Commercial Energy Savings in California | SolarPorts
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California's Commercial Energy Savings Specialist
Strategic Cost Reduction for Significant Savings.
Most commercial energy waste is concentrated in two specific areas. We use advanced analytics to identify those spikes and eliminate them, often with $0 capital outlay.
Our turnkey solution is designed for the complexities of the California market - scaling seamlessly from single assets to state-wide portfolios.
- 75% Incentives
- 50% Savings
- 30-Year Warranty
- Industry Leader
By SolarPorts Development · Last updated: June 2026
Why targeting works
85% of commercial energy waste is concentrated in two line items.
85% of commercial energy waste comes from timing: electricity costs $0.62 per kWh in the evening and drops to $0.10 per kWh at midnight. Using storage shifts consumption away from peak pricing while solar reduces overall usage.
Buying electricity at Peak prices
"Peak" prices ~3× non-peak.
View hourly pricing data California commercial electricity prices by time of day
| 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 | — |
Sources (2026 tariffs): PG&E Schedule B-19, SCE TOU-GS-2, SDG&E commercial rates.
Battery can Time-Shift your consumption.
Surging usage creates large Demand charges
"Demand" Charges~40% of most bills.
Source: anonymized hotel usage data (SolarPorts internal analysis, 2026); rate structures from PG&E, SCE and SDG&E commercial tariffs.
Battery and Solar can Peak-Shave your surges.
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.
Electric Cost Inflation~7% CAGR
Sources: historical commercial tariff filings from PG&E, SCE and SDG&E (2018–2026), with 2026–2030 trend projection.
Protect and insure against future price increases.
The 2018 baseline is intentional — it illustrates the multi-year rate-escalation trend that drives the 2026–2030 projection.
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.
Modeled example: a 50-room California hotel with five 19.2 kW Level 2 chargers (6 hrs/day each) generates roughly $94,600 / year in net charging revenue at $0.50/kWh retail vs $0.05/kWh solar-supplied energy. Illustrative model, not a specific customer case.
By the numbers
California has the highest commercial energy costs in the country. We've built our business on bringing them down.
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
Power System Purchase financing means $0 CapEx and you keep all the benefits.
Our preferred financial structure requires $0 capital expenditure (CapEx), allows commercial property owners to retain full asset ownership, and avoids restrictive terms typical of long-term PPAs.
- $0 CapEx — no capital expenditure required to start.
- Full asset ownership — no 20-25 year PPA lock-in; you keep tax credits, depreciation and asset value.
- ~$0.05/kWh levelized cost — vs $0.30–$0.50/kWh under a traditional PPA over 30 years.
The Core Difference: Short-Term vs. Long-Term Debt
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.
Electricity Costs by Financing Type
Forecast model last updated in 2026. Assumes a 7% average annual utility-rate increase (consistent with CPUC and PG&E filings). See full methodology →
Project Financing Types
| 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 |
Example 50,000sf Building
| 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
Three integrated services. One project.
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.
Savings and Costs for a sample 50,000sf building
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 (methodology).
| Year 1 Savings | Net Cost (with incentives) | Pre-Incentives cost |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $60,000 | $240,000 |
Battery only
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.
| Year 1 Savings | Net Cost (with incentives) | Pre-Incentives cost |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $100,000 | $400,000 |
Battery + Rooftop Solar
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.
| Year 1 Savings | Net Cost (with incentives) | Pre-Incentives cost |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $120,000 | $480,000 |
Battery + Carport Solar
Custom designs using our patent-pending pre-engineered solutions for rapid installation at the lowest prices.
$5M savings typical. Built to scale.
Pull a free report or book a 30-minute call to see what your site qualifies for.
Why SolarPorts
Energy Cost Savings. Engineered for the CFO.
Our Technology
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.
From Months to Minutes
Revolutionary approach to commercial solar design and estimation
Our Experience
1,200+
Projects Completed
Since 1992
33+
Years of Experience
Industry Pioneer
30 Year
Lifetime
Proven Track Record
Properties We Serve
Hotels
Guest parking with EV charging
Shopping Centers
Customer convenience & savings
Industrial
Added income and property value
Offices
Employee benefits & sustainability
In their own words
What California commercial property owners say.
