After this month’s October shutoffs, the next thing homeowners hear about is a wet winter. Three things for the doors: a backup install with fewer parts that two big utilities have approved, what the latest El Niño forecast actually says, and a prepaid ownership program homeowners may ask you about.
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1. Backup with fewer parts, approved in PG&E and SDG&E.
SolarEdge announced that its Nexis IslandDER meter collar is approved for use in PG&E and SDG&E service territories. North American Clean Energy reported it Oct 20, and pv magazine USA followed Oct 21. SolarEdge says SCE witness testing is still to come.
The collar was developed with ConnectDER. It installs behind the utility billing meter and puts key backup and system control functions into one unit. SolarEdge says that eliminates the backup loads panel, the separate system controller and the circuit relocations a conventional install requires. The company also says meter-main combination panels are widespread and don’t have the physical space that conventional backup components need. Nexis storage scales from 5 kWh to 80 kWh, with a 4th battery stack expected Q1 2027, and runs up to 13 kW on-grid and 14.5 kW in backup. SolarEdge says its Power Control System can help qualifying homeowners avoid costly main service panel upgrades.
Several brands now have approvals for this kind of device. Per pv magazine USA, Nexis is one of five meter-collar solutions approved by SDG&E and one of four approved by PG&E. Other approved devices come from Tesla, Enphase and NeWorld. Devices from Generac, Sigenergy and Span are being tested in PG&E territory.
Sources: North American Clean Energy · pv magazine USA
2. Storm season is outage season.
Gov. Newsom proclaimed a statewide state of emergency on Sept 21, 2026 for the developing 2026-27 El Niño. The governor’s office lists effects on families, including roads closed by flooding or rockslides and power outages.
The proclamation directs the California Energy Commission, the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety and the water boards, and requests the CPUC, to coordinate with electric and other critical-service providers on readiness and restoration after storms. It also expands public preparedness messaging on severe weather, flooding, evacuation readiness and power outages.
On Oct 8, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said the El Niño Advisory remains in effect. It said a strong to very strong El Niño is likely through January to March 2027, with the chance still greater than 83%. NOAA added that "the chances of experiencing impacts consistent with El Niño are larger, though not guaranteed." Its next update is Nov 12.
On Oct 19, the state Department of Water Resources said a record-setting El Niño is raising the odds of a wetter-than-average winter, and that it "does not guarantee where or when extreme weather will strike."
EnergySage’s Oct 19 update covers what happens at the house. Grid-tied solar without a battery shuts off automatically in an outage. That’s called anti-islanding. Code requires it, and it protects utility crews repairing the lines. A battery paired with solar can power essentials like the fridge, lights and Wi-Fi.
Sources: Office of the Governor · NOAA Climate Prediction Center · EnergySage
3. Another way to own after the residential credit ended.
US Power, a factory-direct Qcells solar and roofing brokerage, announced Oct 15 that it is approved to offer Propel. Propel is a prepaid solar and battery program from SolSource Solutions. It’s financed through TriBeam Financial’s Concert Finance program, with loans made by Medallion Bank, and distributed by Greentech Renewables. The release says the federal solar tax credit ended for homeowner-owned systems on Dec 31, 2025. Under Propel, SolSource owns the system for the first five years. Ownership is designed to transfer to the homeowner after year five, with the buyout built into the price, subject to the agreement terms.
Greentech Renewables says the structure can produce discounts of 25% to 40% compared to a cash purchase. The release lists a $0-down option with a fixed monthly loan payment, no annual escalator, no dealer fees and no prepayment penalty. Enphase is the program’s exclusive hardware provider. Per the release, Propel launched in Feb 2026 and was offered through more than 300 independent installers as of mid-2026. In July 2026 its participating California utility areas expanded to include LADWP and 16 other utility districts. The release also quotes US Power’s own consultant with a caveat: "it isn’t the right fit for someone who might sell in the next few years." Everything in this item comes from one vendor’s press release, not independent reporting.
Source: US Power release
Why it matters at the door
Simpler backup. SolarEdge’s pitch is aimed at meter-main combination panels that have no room for conventional backup gear. If you keep running into those, ask your install team which collar and battery they use before you bring any of this up. This is one manufacturer’s product, and I’m not endorsing it. Never tell a homeowner they won’t need a panel upgrade. SolarEdge says its system can help qualifying homeowners avoid one, and that word matters. If you work SCE turf, SolarEdge says witness testing there is still to come.
Storm season. The state is putting outage preparedness in front of homeowners, so expect the question. Explain how their system behaves. Solar without a battery shuts off when the grid goes down, and that protects the crews fixing the lines. A battery paired with solar can keep the fridge, lights and Wi-Fi on. Don’t predict an outage for anyone’s street, city or date. Don’t say El Niño will cause outages, and don’t promise a battery prevents every one. NOAA’s own words are "larger, though not guaranteed," and that’s the right way to put it.
Another way to own. Homeowners may hear about Propel, especially in LADWP territory, so know what it is. It’s one program, and not every installer offers it. Only pitch it if your company offers it. Any number you repeat belongs to the vendor, so the 25% to 40% is Greentech Renewables’ figure. Send tax questions to a tax professional. I don’t give tax advice, and nobody should be giving it at the door.
CA Corner
Renewable Energy Magazine reported Oct 21 that the Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians in San Diego County, working with the nonprofit Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF), finished solar plus battery systems at three Tribal administration buildings. It’s the first public clean energy installation on the reservation. The systems are expected to produce about 60 MWh a year and save at least $16,780 a year, and the batteries let the buildings keep operating off the grid during outages. Four Tribal members who had already received solar installation training worked on the project. Tribal Council chairman Curtis La Chusa said, "Out here, outages can last days at a time."
Source: Renewable Energy Magazine
Before you head out
Storm season gives homeowners a real reason to think about backup, and your hours count most on doors that are likely to open. Run a free KnockGenius scan and know which doors to knock before you load the car.