Maximizing Savings with Battery Storage Under California’s NEM 3.0

By Andrew Krause, Owner – Reliance Electrical Solutions

If you’ve looked into solar in California lately, you’ve probably heard about the changes to net metering — and you may be wondering whether it still makes sense to go solar. Let me tell you: it does, but with one big difference — battery storage is no longer optional. Under the new NEM 3.0 structure, battery integration is the key to unlocking your full savings potential.

As someone who’s been in the electrical and renewable energy game for decades, I want to walk you through what’s changed, why it matters, and how we’re helping California homeowners and businesses stay ahead.

What Is NEM 3.0 (and Why It Matters)?

Under California’s new Net Billing Tariff (a.k.a. NEM 3.0), the value of the solar energy you send back to the grid has dropped by as much as 75% compared to the old NEM 2.0 structure.

That’s a huge shift — and for some, it’s caused confusion or hesitation.

Here’s the reality: if you install solar without battery storage today, you’re missing out on the majority of your system’s potential savings.

That’s why at Reliance Electrical Solutions, we now design nearly every system with battery integration in mind.

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Why Batteries Are the Smartest Move in 2025

With a properly sized battery system, you can:

Store your excess solar instead of sending it back to the grid at pennies on the dollar
Use your own power at night when utility rates spike
Avoid peak demand charges with smart load shifting
Keep your home or facility running during outages
Qualify for the SGIP rebate — up to $10,000+ in cash incentives for eligible systems

At Reliance, we don’t just drop in a battery — we engineer your system around your usage profile, backup needs, and budget.

Learn more about our Battery & Renewable Energy Solutions

How We Design for NEM 3.0 Success

Every client we work with gets a customized solution. Here’s what we account for:

Time-of-Use Rate Strategy: We time battery discharge to help you avoid the most expensive grid rates.
Battery Sizing That Makes Sense: We’ll recommend a system that’s right-sized for your load — not overbuilt or undersized.
Top-Tier Components: Our systems qualify for federal domestic content incentives, maximizing your tax credits.
EV, ADU & Future Load Planning: We wire with expansion in mind so you’re ready for what’s next.

And because we’re state-licensed and insured electricians, we handle all permitting, utility interconnection, and SGIP paperwork in-house.

From Trendy to Tactical: Why This Isn’t Just a Fad

We’ve been building battery-backed systems long before NEM 3.0 made them “hot.” Why? Because power security and price stability have always mattered.

Now, they’re just more urgent — and more profitable — than ever.

Solar without storage is becoming yesterday’s strategy. And at Reliance, we’re focused on helping you build for tomorrow.

See how our Residential & Commercial Solar Systems stack up

Let’s Design a Smarter Energy Strategy

Whether you’re retrofitting an older system or starting fresh, we’ll show you how to:

Reduce grid dependence
Maximize SGIP and ITC incentives
Protect your home or business from outages
Take control of your energy future — remove the guesswork and dependence on higher cost utilities

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Serving homeowners, farms, and commercial clients across California

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Looking for a full breakdown of tax credits and rebates? Check out our guide:

Navigating California’s Solar Incentives in 2025

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