SunShares
SunShares is a regional solar group-buy program administered by Act Now Bay Area offering discounts on residential solar and battery storage. SunShares makes it easier and more affordable for Bay Area residents to install clean energy systems by providing no-cost, no-obligation proposals from vetted contractors and guidance on how to take advantage of additional incentives and rebates.
Registration for this year's SunShares program will be open between September 1 and November 15, 2026. If you would like to move forward with one of the installers at your quoted price, you'll need to sign your contract by December 15, 2026.
Register for the 2026 SunShares program
Important Dates
- September 1, 2026: SunShares enrollment opens
- October 16, 2026: SunShares Webinar #2
- November 5, 2026: SunShares Webinar #3
- November 15, 2026: SunShares enrollment closes
- December 15, 2026: Final day to sign contract and lock in SunShares discount
How Do I Get the SunShares Discount?
- Register at bayareasunshares.org by November 15
- Once the vetted solar installers reach out, schedule a zero-commitment consultation with one or both of them
- Sign your contract by December 15 to lock in your quoted discounts
How can I further reduce my home’s greenhouse gas emissions?
CPAU encourages customers to consider electrification, a shift from fossil fuels to electricity for space and water heating, transportation, cooking and clothes drying. CPAU's electricity is sourced from renewable and hydroelectric resources, but natural gas is a fossil fuel that is a potent greenhouse gas itself and that also produces greenhouse gas emissions when burned. In Palo Alto, an all-electric lifestyle is cleaner and healthier than using fossil fuels.
Will my solar system provide backup power during an outage?
Generally, no. A standard grid-tied rooftop solar system will not provide electric power to your home in the case of a power outage. All grid-tied solar systems are required to disconnect from the grid during a power outage. This is so the “mini power plant” on your roof doesn't feed electricity back into the grid during an outage, which would endanger utility workers who are repairing the utility wires.
On the other hand, rooftop solar paired with a battery can provide back-up power during an outage if the battery is wired properly. There are also special inverters that can allow your home to use solar power during an outage, but they require special installation. To learn more, visit our residential solar page.
How can I learn more about solar in Palo Alto?