The ITC safe harbor deadline passed July 4, 2026. The economics now rest on SDG&E rates and MACRS depreciation. The math still works.
See the current numbersCommercial Solar for North County San Diego Businesses
SDG&E commercial rates have increased more than 8% annually since 2020. Peak rates run $0.22–$0.34/kWh; solar produces power at $0.06–$0.08/kWh levelized. RCH handles 50–250kW+ commercial rooftop installations. Every person on the job works under our C-10 electrical license, no subcontractors.
What commercial solar actually costs and what it returns
SDG&E commercial rates run $0.22–$0.34/kWh at peak. Solar LCOE in San Diego comes in around $0.06–$0.08/kWh. The spread is real, and it compounds every year SDG&E raises rates.
SDG&E's commercial rate increased 68% from 2019 to 2023. Every year you wait, you pay the full spread to SDG&E instead of banking it.
Where the ITC stands
The 30% federal Investment Tax Credit required equipment procured before July 4, 2026. That deadline has passed. Projects starting now should be evaluated on utility-rate offset and MACRS accelerated depreciation. If you procured equipment before the deadline, see the documentation notes below. Confirm tax treatment with your CPA.
Example: $500K project
Illustrative ranges for North County San Diego C&I installations. Actual figures depend on system size, roof conditions, and current tax position. Ask us for a project-specific model.
RCH Renewables is not a tax advisory firm. The MACRS figures above are provided for planning purposes only. Consult your CPA or tax professional to confirm eligibility and impact for your specific situation.
Missed the July 4 ITC safe harbor? What commercial solar costs now
Commercial solar in San Diego still pays for itself without the federal credit. SDG&E commercial peak rates run $0.22–$0.34/kWh. Solar comes in around $0.06–$0.08/kWh levelized. That spread is the return, and it widens every time SDG&E raises rates.
The 30% federal credit required equipment procured before July 4, 2026. That date has passed. Projects starting now should be evaluated on utility-rate offset and MACRS accelerated depreciation, which still front-loads a significant year-one deduction. On that basis, a typical North County C&I project pencils at a 5–7 year simple payback.
RCH Renewables is not a tax advisory firm. Confirm MACRS treatment for your situation with your CPA or tax professional.
Get the current numbers for your buildingHow to document ITC safe harbor if you procured equipment before July 4
If your business procured solar equipment before July 4, 2026, the 30% credit may still apply to your project. Keep your procurement contracts, payment records, and delivery documentation. Whether your purchase qualifies is a determination you make with your CPA, not your contractor.
We can complete installation on safe-harbored equipment and put together the project records your CPA asks for: contract dates, delivery documentation, and commissioning paperwork.
RCH Renewables is not a tax advisory firm. This is general recordkeeping guidance, not tax advice. Qualification for the ITC safe harbor is determined with your CPA or tax professional.
Talk to us about finishing a safe-harbored project
C-10 License #1108682
California Contractors State License Board
Commercial Solar in North County San Diego: How RCH Works
RCH Renewables is a C-10 licensed electrical contractor based in Fallbrook. RCH handles 50–250kW+ commercial rooftop installations. That's the range national firms like PowerFlex won't touch.
What our own crew means for you
Every person on your installation is working under our C-10 license. The crew doing the wiring is the licensed contractor you hired. That matters for permit accountability, warranty coverage, and long-term O&M relationships.
- Multi-megawatt ground-mount service work up to 9.8MW, including central-inverter repair on a 28,900-module tracker site
- SDG&E interconnection experience and North County AHJ relationships
- O&M contracts with national retail chain clients from Clovis south to Calexico west
- References available on request
Our commercial track record
Our installation work runs 50–250kW+ commercial rooftop. The biggest numbers in our history are on the service side: single sites to 368kW, an active O&M contract covering 978.28kW across 9 sites, a 717kW rooftop corrective repair, and service and commissioning work on multi-megawatt ground-mount sites up to 9.8MW, performed as a service subcontractor to a national solar operator.
Full-scope commercial solar installation
Site Assessment and Design
We start with your utility bills: 12–24 months minimum. System design is modeled against your actual load, not generic assumptions. Roof structure, shading analysis, and interconnection feasibility are assessed before we propose a system size.
Permitting and Interconnection
We handle all permitting with your local AHJ and the SDG&E interconnection application. Both run in parallel where possible to compress the project timeline.
