Here’s What You Need to Know in 2025
One of the first questions we hear from homeowners is:
“Can solar really power my whole house?”
The short answer is: Yes — but it depends on a few key factors.
In this post, we’ll break down exactly what’s required to power your entire home with solar, how battery storage plays a role, and what to consider when designing your system.
🏡 Step 1: Know Your Energy Usage
The first step in powering your entire home with solar is understanding how much electricity you use. This is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and varies depending on:
- Home size and number of occupants
- Heating and cooling systems
- Appliance and electronics usage
- Pool pumps, EV chargers, etc.
📊 A typical Southern California home might use 600 to 2,500+ kWh per month. We review your past 12 months of electric bills to determine your annual usage.
☀️ Step 2: Sizing Your Solar System
Once we know your energy usage, we calculate the number of panels needed to offset 100% of your bill.
For example:
| Monthly Usage | Annual Usage | Est. System Size |
| 800 kWh | 9,600 kWh | ~7.0 kW system |
| 1,500 kWh | 18,000 kWh | ~13.0 kW system |
| 2,500 kWh | 30,000 kWh | ~22.0 kW system |
Keep in mind, roof space, panel efficiency, and shading will also influence your final design.
🔋 Step 3: Consider Battery Backup
With NEM 3.0 now in effect in California, exporting extra solar to the grid earns lower credits than before. That’s why battery storage is more important than ever.
Adding a battery helps you:
- Store extra energy during the day for use at night
- Avoid high peak utility rates (TOU plans)
- Stay powered during grid outages
- Move closer to full energy independence
Most customers who want to power their whole home 24/7 add 1–2 batteries, such as:
- Tesla Powerwall 3
- Enphase IQ 10C
- Sol-Ark with high-voltage LFP batteries
☁️ What Happens on Cloudy Days?
Your solar system will still produce energy on cloudy days — just less. That’s why we design systems based on year-round usage patterns, and batteries can cover shortfalls.
You’ll also stay connected to the utility grid as a backup power source, unless you go fully off-grid.
✅ So, Can Solar Power Your Entire Home?
Yes — with the right system size and battery design, solar can easily cover 100% of your energy needs, drastically reduce your utility bill, and give you peace of mind during blackouts.
And with federal tax credits still available (for now), there’s never been a better time to make the switch.
🚀 Ready to Power Your Home with Solar?
At Aicon Solar, we design custom systems that are optimized for:
- 100% bill offset
- Battery performance
- Roof space and aesthetics
- Your specific energy goals
📞 Contact us today for a free energy analysis
📩 Or request a custom quote online now