The Knock Report — Fri Sep 11
For California door-to-door solar reps. What changes Saturday.
Residential 30% is dead for cash and loan
Homeowners are already shopping prepaid lease and TPO. Some still hear “you get 30%.” They Google it. Your pitch dies.
Door: The residential 30% tax credit for homeowners buying cash or loan is not the 2026 story. If someone quotes 30%, ask whether that is a prepaid lease or TPO structure and read the buyout language.
NEM3 / NBT means battery and self-consumption
Midday export is not the old NEM payday. SDG&E export talk on the street is almost free at noon. Solar-only export-payback openers fail.
Door: Under Solar Billing Plan, the close is self-consumption plus battery on peak, not get paid for what you send back.
Sunrun is packing the street
Sunrun added about 1,500 direct reps and is pushing past 85% direct while affiliate volume is soft. More shirts on the same blocks.
Door: Compete on design for their TOU and who answers the service call, not we are the only ones knocking.
Quick Hits
Freedom Forever / Ch.7: Orphan PTO and service fear is live. If they bring up dead installers: PTO and service follow the financier and the AHJ paperwork. Document ownership and who they call.
Climate Credit: Aug and Sep IOU bills can look better for a minute. If the bill “looked fine,” name Climate Credit before you pitch rate panic.
Watch only: Plug-in balcony bill is still on Newsom’s desk through Sep 30. Caps about 1,200 W. Not a rooftop plus export product. Different job than what you are quoting. Do not lead with this.
Know which doors before you leave
Free ZIP sample for California reps who still knock. Preliminary coverage note. Ranked knock-list sits on a paid plan.
KnockGenius · CA solar field intel · Sales reps only