Solar Panels in Burbank
Solar panels in Burbank play by different rules than the rest of the Valley. Burbank runs its own municipal utility — Burbank Water & Power — with its own solar billing program, its own interconnection process, and its own building department. Get the design right for BWP's rules and solar still pencils well here; copy-paste an LADWP or SCE design and it won't. Collective Solar has installed across the Valley since 2010, and we design for the utility you're actually on.
What BWP's 2026 solar billing change means for your system
Burbank Water & Power moved new solar customers to a Solar Net Billing program starting January 1, 2026. In plain terms: customers who had permits in before that date keep the older net energy metering deal, while new applicants are credited for exported power at BWP's avoided-cost rate, which varies by season and time of day, rather than the full retail rate.
That changes the design goal. Under net billing, the power you use directly from your own roof is worth more than the power you export, so we size Burbank systems around self-consumption — your real usage pattern, not the biggest array that fits. For some homes, a battery changes the math enough to earn its place; for others it doesn't, and we'll show you both scenarios with numbers before you decide. BWP publishes its current rates and program terms, and we walk through them with you at the consultation so the estimate reflects the rules as they stand today.
One more 2026 reality: the federal residential purchase tax credit ended December 31, 2025. Zero-down lease and PPA structures still pass incentives through — see how they compare in our lease-vs-buy guide.
From Magnolia Park bungalows to the Burbank hills
Burbank's housing stock spans a century: 1920s-40s bungalows around Magnolia Park, ranch homes in the Rancho district near the equestrian center, and hillside homes climbing above Glenoaks toward the Verdugos. Older roofs get an honest structural look before we design anything — panels last 25 years, so the roof under them has to be ready. If a reroof comes first, we say so, and our panel removal and reinstall service covers homes that already have solar and need roof work.
Every solar installation here permits through the City of Burbank's own building division — not LADBS — and interconnects through BWP. We prepare and file both. And if you have an existing system that's underperforming, our solar repair team services any system in Burbank, no matter who installed it.
Commercial solar around the Media District
Burbank's economy runs on production — and production runs on power. The offices, post-production houses, stages, and warehouses around the Media District carry heavy daytime electrical loads, which is exactly the profile where commercial solar performs best: the building consumes what the roof produces, in real time.
Unlike the residential credit, commercial solar incentives (the 48E investment tax credit) are still live in 2026, with different rules and real value for building owners. If you own or manage a commercial building in Burbank, start with our commercial solar page or request a commercial assessment.
We also serve neighboring Glendale — another municipal-utility city with its own rules — and Van Nuys across the Valley.
Burbank solar questions
Does Burbank have its own electric utility?
Yes. Burbank is served by Burbank Water & Power, a city-owned municipal utility. BWP sets its own rates and runs its own solar billing program, separate from both LADWP and the CPUC rules that govern SCE. Solar permits also go through Burbank's own building division rather than LADBS.
What changed with BWP solar billing in 2026?
Customers who applied for permits before January 1, 2026 stay on BWP's older net energy metering program. New applicants from that date on are enrolled in Solar Net Billing, where exported power is credited at BWP's avoided-cost rate, which varies by season and time of day, instead of the full retail rate. We design around the current rules and confirm program terms with BWP for every project.
Do batteries make more sense in Burbank now?
Sometimes. Under net billing, power you use directly from your own system is worth more than power you export, which strengthens the case for storing afternoon production for evening use. Whether a battery actually pays off depends on your usage pattern, so we model your numbers both ways and let you decide.
Is commercial solar still worth it in Burbank?
Yes — commercial projects can still capture the federal 48E investment tax credit in 2026, and buildings with big daytime loads, like the offices and production facilities around the Media District, use most of their solar power on site where it's worth the most. We assess commercial buildings separately from homes.
Get a free solar estimate for your Burbank property
Designed for BWP's actual billing rules — home or commercial building. Real numbers, zero pressure.