How a Simple Collar Could Revolutionize Home Energy: The Story Behind Enphase’s IQ Meter Collar and SDG&E Approval

A few months ago, I overheard a neighbor joking about 'solar spaghetti' after watching their home battery installation—a tangle of wires, extra panels, and a dose of frustration over rewiring. Fast forward to today, and the arrival of Enphase Energy's IQ Meter Collar has installers in San Diego swapping those spaghetti nights for a smoother dinner rush. With SDG&E’s stamp of approval, what used to be meticulous, costly, and slow is suddenly quick and elegant. But does it work as simply as it sounds? Let’s unravel what’s actually changed for homes looking to back themselves up with battery power (and why so many industry insiders are smiling).

SDG&E’s Green Light: More Than Just Another Utility Approval

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has officially approved the Enphase IQ® Meter Collar for behind-the-meter installations, marking a significant step forward for home energy solutions in the San Diego area. This approval is not just another regulatory milestone—it directly impacts how quickly and easily homeowners and installers can deploy whole-home battery backup systems. By removing the need for backup sub-panel rewiring, SDG&E’s decision paves the way for streamlined, cost-effective, and less disruptive installations.

Streamlining Home Battery Backup in San Diego

The IQ Meter Collar approval by SDG&E opens the door for a new era of home battery backup installations within its service territory. Traditionally, installing a whole-home backup system required complex rewiring and the addition of a dedicated backup sub-panel—a process that added time, cost, and inconvenience for both homeowners and installers. With the IQ Meter Collar, these hurdles are eliminated, making the installation process faster and more accessible.

• No more backup sub-panel rewiring: Installers can now connect Enphase’s 4th-generation battery systems directly, saving hours of labor and reducing the need for extensive electrical work.
• Lower installation costs: Homeowners benefit from reduced project expenses, while installers can complete more jobs in less time.
• Enhanced flexibility: The system supports whole-home backup without the need for complicated customization, making it suitable for a wide range of residential setups.

Industry professionals in the San Diego region are already seeing the benefits. As Kent Harle, CEO of Stellar Solar, puts it:

The IQ Meter Collar is a game-changer for installers. It means faster jobs and fewer headaches.

SDG&E Joins a Growing List of Utility Approvals

SDG&E’s green light for the IQ Meter Collar follows approvals from over a dozen other utilities across the United States. This growing wave of utility acceptance signals a broader shift in the energy industry toward technologies that simplify behind-the-meter installations and make home energy storage more accessible.

In California, pilots with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE)—the state’s two largest utilities—are currently underway. Full approval from these utilities is anticipated soon, hinting at rapid adoption and further expansion of streamlined battery backup solutions across the state’s key energy markets.

• SDG&E’s approval: San Diego becomes one of the first major markets with formal utility approval for the IQ Meter Collar.
• Pilots with PG&E and SCE: Ongoing pilot programs suggest that more California homeowners will soon benefit from simplified installations.
• National scaling: As utility approvals expand, Enphase is positioned to accelerate the adoption of standardized residential energy storage products nationwide.

Behind-the-Meter Installations: Real-World Impact

The impact of SDG&E’s decision goes beyond regulatory compliance. For homeowners, it means less disruption, faster project completion, and lower costs. For installers, it translates to reduced complexity and the ability to serve more customers efficiently. The IQ Meter Collar integrates microgrid interconnection device (MID) functionality and energy consumption metering into a single enclosure, allowing for whole-home backup without the need for load rewiring.

Enphase began shipping its 4th-generation battery system—including the IQ Battery 10C, IQ Meter Collar, and IQ Combiner 6C—in July 2025. Orders are now available through Enphase distribution partners, and the system comes with a 15-year limited warranty, addressing consumer concerns about reliability and long-term value.

Industry Momentum and Installer Endorsements

Feedback from the San Diego solar industry underscores the practical benefits of SDG&E’s approval. Installers highlight reduced project timelines, lower costs, and greater flexibility for homeowners. As Ramon Brizo of Sunlight Solar Inc. and Erik Sattler of Sattler Solar note, the technology enables more efficient, customer-friendly installations without the need for extensive equipment or conduit.

