So Many Californians Want Solar and Batteries That the State Just Changed the Inspection Rules to Keep Up

So Many Californians Want Solar and Batteries That the State Just Changed the Inspection Rules to Keep Up
California homeowners want solar panels and home batteries, and they want them badly enough to wait. Between design, permitting, inspection, and utility approval, many homeowners spend weeks or even months waiting for their systems to be turned on. Now the state is moving to speed up one of the slowest steps in that process. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1738, the Remote Virtual Inspection Act. The law allows homeowners to request remote, video-based inspections for clean energy home projects such as solar, batteries, and heat pumps.

Why inspections slow everything down
Under the traditional system, a city or county inspector has to travel to each home in person. Research from the urban policy group SPUR, cited by Canary Media, found that contractors often wait two to six hours for inspections that last only five to 15 minutes. Inspector travel time and scheduling create delays that ripple through every project.
Those inefficiencies add an estimated $600 to $1,000 to the cost of a heat pump, solar, or battery project. SPUR estimates that remote inspections could save more than $500 million over three years based on existing permit data.

What changes under AB 1738
Under the new law, cities with more than 50,000 residents and counties with at least 150,000 residents must offer remote virtual inspections by January 1, 2028. Video inspections can be scheduled more flexibly, reducing the waiting game for contractors and homeowners alike.

Why the state is clearing the path
The motivation is simple: demand. Homeowners across the state are seeking solar and storage because of the benefits these systems provide, including lower bills in a state with some of the highest electricity costs in the nation, backup power during outages and public safety power shutoffs, and protection from future rate increases. California also needs these systems. Home solar and batteries help the grid handle hot summer evenings, reduce reliance on expensive peaker plants, and make the overall system more resilient. Every month a finished system sits waiting for an inspection is a month the homeowner and the grid miss out on those benefits.

What it means for SCE, SDG&E, and PG&E homeowners
Faster inspections mean less friction between deciding to go solar and actually saving money. Combined with growing battery programs and new state laws valuing home storage, the timing for homeowners keeps getting better. And you do not have to buy a system to get started. Through third-party ownership programs, qualifying homeowners can get solar and battery storage installed without buying or financing equipment, while enjoying lower energy costs and backup power. California is working to get more systems online faster. If you have been thinking about solar and storage, now is a great time to start the process.

To find out if your home qualifies for a TPO solar and battery program, visit myhomesolution.org/california_public_utility_commissions