California Solar Leads for Installers
Exclusive, verified homeowner leads and live-transfer calls in PG&E, SCE, SDG&E and SMUD territory, generated for one California solar company per service area and delivered in real time. Campaigns are built ZIP code by ZIP code, never statewide.
Why California is a different solar market
California is the largest residential solar market in the country and the most mature. Many of the easiest roofs already have panels, new homes are built with them, and the rules for crediting exported power changed in 2023. A California lead has to be qualified for the market as it is now, not the one that existed five years ago.
Net billing replaced net metering
Homeowners on PG&E, SCE and SDG&E who connect a new system go on the Net Billing Tariff, often called NEM 3.0, which applies to systems interconnected since April 15, 2023. Exported power is credited at hourly rates based on the utility's avoided cost, well below what the homeowner pays for power from the grid. The savings case now rests on using solar power at home rather than selling it back.
Batteries are the product
With exports credited at low rates, a battery that stores midday production for the evening peak does much of the work. Campaigns that lead with solar plus storage produce homeowners who expect a storage quote. Generic "go solar" ads produce homeowners who expect the economics of net metering and feel misled on the first call.
High bills, not incentives, start the conversation
California's investor-owned utilities charge some of the highest residential electricity rates in the country, and the bill is what brings a California homeowner to a solar form. With the federal residential tax credit having expired at the end of 2025, campaign copy that still promises a 30% federal credit produces leads who feel misled on the first call.
Wildfire shutoffs make backup power a reason to buy
Homeowners in high fire-risk areas have lived through Public Safety Power Shutoffs. Backup power is a reason to buy that has nothing to do with export rates, and the survey asks about outage history.
Roof age still decides the appointment
A roof near the end of its life needs replacing before panels go on it. A lead that arrives with the roof-age answer attached saves the rep a wasted appointment. Ours do.
Utilities we run California campaigns for
PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric)
Northern and central California, from the Bay Area to the Central Valley. New systems go on the Net Billing Tariff, so PG&E campaigns lead with bills and storage rather than export credits.
SCE (Southern California Edison)
Much of Southern California outside the City of Los Angeles, including the Los Angeles County suburbs, the Inland Empire and the high desert. Net billing applies here too, and storage messaging carries the campaign.
SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric)
San Diego County and southern Orange County. SDG&E's residential rates are among the highest in the state, which keeps the savings case strong even under net billing.
SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District)
Sacramento's municipal utility. SMUD sets its own solar and export rules rather than following the Net Billing Tariff, and its rates are lower than the investor-owned utilities', so Sacramento campaigns qualify on bill size and interest in batteries.
How California campaigns are targeted
We do not run statewide campaigns. California ZIP codes are ranked by solar adoption, utility rate, roof stock and competitor density, and spend goes to the ones already converting. A client in San Diego does not pay for clicks in Redding.
- Service radius you set. Add or remove ZIP codes weekly as crews and territory change.
- Utility-aware messaging. The campaign page an SDG&E customer lands on talks about SDG&E rates and storage, not generic savings or export credits.
- California-specific survey. Ownership, monthly bill, roof age, HOA, outage history and the credit question. The answers travel with the lead.
What a California solar lead includes
Every lead passes 13 validation checks across Trestle, TrustedForm, Verified Submissions and Google reCAPTCHA before delivery, and reaches your CRM, inbox or dialer in real time. It arrives with:
- Homeowner's name, phone and address in your service ZIP codes
- Utility and approximate monthly bill
- Roof age and type
- Whether the home is in an HOA
- Credit self-report against your threshold
- A TrustedForm certificate documenting consent
Live transfers add one more thing: the homeowner is on the phone, qualified, and connected to your rep while they are still interested. See solar appointments as live transfers for how that works.
Pricing for California leads
Pay per lead, pay per qualified call, or any mix, paid from prepaid credit with no retainer and no long-term commitment. California cost per lead varies by ZIP code and utility more than by anything else. Our solar leads pricing page explains what moves the price and how to compare quotes on cost per install.
For results from other markets, read the case studies.
California Solar Leads FAQ
Are the leads exclusive to my company?
Yes. Every lead is generated for your company and delivered to you alone. We do not resell California homeowner leads to other installers.
Can I target only certain counties or ZIP codes?
Yes. Campaigns run in the ZIP codes you choose at the radius you set, and you can change them weekly.
Are your campaigns written for NEM 3.0?
Yes. Messaging for PG&E, SCE and SDG&E homeowners is written for net billing and leads with bills and storage rather than export credits. SMUD campaigns are written for SMUD's own rules.
How do you handle roof age?
The survey asks it and the answer is attached to the lead. If too many leads fall below your roof-age threshold, we tighten the targeting.
Do you offer live transfers in California?
Yes. Qualified California homeowners can be connected to your rep in real time and billed only when the call meets the agreed qualification bar.
How do I get started?
Book a demo. We will look at your service area across PG&E, SCE, SDG&E and SMUD territory and quote the mix of leads and calls that fits your team.