Anonymized customer voices — full quotes provided with permission to publish.
Deciding to convert our commercial properties to solar was one of our best financial moves. We saw an immediate reduction in operating costs.
Managing Partner San Jose Retail Holdings Anonymized
With utility rates unpredictably climbing, partnering with SolarPorts gave us the budget predictability we desperately needed. Now our portfolio is completely covered.
Asset Manager Confidential Commercial Real Estate Firm Anonymized
After months of delays and a lack of follow-through from our previous contractor, SolarPorts stepped in and submitted our designs to the Planning Department in record time. Their execution is unmatched.
CEO Confidential Logistics Company Anonymized
Trusted by leading hospitality brands. Built with industry-leading equipment.
Customers
Equipment
How it works
Maximum cost reduction with minimum system.
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.
- 1 Free site assessment Share your address and utility usage. We model production, ITC, MACRS and SGIP impact in 48 hours — no obligation, no sales pitch.
- 2 Engineered proposal Site-specific structural and electrical design. Real cost, real timeline, real 30-year cash-flow model. Reviewed with your CFO and facility manager.
- 3 Financing We work with you to secure 100% financing using local sustainable lenders to compete for your project. The California GoGreen program offers many solutions.
- 4 Permitting & build We file with your AHJ, coordinate with the utility, mobilize, build, and commission. Average commercial project: 6–9 months from contract to PTO.
- 5 Operate & monitor 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
California solar is a stacked incentive market — if you know how to claim it.
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.
Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
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%+.
IRS — About Form 3468, Investment Credit →
MACRS Accelerated Depreciation
Depreciate the system over 5 years (with bonus depreciation rules) to dramatically reduce your federal tax liability in the first project years.
IRS Publication 946 — How to Depreciate Property →
California SGIP
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.
CPUC — Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) →
Domestic Content Bonus
Save an additional 10% by using domestic steel and US manufactured products.
IRS Notice 2023-38 — Domestic Content Bonus Guidance (PDF) →
CALeVIP & Utility EV Rebates
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.
CALeVIP.org — California EV Infrastructure Project →
Net Energy Metering & NEM 3.0
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.
CPUC — Net Energy Metering (NEM) →
See exactly which California incentives apply to your site.
Federal ITC, MACRS, SGIP, SOMAH, CALeVIP — we model the full stack before you sign.
Service Areas
Commercial energy cost savings across California.
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.
Bay Area
- Berkeley
- Concord
- Daly City
- Fremont
- Hayward
- Livermore
- …
North Bay
- Fairfield
- Napa
- Petaluma
- San Rafael
- Santa Rosa
- Vacaville
- …
Central Coast
- Monterey
- Salinas
- San Luis Obispo
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Maria
Inland Empire
- Corona
- Fontana
- Moreno Valley
- Murrieta
- Ontario
- Rancho Cucamonga
- …
Sacramento Valley
- Chico
- Citrus Heights
- Davis
- Elk Grove
- Folsom
- Rancho Cordova
- …
San Diego
- Carlsbad
- Chula Vista
- Escondido
- Oceanside
- San Diego
San Joaquin Valley
- Bakersfield
- Clovis
- Fresno
- Merced
- Modesto
- Stockton
- …
South Coast
- Anaheim
- Burbank
- El Monte
- Fullerton
- Garden Grove
- Glendale
- …
All California Counties →
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
Commercial solar in California — your questions answered.
How much can a California commercial property save on electricity with solar?
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.
What solar incentives are available for commercial properties in California?
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.
How does SolarPorts reduce demand charges?
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%.
Why choose a solar carport over a rooftop solar system?
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.
Do I need to pay anything upfront for a SolarPorts system?
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).
How long does a commercial solar installation take?
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.
What size building qualifies for a SolarPorts system?
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
See the numbers on your property — no obligation.
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.
- Instant report
- No obligation, no sales pressure
- California-based, statewide reach
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