San Francisco Solar Scams: PG&E, Fog, and NEM 3.0 Traps
San Francisco solar scams can exploit PG&E bills, NEM 3.0 confusion, roof limits, and battery promises. Check the paperwork first.
San Francisco solar scams do not need a wild pitch. They can sound sophisticated: PG&E rates, battery arbitrage, NEM 3.0, roof modeling, and "smart" savings software. That jargon can be useful, or it can be a fog machine for a bad contract.
Disclaimer: This article is informational, not legal advice.
The San Francisco Risk Profile
Solar can make sense in the Bay Area, but San Francisco has issues a generic sales script may ignore: fog, roof angles, older buildings, permitting complexity, shading, and changing export-credit rules under California's net billing structure.
| Claim | What to demand |
|---|---|
| "PG&E rates make this automatic" | A savings model using your actual usage and NEM 3.0 assumptions |
| "Battery pays for itself" | Written backup-load and rate-arbitrage assumptions |
| "Your roof is perfect" | Shade study, roof age notes, and permit plan |
| "This is a city program" | Independent verification, not a badge or flyer |
Keep the Pitch From Outrunning the Facts
If a rep uses NEM 2.0-style savings for a new customer, that is a serious red flag. If the battery is sold as whole-home backup but the contract only supports selected circuits, that is another. San Francisco homeowners should compare the promise to California solar fraud guidance and the CSLB complaint process.
Evidence To Save
- PG&E bills used in the proposal.
- Shade reports, roof diagrams, and production estimates.
- Battery scope: whole-home, critical-load panel, or no backup.
- Screenshots of rate, export, or NEM assumptions.
What To Do Next
- Verify the contractor's CSLB license and classification.
- Ask whether the model uses current net billing assumptions.
- Get a written equipment list with panel, inverter, and battery models.
- If the contract is already signed, organize evidence before filing complaints or seeking help.
FAQ
Is San Francisco too foggy for solar?
Not automatically. The issue is whether the production estimate honestly accounts for shade, fog, roof angle, and local conditions. Bad math is the scam risk.
What if a salesperson said PG&E was partnered with them?
Verify that independently. Utility-name dropping is a common solar sales tactic and should not be treated as proof of sponsorship.
Where should this page send authority?
It supports California solar fraud, the solar panel scams hub, and homeowner legal rights.
Next Research Steps
Use these resources to connect this issue with the broader solar scam pattern, the relevant legal framework, and the next practical action.
Solar panel scams
Start with the main solar panel scams guide for the broad definition and recovery roadmap.
Solar fraud by state
Compare state and city issues against the national solar fraud map.
Solar panel scams and ripoffs
Compare scam patterns, red flags, door-to-door pressure, fake rebates, and impersonation tactics.