With 4.9 million Enphase-based systems deployed globally and 83.1 million microinverters shipped, Enphase’s reach is already significant. The company’s smart mobile app further empowers users to control, monitor, and optimize their solar and battery systems, making home energy management more intuitive than ever.

SDG&E’s approval of the IQ Meter Collar is a clear signal of the industry’s move toward easier, faster, and more reliable residential solar and storage installations. As utility approvals continue to expand, the landscape for behind-the-meter installations is rapidly evolving—offering real benefits to both homeowners and professionals in the field.

No More Spaghetti: How the IQ Meter Collar Unknots Home Solar Installs

For years, home solar and battery installations have been notorious for their complexity—especially when it comes to providing whole-home backup. Installers often faced a tangled mess of wires, custom sub-panel rewiring, and hours of labor just to ensure that a home could keep the lights on during a grid outage. The arrival of the IQ Meter Collar , a core part of Enphase’s 4th-generation battery system , is changing that story across California and beyond.

Integrated Technology: MID and Energy Consumption Metering in One

At the heart of the IQ Meter Collar’s impact is its integration of a microgrid interconnection device (MID) and energy consumption metering within a single, compact enclosure. This design eliminates the need for additional, separate hardware and reduces the number of steps in the installation process. By combining these critical functions, the collar not only simplifies the physical setup but also streamlines the system’s digital management, especially when paired with Enphase’s smart mobile app for real-time monitoring and control.

Whole-Home Backup Without the Hassle

Traditionally, providing whole-home backup meant rewiring a home’s electrical loads to a dedicated backup sub-panel—a process that could be both time-consuming and expensive. The IQ Meter Collar removes this barrier. Installers can now deliver seamless whole-home backup by simply attaching the collar to the existing meter socket, without the need to reroute circuits or install extra panels.

This innovation is particularly significant for homeowners and installers alike. As Ramon Brizo, Technical and Sales Specialist at Sunlight Solar Inc. , puts it:

"We used to have to spend hours rerouting circuits; now, the collar lets us finish in a single afternoon."

By cutting out the need for backup sub-panel rewiring, the IQ Meter Collar drastically reduces both the time and cost associated with residential solar-plus-storage installations.

Streamlined Workflow, Lower Costs, and Faster Installation Times

The IQ Meter Collar’s streamlined approach is a win for both seasoned professionals and newcomers to solar installation. By reducing the need for custom load rewiring, the device slashes labor requirements and minimizes the risk of errors or callbacks. Local solar companies in San Diego, where SDG&E has officially approved the collar, report that projects now move faster and with fewer complications.

• Reduced installation times: Installers can complete projects in hours, not days.
• Lower project costs: Fewer materials and less labor mean savings for homeowners.
• Enhanced flexibility: The collar works with existing home wiring, making it suitable for both new and retrofit projects.

These improvements translate directly into a more cost-effective installation process, helping more homeowners access reliable whole-home backup at a lower price point.

Core to the 4th-Generation Battery System

The IQ Meter Collar is a foundational element of Enphase’s new 4th-generation battery system , which also includes the IQ Battery 10C and IQ Combiner 6C . This trio is designed to work together seamlessly, offering homeowners a robust, integrated solution for solar energy storage and backup. With a comprehensive 15-year limited warranty , Enphase is addressing consumer concerns about reliability and long-term value.

Installer and Homeowner Endorsements

Feedback from the field has been overwhelmingly positive. Industry professionals highlight the collar’s ability to reduce project timelines and labor needs, while homeowners appreciate the minimal disruption and faster path to energy independence. As one installer noted, “The collar isn’t just a sleek bit of hardware—installers celebrate its impact on install times, cost, and customer satisfaction.”