Installation
Done by our own RCH crew under our C-10 license, no subcontractors. Ballasted mounting available for roofs where penetrations are not ideal. Work scheduled to minimize disruption to your business operations.
Commissioning and Handoff
System commissioning, monitoring setup, and production baseline documented. You receive a system handoff package: design drawings, permit closeout, warranty documentation, and monitoring access.
Post-Install O&M
We offer formal O&M contracts for systems we install. Scheduled maintenance, performance monitoring, inverter response SLAs, and monthly KPI reports. See our O&M page for full details.
What our commercial proposals include
Most commercial solar proposals are hard to compare because they use different assumptions. Ours are transparent. Every RCH commercial proposal includes:
- 12–24 months of your actual utility bills as the modeling input
- System size in kW-DC and estimated annual production in kWh
- Year-1 net cost after MACRS accelerated depreciation
- Simple payback, IRR, and NPV over 25 years
- SDG&E rate escalation assumption (stated, not hidden)
- System degradation rate (stated, typically 0.5%/yr)
- Financing scenarios: cash, loan, operating lease
If you've received other proposals that don't include all of this, ask them to add it before you compare.
How much does commercial solar cost in San Diego?
Q
We lease our building. Can we still go solar?
Possibly. A PPA structure allows a third party to own the system and sell power to your landlord or tenant at below-market rates. Green lease language can solve the split incentive. C-PACE financing is another option depending on your county. We can help you evaluate what structure fits your situation.
Q
Our CapEx won't get board approval.
We can prepare a one-page executive summary formatted for board or investor review: net project cost after depreciation, payback period, IRR, NPV, and SDG&E rate context. Many commercial solar projects look different on paper once the year-one tax benefits are modeled correctly.
Q
Our roof might not be in good condition.
Structural assessment is the first step of every project. We'll tell you what we find before you're committed to anything. Ballasted mounting with limited roof penetrations is an option for many flat roof configurations.
Q
What if you go out of business?
RCH is owner-operated by Ian Crilly and Landon Raster. C-10 license, no VC backing. Equipment manufacturer warranties (Enphase, Tesla, SMA) survive the installing contractor. Your equipment is covered regardless. And our O&M contracts are designed to give you a documented ongoing relationship, not just an install-and-disappear transaction.
Q
The national firm gave us a larger proposal.
Ask them one question: will the crew who installs your system be their employees? For most national solar firms, the answer is no. They subcontract the installation. That matters when something breaks and you need someone accountable.
Questions we hear from North County buyers
Commercial solar decisions take time and involve multiple stakeholders. These are the questions we hear most.
What system size do you work with?
50–250kW is our typical commercial range. Below 50kW tends to be residential or small commercial and we handle those too. We are open to and capable of taking on larger projects as well. If you have something above 250kW, reach out and we will evaluate it.
How long does a commercial solar project take?
From signed contract to energization: 4–8 months is typical for North County San Diego, depending on AHJ permit timelines and SDG&E interconnection queue. We will give you a project-specific timeline estimate after the site assessment.
What happens if SDG&E interconnection is delayed?
We manage the interconnection application and maintain communication with SDG&E on your behalf. If delays occur, we document them and adjust the project schedule. Interconnection is the variable we have the least control over. We set expectations clearly upfront.
Can you model demand charge reduction with battery storage?
Yes. Demand charges can make up to 50% of a commercial utility bill. Battery storage modeled for demand charge reduction is included in proposals where it's relevant to your rate structure.
The economics still work without the credit.
A commercial solar project in North County San Diego, done right with real financial modeling and our own licensed crew, offsets $0.22–$0.34/kWh SDG&E peak power with $0.06–$0.08/kWh solar. MACRS accelerated depreciation improves the year-one math. Simple payback typically runs 5–7 years.
The ITC safe harbor deadline passed July 4, 2026. If you procured equipment before that date, bring your documentation and we will finish the job. If you didn't, the SDG&E rate math is reason enough to start.
RCH Renewables is not a tax advisory firm. Confirm MACRS and ITC safe harbor treatment with your CPA or tax professional.
“Ian and Landon are by far the most knowledgeable professionals I have encountered within the realm of renewable energy, battery storage, and everything electrical.”
Merrill Leeds, RCH Renewables Customer
Start with a site assessment.
We'll review your utility bills, assess your roof and electrical, and give you a proposal with real numbers. No pressure, no generic assumptions.
Landon Raster
President, RCH Renewables, C-10 Licensed (#1108682)
Last updated: July 2026