PG&E Solar Interconnection: Timeline and Tracker
Pacific Gas and Electric covers a vast slice of Northern and Central California, which means most installers in the region will run nearly every project through its interconnection portal. Knowing how that portal behaves — and where it tends to slow down — is most of the battle.
Who is PG&E, and where does it operate?
PG&E is an investor-owned utility serving roughly 70,000 square miles from Bakersfield up to the Oregon border, including the Bay Area and the Central Valley. As an IOU, its net metering and interconnection terms are set under California Public Utilities Commission tariffs, including the current net billing (NEM 3.0) framework that governs how exported energy is credited.
The interconnection process
- 1.Most residential interconnection applications are submitted through PG&E’s online application system once the design is set. Installers generally report that a clean application with correct equipment data moves faster than one that triggers manual review.
- 2.PG&E performs its review and, for standard residential systems, issues an interconnection agreement to be signed. Installers describe the typical range as a few weeks, with incomplete applications and equipment mismatches being the usual cause of delay.
- 3.After local permit and inspection are complete, PG&E processes the final interconnection and issues PTO, at which point the system can legally export.
Timelines above reflect what installers commonly report, not guaranteed or regulated processing times. Confirm current requirements directly with PG&E.
Documents typically required
- •Completed PG&E interconnection application (online)
- •Single-line diagram of the system
- •Inverter and module spec sheets / CEC listing
- •Signed interconnection agreement
- •Final building department permit and inspection sign-off
The gap between permit approval and PTO
Across PG&E territory the most common silent delay is the wait between a finaled permit and PG&E’s PTO. Installers juggling dozens of projects frequently cannot tell which ones are genuinely stuck in PG&E’s queue versus simply waiting their turn. PermitClock surfaces the interconnection clock for every PG&E project so the team can chase the ones that have actually gone overdue.
PG&E jurisdictions we track
| Jurisdiction | Typical permit days | |
|---|---|---|
| City of Bakersfield | ~10 days | View → |
| City of Fresno | ~3 days | View → |
| City of Oakland | ~3 days | View → |
| City of San Francisco | ~3 days | View → |
| City of San Jose | ~3 days | View → |
| City of Stockton | ~3 days | View → |
| County of Alameda | ~10 days | View → |
| County of Contra Costa | ~10 days | View → |
| County of Santa Clara | ~10 days | View → |
Track your PG&E interconnection timeline in PermitClock
See the interconnection clock next to the permit clock, and catch the projects that stall on the way to PTO.