For an SDG&E homeowner who works at a desktop computer, solar and battery storage can help keep a home office useful during an outage. The equipment conversation should cover both the household's energy supply and the computer's power requirements.
A qualifying no-upfront solar-plus-battery PPA can support that plan when the written offer includes the right equipment. This guide uses official utility and manufacturer information checked September 13, 2026.
Start with the computer's continuity needs
SDG&E's outage preparation guidance identifies computers among sensitive electronics and includes using an uninterruptible power supply, or UPS, as a protective measure. It also recommends charging laptops and portable battery packs before an outage.
A desktop UPS supplies power to the devices connected to it. Schneider Electric's UPS buying guide explains that its runtime depends on the equipment load. A surge protector alone does not supply electricity when power is unavailable.
Decide what you need the UPS to accomplish: keep a workstation operating through a brief interruption, or provide time to save work and shut down. Those goals help the equipment supplier recommend an appropriate model and runtime.
Confirm how the home battery transfers to backup
A home battery can supply supported household circuits for a longer outage, within its available energy and power limits. Transfer behavior is an equipment-specific question.
For example, Tesla describes Powerwall restoring backup power in a fraction of a second. That description applies to Powerwall; ask the installer about the exact system in your proposal and your computer's tolerance for a transition.
If you plan to use a UPS with the home battery, have both suppliers confirm compatibility during grid-connected and backup operation. Request an installer-led demonstration of the supported office outlets and transition behavior. A successful demonstration helps check the setup, but does not promise uninterrupted work through every future event.
Include the complete workstation
List the desktop, monitors, external storage and any networking equipment needed for work. Tell the supplier which devices must remain powered while you save files.
Check the UPS's watt and volt-ampere ratings, designated battery-backed outlets and runtime at your expected load. Schneider's guide distinguishes surge-only outlets from outlets that receive battery power. Follow the selected model's instructions when connecting equipment.
As a hypothetical energy example, a workstation averaging 250 watts for four hours uses 1 kWh: 0.25 kW × 4 hours. That excludes other household loads, conversion losses and UPS recharging. It is an energy allowance for planning, not a UPS runtime prediction or battery recommendation.
A home battery must also serve the other loads in your backup plan. Tesla's guidance explains that reducing energy-intensive appliance use can extend its backup duration. Solar replenishment requires usable sunlight and compatible backup equipment. Internet service outside your home remains a separate dependency.
Make the office scope clear in your PPA
Under a PPA, the provider owns the solar system and you pay for generated electricity. The CPUC's consumer guide explains how qualifying arrangements can reduce upfront costs while creating ongoing payment obligations.
Ask whether the battery, backup controls, office-circuit work and any desktop UPS are included or separately purchased. Confirm qualification, rates and escalators, term, equipment ownership, maintenance and home-sale provisions. Compare provider payments and remaining utility charges; no upfront equipment purchase does not mean free electricity or guaranteed savings.
Our SDG&E battery planning guide covers the wider cost and runtime discussion. Explore the homeowner journey with your workstation list and backup priorities to build a practical solar-and-storage proposal.