Solar savings by state

Payback swings hugely across the US, driven by your electricity rate, how much sun you get, and whether your state still offers full 1:1 net metering. Pick your state for numbers tuned to local conditions.

See all states ranked by payback

California

32¢

Net billing (reduced export rate)

~4.6 kWh/kW/day sun

Massachusetts

30¢

Full retail net metering (1:1)

~3.8 kWh/kW/day sun

New York

24¢

Full retail net metering (1:1)

~3.6 kWh/kW/day sun

New Jersey

18¢

Full retail net metering (1:1)

~3.9 kWh/kW/day sun

Florida

15¢

Full retail net metering (1:1)

~4.4 kWh/kW/day sun

Arizona

15¢

Net billing (reduced export rate)

~5 kWh/kW/day sun

Texas

15¢

Net billing (reduced export rate)

~4.5 kWh/kW/day sun

Hawaii

42¢

Net billing (reduced export rate)

~4.8 kWh/kW/day sun

Northeast

State	Rate	Sun (kWh/kW/day)	Net metering
Connecticut	32¢/kWh	~3.8	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Delaware	17¢/kWh	~4	Full retail net metering (1:1)
District of Columbia	17¢/kWh	~4	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Maine	28¢/kWh	~3.8	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Maryland	19¢/kWh	~4	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Massachusetts	30¢/kWh	~3.8	Full retail net metering (1:1)
New Hampshire	24¢/kWh	~3.8	Net billing (reduced export rate)
New Jersey	18¢/kWh	~3.9	Full retail net metering (1:1)
New York	24¢/kWh	~3.6	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Pennsylvania	18¢/kWh	~3.7	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Rhode Island	29¢/kWh	~3.8	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Vermont	22¢/kWh	~3.6	Full retail net metering (1:1)

South

State	Rate	Sun (kWh/kW/day)	Net metering
Alabama	16¢/kWh	~4.3	Limited / utility-specific
Arkansas	13¢/kWh	~4.2	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Florida	15¢/kWh	~4.4	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Georgia	15¢/kWh	~4.3	Limited / utility-specific
Kentucky	14¢/kWh	~4	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Louisiana	12¢/kWh	~4.2	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Mississippi	14¢/kWh	~4.3	Net billing (reduced export rate)
North Carolina	14¢/kWh	~4.2	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Oklahoma	13¢/kWh	~4.6	Limited / utility-specific
South Carolina	15¢/kWh	~4.3	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Tennessee	13¢/kWh	~4.1	Limited / utility-specific
Texas	15¢/kWh	~4.5	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Virginia	15¢/kWh	~4.1	Full retail net metering (1:1)
West Virginia	15¢/kWh	~3.8	Full retail net metering (1:1)

Midwest

State	Rate	Sun (kWh/kW/day)	Net metering
Illinois	17¢/kWh	~3.9	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Indiana	16¢/kWh	~3.9	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Iowa	14¢/kWh	~4	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Kansas	14¢/kWh	~4.5	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Michigan	19¢/kWh	~3.7	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Minnesota	15¢/kWh	~4	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Missouri	14¢/kWh	~4.2	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Nebraska	13¢/kWh	~4.3	Full retail net metering (1:1)
North Dakota	12¢/kWh	~4.1	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Ohio	16¢/kWh	~3.8	Full retail net metering (1:1)
South Dakota	13¢/kWh	~4.3	Limited / utility-specific
Wisconsin	17¢/kWh	~3.8	Full retail net metering (1:1)

Southwest

State	Rate	Sun (kWh/kW/day)	Net metering
Arizona	15¢/kWh	~5	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Nevada	16¢/kWh	~4.9	Net billing (reduced export rate)
New Mexico	15¢/kWh	~5	Full retail net metering (1:1)

West

State	Rate	Sun (kWh/kW/day)	Net metering
Alaska	25¢/kWh	~2.9	Net billing (reduced export rate)
California	32¢/kWh	~4.6	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Colorado	16¢/kWh	~4.5	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Hawaii	42¢/kWh	~4.8	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Idaho	13¢/kWh	~4.3	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Montana	13¢/kWh	~4	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Oregon	14¢/kWh	~3.6	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Utah	12¢/kWh	~4.6	Net billing (reduced export rate)
Washington	12¢/kWh	~3.2	Full retail net metering (1:1)
Wyoming	13¢/kWh	~4.6	Full retail net metering (1:1)

Rates from EIA 2026 residential averages; net-metering status from DSIRE. Always confirm current rules with your utility before deciding.