Smart App Control: A Leap Forward for Everyday Users

Beyond hardware, Enphase’s smart mobile app redefines how users interact with their home energy systems. Homeowners can monitor energy production, consumption, and backup status in real time, all from their smartphones. This level of control and transparency is a major step forward, making solar and storage more accessible and user-friendly than ever before.

With utility approvals expanding and strong endorsements from both installers and homeowners, the IQ Meter Collar is poised to become the new standard for cost-effective installations and faster installation times in residential solar and storage.

Installer Antics, Utility Chess, and the Not-So-Distant Solar Future

The recent approval of Enphase Energy’s IQ Meter Collar by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is more than just another regulatory milestone—it’s a signal that the tides are shifting in the world of home energy backup. For years, installers in California and beyond have wrestled with the complexities of sub-panel rewiring and the headaches of custom backup configurations. Now, with the IQ Meter Collar, those pain points are rapidly turning into selling points, and the installer experience is being transformed from a source of frustration into a competitive advantage.

Industry professionals across the San Diego region have been quick to praise the new streamlined home backup process. Kent Harle, CEO of Stellar Solar, notes that the collar “cuts installation time and complexity, making jobs quicker and clients happier.” Erik Sattler, CEO of Sattler Solar, echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that “the ability to offer whole-home backup without rewiring is a game-changer.” Joshua Craig, Solar Operations Manager at Sungenia Solar Solutions, highlights how the collar’s design reduces on-site mess and minimizes disruption for homeowners. These endorsements are not just marketing soundbites—they reflect real-world improvements that are already being felt on rooftops and in living rooms across Southern California.

But the story doesn’t end with installer satisfaction. Utility approvals across California are creating a domino effect that could soon sweep the nation. SDG&E’s green light is already being followed by pilots underway with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE)—the state’s two largest utilities. As utility buy-in grows, so does the momentum for widespread adoption. Enphase’s approvals page now tracks this progress in real time, offering a glimpse into the accelerating pace of change. As Erik Sattler puts it,

“We’re looking at an inflection point for whole-home backup—when one utility approves, the rest start asking how quickly they can follow.”

This is more than paperwork; it’s a strategic game of utility chess. Each new approval not only validates Enphase Energy’s technology but also lowers the barriers for the next utility to follow suit. The result is a rapidly expanding network of acceptance, where streamlined home backup is no longer a niche offering but a mainstream expectation. The IQ Meter Collar, with its integrated microgrid interconnection device (MID) and energy consumption metering, is at the heart of this shift, enabling whole-home backup without the need for costly and time-consuming rewiring.

Orders for the IQ Meter Collar and its companion products—the IQ Battery 10C and IQ Combiner 6C—have been available since July 2025, supported by a robust 15-year limited warranty. This combination of installer enthusiasm, utility approvals across key markets, and consumer confidence is setting the stage for a national rollout. The expansion of pilots underway with PG&E and Southern California Edison signals that a broader wave of acceptance is imminent. Should these utilities follow SDG&E’s lead, the resulting domino effect could rapidly transform the landscape of residential energy storage across the United States.

What does this mean for homeowners and the future of solar? As more utilities give their stamp of approval, home energy backup is poised to jump from niche to normal. The IQ Meter Collar’s simple yet powerful design is making it easier, faster, and more affordable for families to take control of their energy use, save money, and gain peace of mind during outages. The next year will be critical: as utility approvals stack up, adoption will spread rapidly, and the vision of accessible, standardized home backup will move from possibility to reality.

In the not-so-distant solar future, a “collar” might just be the catalyst that changes how Americans power their homes. With Enphase Energy at the forefront, and utility momentum accelerating, the industry stands at the edge of a new era—one where streamlined home backup is not just an upgrade, but the new standard.

TL;DR: SDG&E’s approval of Enphase’s IQ Meter Collar means easier, faster, and more affordable whole-home backup. By removing the hurdles of rewiring and sub-panel headaches, the Collar sets a new standard for California solar storage and could signal national change. Here’s what you should know.