On May 9, California took the climate change discussion to a new and unprecedented place. The five-member panel of the California Energy Commission adopted a sweeping change to the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, part 6 — effective Jan. 1, 2020, requiring new residential homes in California to have solar panel technology. There are some exemptions to the law for houses that are too shaded, or if it’s not feasible to install a solar system (e.g., roof is too small). However, generally speaking, any new homes should fall within the new mandate.
How much does all of this cost? While there are tax credits and rebates, the expected cost is still between $8,000 and $12,000 per new home even after all of these considerations. However, the California Energy Commission does claim that over a 20-year period the average utility savings would be roughly $19,000. The commission also states that while the average monthly mortgage payment will likely increase by $40 per month, the average utility bill would be reduced by $80 per month.