Solar + storage in
Orangevale, CA.
Orangevale’s large rural-suburban lots make it one of the better Sacramento-area markets for oversized PV systems and occasional ground-mount configurations. SMUD’s solar tariff is more straightforward than PG&E’s NEM 3.0, and with 5.7 peak sun hours, the numbers work well for most Orangevale homeowners.
peak sun hours/day in Orangevale
avg. monthly SMUD bill
standard solar tariff – more favorable than NEM 3.0
assessment for Orangevale homeowners
What Orangevale homeowners need to know.
Orangevale is an unincorporated community in Sacramento County, meaning the Sacramento County Building Division handles all permits rather than a municipal department. Furthermore, because you are served by SMUD instead of PG&E, the solar economics are more favorable for your home. Here is the full picture.
Sun & production
Orangevale averages 5.7 peak sun hours per day, which is higher than the national average and consistent with the broader Sacramento region. There are approximately 12,000 owner-occupied homes in the community. We are currently active with solar installations in neighborhoods such as Sunrise Ranch, Central Orangevale, and the Hazel Avenue corridor. Additionally, the larger lot sizes throughout Orangevale make ground-mount systems a viable option when a roof is not ideal for solar panels.
Your utility & rates
Orangevale is served by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). SMUD’s solar tariff is generally more favorable than PG&E’s NEM 3.0, as the export rates are better and the battery self-consumption equation is somewhat different. Continuum designs every Orangevale system with SMUD’s specific tariff structure in mind rather than using a generic NEM 3.0 assumption.
Wildfire & PSPS exposure Low PSPS exposure
Orangevale’s grid is served by SMUD, which is stable and located outside of high-risk fire zones. In this area, battery storage is primarily driven by bill savings, energy independence, and backup power during grid outages rather than wildfire risk. Furthermore, SMUD offers its own battery incentive programs that we evaluate for every project.
SMUD changes the solar math here: Orangevale homeowners are not subject to PG&E’s NEM 3.0 tariff. Instead, SMUD has its own net-metering program with better export compensation, which changes the calculation for battery self-consumption. In some cases, a well-sized solar-only system remains a strong financial option. Continuum runs SMUD-specific cash-flow projections in every Orangevale quote to ensure you see the real numbers rather than a generic PG&E template.
Local expertise. No shortcuts.
Continuum is not a national company that treats Orangevale as a distant territory. We are a Northern California solar company, and because Sacramento County is our home turf, we have been installing in Orangevale since 2014 under our original name, North Valley LLC. Here is what that means for your installation.
Local advantage 01
SMUD & Sacramento County expertise
We understand SMUD’s solar tariff, interconnection process, and battery programs thoroughly. We design every system specifically for the utility serving Orangevale rather than using a generic Northern California solar template.
Local advantage 02
Tesla Certified for all of Sacramento County
Continuum is a Tesla Certified Installer for Sacramento County. We routinely install Powerwall 3 units in Orangevale, and we also carry the FranklinWH aPower 2 and Enphase IQ as alternatives.
Local advantage 03
Ground-mount & large-lot capability
Orangevale’s larger rural-suburban lots are well suited for ground-mount configurations when the roof isn’t ideal. We engineer and install these as part of our standard Sacramento County work.
The Continuum difference: Many solar companies quote Orangevale homes using PG&E NEM 3.0 assumptions by default, even though Orangevale is SMUD territory. This practice produces incorrect payback numbers and sometimes leads to the wrong system design. Continuum designs your system specifically for SMUD’s tariff, evaluates all applicable SMUD battery programs, and provides a fixed-price quote with no surprises.
From your first call to full power. our process.
Every Continuum installation in Orangevale follows the same rigorous process. One team, start to finish. No dropped handoffs, no surprises.
We cover all of Sacramento County and beyond.
Continuum installs solar and battery storage throughout the communities surrounding Orangevale. If you’re a neighbor, we serve you too:
Continuum covers 13 Northern California counties, from Redding and Sacramento to the Sierra Foothills and Napa. Explore our whole service area.