San Diego Community Power may require a post-installation quality check for a Solar Battery Savings project. If you are arranging solar and storage through a PPA, ask who will coordinate any program visit and follow-up work. Clear responsibilities help the household move from installation to confident operation.
What does SDCP's manual say?
Section 2.3.3a of the Solar Battery Savings Program Manual allows Community Power to require post-installation quality-assurance inspections through a third-party company it employs. The provision applies to projects from participating contractors; it does not say every home will be inspected.
The manual also says contractors registered with SGIP may be exempt from these program inspections. That is conditional, not a homeowner's automatic exemption. Ask Community Power to confirm the process that applies to your project.
Keep the program review, local permit records and SDG&E interconnection paperwork organized separately. Do not assume an appointment for one purpose resolves every other project requirement.
Prepare a small project folder
A useful household folder can include:
- The signed proposal and any written changes.
- The equipment list and installer contact details.
- Installation, permit and utility correspondence.
- Instructions for using the battery and identifying supported circuits.
- A dated list of questions or unusual behavior to discuss with the service team.
These are practical preparation suggestions, not an official SDCP document checklist. Confirm any requested records and appointment details through the program or your established contractor contact.
For example, suppose your PPA provider and installation contractor are different companies. Before a scheduled follow-up, ask which company will attend, who can authorize corrective work and who will report completion. Documenting that handoff avoids relying on a general promise that “someone will handle it.”
Know where program and utility questions belong
SDCP's Solar Battery Savings page directs customers with battery problems to their contractor or manufacturer support team. If there is no response within two weeks, it directs them to Community Power. Use its current contact details and describe the issue clearly.
Participation requires an eligible SDCP residential account and qualifying equipment and installation; a San Diego County address alone does not establish eligibility. The program page also notes that 2024 pilot terms can differ. Have your approved contractor confirm the applicable requirements, funding and application approval before treating a rebate as secured.
SDCP provides generation service, while SDG&E maintains delivery infrastructure, handles billing and responds to grid outages. The combined bill includes both providers' responsibilities. WCA is not affiliated with or endorsed by either utility.
Include service coverage in the PPA decision
A qualifying no-upfront-cost solar-plus-battery PPA can make equipment accessible without an initial purchase. The CPUC solar guide explains provider ownership and ongoing payments. Review qualification, rate, any escalator, term, maintenance, battery charges and transfer provisions, alongside remaining utility bills. Confirm program compatibility and how incentives affect your actual agreement; no upfront purchase does not mean free electricity or guaranteed savings.
A quality check does not promise unlimited backup. Battery duration depends on stored energy and household loads. Ordinary grid-tied solar alone generally cannot power a home during an outage; solar recharging requires compatible backup equipment and sufficient sunlight.
Review our SDCP contractor-approval guide, then bring your proposal and service questions to a West Coast Alternatives consultation.