Program is launching on January 1st, 2026.
A Brighter Future with Solar Energy
As part of Burbank Water and Power's (BWP) ongoing commitment to sustainable energy and community engagement, BWP is updating our rate structure to a Solar Net Billing system.
The proposed Solar Net Billing update will make it easier for future solar customers to make the switch by removing size caps, simplifying the project approval process, and providing clarity on BWP’s solar payment system. This update aims to enhance the efficiency of energy distribution and ensure the sustainability of our solar programs.
Burbank Solar Updates
Current Customers
If you are already a part of Burbank's solar community under the existing net energy metering system, your rates will not change.
BWP is grandfathering existing customers into their existing rate structure.
This does not exempt grandfathered customers from rate increases.
New Solar Customers
Customers who apply for permits after January 1st, 2026 will be enrolled in the new Solar Net Billing program. If a permit is applied for before January 1st, 2026, the solar system will be grandfathered into the existing solar Net Energy Metering program.
Missed the public meetings?
You can see a recording of our previous meetings here.
Introducing Solar Net Billing for New Customers
The Burbank City Council approved the Solar Net Billing program on January 14th, 2025. The new program will begin on January 1st, 2026. After that date, all new solar installations in Burbank will be billed using the new Solar Net Billing rate. Whenever a solar system generates more electricity than what is consumed on-site, BWP will compensate customers at BWP's avoided cost of energy (ACOE) at the time. The proposed rate changes were approved after substantial analysis and will offer advantages for Burbank ratepayers.
INCREASED SIZE LIMITS FOR SOLAR SYSTEMS
BWP proposes supporting solar systems up to 5 megawatts, and removing size limits based on annual energy use, allowing residential and commercial customers to install larger systems.
WIN-WIN FOR BWP AND CUSTOMERS
By changing BWP’s solar rate structure to compensate over-generators at BWP’s avoided cost of energy, BWP no longer risks overpaying for power. Now, BWP can allow for larger system sizes to help customers reduce their monthly bills even lower.
REDUCE COSTS WITH SOLAR OVERSIZING
Customers will be allowed to “oversize” their solar systems and sell any extra energy they generate back to BWP as a bill offset. This update will help customers reduce their monthly energy costs and allow customers to “future-proof” their properties.
FUTURE-PROOF YOUR HOME FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
A customer may want to buy an electric vehicle in the future but wants to install a solar system soon. By installing a larger solar system, the customer’s system would generate enough energy to power their home and more, so it can accommodate an electric vehicle once the customer is ready to purchase.
FAIR COMPENSATION FOR OVERGENERATION
Our new ACOE compensation will help provide clarity to BWP’s solar compensation system. Instead of the previous system, which involved energy credits and a cash-out process, the new system applies customers’ savings directly to their next bill. After a customer generates the equivalent of “netting out” their bill, any additional dollar amount they have generated goes toward the customer’s next bill. Upon request, excess dollars can also be sent via check on an annual basis.
STREAMLINED PLAN REVIEWS & SIMPLER FORMS
Solar Net Billing will also speed up how long it takes BWP to review solar plans by removing a step for staff review, saving new solar customers from a multi-day review process.