ITC Safe Harbor Deadline: July 4, 2026. Equipment must be procured before this date to lock in the 30% federal tax credit.
Talk to us about timingCommercial Solar for North County San Diego Businesses
SDG&E commercial rates have increased more than 8% annually since 2020. A properly structured commercial solar project can cut your net project cost nearly in half in year one. RCH handles 50–250kW installations. We self-perform all work under our C-10 electrical license.
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, your offset value is lower and the project cost has increased relative to your bill. The ITC deadline makes the timing conversation concrete.
ITC Timing Note
A commercial solar project with permitting, structural assessment, utility interconnection, and equipment procurement typically takes 4–6 months from signed contract to equipment delivery. If you start the conversation in Q3 2026, you've missed it.
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 ITC and MACRS figures above are provided for planning purposes only. Consult your CPA or tax professional to confirm eligibility and impact for your specific situation.
July 4, 2026: Why timing matters for the federal tax credit
The 30% federal Investment Tax Credit requires that equipment be procured (not installed) before July 4, 2026 to lock in the credit. Installation can be completed after the deadline as long as the equipment is purchased and on-site.
This creates a real planning window. A commercial solar project with permitting, structural assessment, utility interconnection application, and equipment procurement typically takes 4–6 months from signed contract to equipment delivery. If you're considering commercial solar for your North County San Diego property, the right time to get a proposal is now.
Talk to us about your ITC timeline
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. We install commercial solar systems in the 50–250kW range. That's the range national firms like PowerFlex won't touch.
What self-perform 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.
- Completed commercial installations up to 170kW DC with 122.88kWh battery storage
- 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
A note on our pipeline
We are finalizing our first direct commercial solar installation with Tesla. We're building that track record now. Our O&M work, our electrical scale, and our national chain client relationships tell the real story. We'd rather you know that and make a decision based on what we actually offer.
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
Self-performed by RCH crew under C-10 license. 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 ITC and MACRS bonus 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
- SGIP battery storage incentive modeled if applicable
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 ITC and 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.
The timeline to get there starts now.
A commercial solar project in North County San Diego, done right with real financial modeling and a licensed self-performing crew, can return 15–25% IRR and recover your net investment in 3–4 years. The federal tax credit cuts the net cost nearly in half in year one.
The equipment procurement deadline is July 4, 2026. Projects take 4–6 months to get to that point.
“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: April 2026