Question 1

What does your matchmaking service cost?

Accepted Answer

Nothing. The installer pays us a flat referral fee. That fee is the same whether you buy a $9,000 home battery or a $24,000 stack, so we have no incentive to upsell you.

Question 2

Will my information be sold to multiple installers?

Accepted Answer

No. Your information goes to one home battery installer (the one we match you with) and nowhere else. No marketing partners, no resellers, no follow-up calls.

Question 3

What if I already have a home battery quote?

Accepted Answer

Great. Send it over. We'll either confirm it's a fair deal or tell you where it's off. No charge either way.

Question 4

How do you choose which home battery to recommend?

Accepted Answer

Your home's electrical service, your reason for backup, your existing solar (if any), and your roof or wall layout. The right answer is rarely the biggest box.

Question 5

Are you affiliated with the government or a utility?

Accepted Answer

No. We are a private company, WattKeeper LLC doing business as Solar Battery USA. We are not a government program, a utility, or a state agency.

Question 6

What happens after I submit the application?

Accepted Answer

A human reads your application within two business days, calls you to confirm the details, and emails one home battery installer match with an introduction. You take it from there or you don't.

Question 7

How much does a home battery cost in 2026?

Accepted Answer

A single-unit home battery typically runs $9,000 to $17,000 installed for a 10-15 kWh system, before incentives. A whole-home stack of two or three units runs $20,000 to $35,000. The 30% federal tax credit through 2032 takes thousands off the real cost, and state rebates (SGIP in California) can drop it further.

Question 8

How long does a home battery last?

Accepted Answer

Most modern home batteries use LFP chemistry and come with 10- to 15-year warranties. They're rated for 4,000 to 15,000 charge cycles. Real-world expectancy is 10-15 years of useful life before significant capacity loss.

Question 9

Does a home battery work during a power outage?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if installed correctly. A grid-tied battery without backup configuration shuts off during an outage for utility-worker safety. A properly-installed battery with a critical-loads panel will island your home from the grid and keep your circuits running.

Question 10

Will I qualify for the SGIP rebate?

Accepted Answer

Most California homeowners do. The Self-Generation Incentive Program covers a meaningful chunk of battery cost, with larger rebates for medically-vulnerable households and high-fire-threat districts. The installer we match you with handles the paperwork. We confirm eligibility before the introduction so you know what to expect.

Question 11

How does NEM 3.0 change the math?

Accepted Answer

Under NEM 3.0, the credit utilities pay you for exporting solar dropped roughly 75% from NEM 2.0 levels. A battery flips that math: you store your daytime production and use it at peak (4-9pm) when retail rates are highest. For most new California solar customers, the battery is the part that makes the system pay back.

Question 12

What home batteries qualify for SGIP in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Tesla Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ Battery 10C, FranklinWH aPower 2, Sonnen evo, LG Chem Prime, and most other Tier-1 LFP and NMC home batteries are SGIP-eligible. The CPUC publishes the full equipment list quarterly. Your installer confirms eligibility on the specific model being quoted before SGIP paperwork is filed.

Question 13

Will a home battery cover my whole house during a PSPS shutoff?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the battery capacity and how your critical loads are wired. A single 13.5 kWh battery can typically run essentials (refrigerator, lights, plugs, internet, a few rooms) for 12 to 24 hours. A two- or three-battery stack with whole-home transfer switch can carry the entire house, including AC, for a full multi-day PSPS event. We confirm sizing during the application review.

Question 14

Do I need permits from my county for a home battery in California?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every California home battery install requires an electrical permit from your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), an interconnection approval from your utility, and a final inspection. Your installer pulls all of these. Most county AHJs (LA, San Diego, Santa Clara, Sacramento) issue residential battery permits within 1 to 4 weeks. Some smaller counties run faster.

Solar batteries for California homes, one expert match.