Solar savings & payback in San Francisco
Coastal fog trims output a little; high PG&E rates keep the economics strong.
This calculator uses San Francisco's own sun (~4.6 kWh/kW/day) with California's rate and export rules. For a typical $150/month bill we estimate a payback of about 8.9 years.
- San Francisco sun
- ~4.6 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.
San Francisco solar FAQs
Is solar worth it in San Francisco?
For a typical $150/month bill, we estimate a San Francisco system pays for itself in about 8.9 years, using local sun (~4.6 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). Coastal fog trims output a little; high PG&E rates keep the economics strong.
How much do solar panels generate in San Francisco?
Roughly 4.6 kWh per installed kW per day averaged over the year, about 1,679 kWh per kW annually. A typical 6kW system produces around 10100 kWh a year here. Roof orientation and shading move these figures.
What rebates are available in San Francisco?
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.