production, ITC, MACRS and SGIP impact in 48 hours — no obligation, no sales pitch.
Site-specific structural and electrical design. Real cost, real timeline, real 30-year cash-flow model. Reviewed with your CFO and facility manager.
We work with you to secure 100% financing using local sustainable lenders to compete for your project. The California GoGreen program offers many solutions.
We file with your AHJ, coordinate with the utility, mobilize, build, and commission. Average commercial project: 6–9 months from contract to PTO.
Optional O&M with 24/7 monitoring, performance guarantees, and incentive paperwork handled annually. You keep the savings, we keep the system humming.
Incentives stack
Federal, state and utility programs can offset 50% or more of your installed cost when layered correctly. We model the stack for your specific site and handle the filings.
As of 2026, the incentives below remain active under the Inflation Reduction Act and current California programs.
30% base credit on solar & storage under the Inflation Reduction Act, plus potential adders for domestic content, energy communities, and prevailing-wage compliance — stackable up to 50%+.
Depreciate the system over 5 years (with bonus depreciation rules) to dramatically reduce your federal tax liability in the first project years.
The Self-Generation Incentive Program pays per kWh of installed battery storage. Equity, equity resiliency and small-business carve-outs significantly increase the rebate per kWh.
Save an additional 10% by using domestic steel and US manufactured products.
IRS Notice 2023-38 — Domestic Content Bonus Guidance (PDF) →
EV charger rebates from CALeVIP and utility programs (PG&E EV Charge Network, SCE Charge Ready, SDG&E Power Your Drive) cover a meaningful share of charger cost.
Under NEM 3.0, paired solar+storage projects produce significantly better economics than solar-only. Storage sizing matters more than ever — we model it correctly.
Service Areas
We serve all 58 California counties — with deep coverage of every major Northern California city. Tap a region to browse, or open the full directory.
Browse the full directory of 58 counties and every Northern California city.
Don't see your city? Tell us about your site — we work statewide.
Frequently asked
A 50,000 square-foot commercial building in California typically saves about $30,000 in Year 1 energy costs after installing a SolarPorts system, with net system costs of roughly $60,000 after stacking federal and state incentives (versus $240,000 pre-incentives). Over a 30-year horizon, total savings often exceed $5 million when peak-rate avoidance, demand-charge reduction, and EV-charging revenue are combined.
California commercial solar projects can stack the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) of 30% under the Inflation Reduction Act, MACRS accelerated depreciation, the California Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) for storage, the Domestic Content Bonus, CALeVIP and utility EV rebates, and Net Energy Metering under NEM 3.0. Combined, these incentives typically cover 50% or more of total project cost.
Demand charges are billed based on peak power draw during a single 15-minute interval each month and can represent up to 40% of a commercial electric bill. SolarPorts pairs solar with battery storage to discharge energy during those peak windows, shaving the demand peak below the utility threshold. This typically cuts demand-charge line items by 60–90%.
Solar carports use existing parking-lot space without taking up rentable square footage, require no roof penetrations, provide shade and weather cover for parked vehicles, and integrate EV chargers as a new tenant revenue stream. They also typically deliver higher annual production per kilowatt thanks to optimal orientation and tilt, compared to flat-roof installations.
No. SolarPorts' Power System Purchase financing requires $0 capital expenditure (CapEx). The system is paid through ongoing energy savings while you retain 95–100% of the financial benefits — significantly more than the 20–30% retained under a traditional 20–25 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
A typical commercial solar carport project takes 6 to 12 months from initial site assessment to commissioned system, depending on system size, permitting jurisdiction (AHJ), and utility interconnection timelines. SolarPorts manages the full process — design, engineering, permits, construction, and commissioning — in-house.
SolarPorts is engineered for commercial properties of roughly 25,000 square feet or larger with available parking-lot or open-ground space. The strongest ROI tends to occur on buildings of 50,000+ sq ft with 50+ parking spaces, where demand-charge reduction, peak-rate avoidance, and EV-charging revenue combine to maximize savings.
Get started
A free custom report includes a cost savings estimate, a 30-year cash-flow model with ITC, MACRS and SGIP, and a structural fit-check based on your parking layout. Or skip ahead and book a 30-minute call with our California-based team.
Quick request
Fill in the basics and we'll reply within one business day with a model tailored to your site — production, ITC, MACRS, SGIP and demand-charge offset.
A team member will respond within one business day. Your information is never sold.