Solar savings & payback in Sacramento
Hot, clear Central Valley summers deliver strong generation.
This calculator uses Sacramento's own sun (~4.8 kWh/kW/day, 4% above the CA average) with California's rate and export rules. For a typical $150/month bill we estimate a payback of about 8.6 years.
- Sacramento sun
- ~4.8 kWh/kW/day
- CA average sun
- ~4.6 kWh/kW/day
- Electricity rate
- 32¢/kWh
- Net metering
- Net billing (reduced export rate)
Statewide policy, incentives, and the full cost-by-size table live on the California page
Where your money goes
Your 25-year money curve
What the planet gets
Net metering credits exported power against what you draw from the grid. Rates vary by state, California's NEM 3.0 pays much less for exports than 1:1 states.
Enter a valid monthly bill and tariff greater than zero to see your results.
Sacramento solar FAQs
Is solar worth it in Sacramento?
For a typical $150/month bill, we estimate a Sacramento system pays for itself in about 8.6 years, using local sun (~4.8 kWh per kW per day), California's average 32¢/kWh rate, and net billing (reduced export rate). No federal tax credit is assumed (it expired at the end of 2025). Hot, clear Central Valley summers deliver strong generation.
How much do solar panels generate in Sacramento?
Roughly 4.8 kWh per installed kW per day averaged over the year, about 1,752 kWh per kW annually. A typical 6kW system produces around 10500 kWh a year here. Roof orientation and shading move these figures.
What rebates are available in Sacramento?
Very high rates mean self-consumption savings are large; SGIP rebates support batteries. Utility-level programs come and go, check your utility's website and dsireusa.org for anything city-specific before signing.