Solar by state

Solar in California

Across California, homeowners pay about 15.3¢/kWh and a typical 6 kW system pays back in roughly 8.8 years after the 30% federal tax credit.

State avg rate 15.3¢/kWh

Typical payback 8.8yrs

Best Solar Value Excellent

Counties in California

San Francisco County

33.4¢/kWh · 8,580 kWh/yr

$2,861/yr 4.4 yr payback

16.0¢/kWh · 11,064 kWh/yr

$1,768/yr 7.1 yr payback

16.0¢/kWh · 10,872 kWh/yr

$1,737/yr 7.3 yr payback

17.9¢/kWh · 9,684 kWh/yr

$1,731/yr 7.3 yr payback

San Bernardino County

16.0¢/kWh · 10,794 kWh/yr

$1,725/yr 7.3 yr payback

San Diego County

16.4¢/kWh · 10,530 kWh/yr

$1,722/yr 7.3 yr payback

Santa Barbara County

16.0¢/kWh · 10,800 kWh/yr

$1,726/yr 7.3 yr payback

San Luis Obispo County

15.6¢/kWh · 10,554 kWh/yr

$1,645/yr 7.7 yr payback

San Benito County

15.6¢/kWh · 10,374 kWh/yr

$1,617/yr 7.8 yr payback

Monterey County

15.6¢/kWh · 10,248 kWh/yr

$1,598/yr 7.9 yr payback

16.0¢/kWh · 9,984 kWh/yr

$1,595/yr 7.9 yr payback

15.3¢/kWh · 10,254 kWh/yr

$1,573/yr 8 yr payback

Contra Costa County

15.6¢/kWh · 10,068 kWh/yr

$1,570/yr 8 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 10,008 kWh/yr

$1,560/yr 8.1 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,978 kWh/yr

$1,556/yr 8.1 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,960 kWh/yr

$1,553/yr 8.1 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,834 kWh/yr

$1,533/yr 8.2 yr payback

Los Angeles County

14.9¢/kWh · 10,326 kWh/yr

$1,535/yr 8.2 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,804 kWh/yr

$1,528/yr 8.2 yr payback

Mariposa County

15.6¢/kWh · 9,918 kWh/yr

$1,546/yr 8.2 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,816 kWh/yr

$1,530/yr 8.2 yr payback

16.0¢/kWh · 9,654 kWh/yr

$1,543/yr 8.2 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,810 kWh/yr

$1,529/yr 8.2 yr payback

Calaveras County

15.6¢/kWh · 9,690 kWh/yr

$1,511/yr 8.3 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,780 kWh/yr

$1,525/yr 8.3 yr payback

San Joaquin County

15.6¢/kWh · 9,684 kWh/yr

$1,510/yr 8.3 yr payback

Tuolumne County

15.6¢/kWh · 9,744 kWh/yr

$1,519/yr 8.3 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,630 kWh/yr

$1,501/yr 8.4 yr payback

Santa Clara County

15.6¢/kWh · 9,600 kWh/yr

$1,497/yr 8.4 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,588 kWh/yr

$1,495/yr 8.4 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,588 kWh/yr

$1,495/yr 8.4 yr payback

16.0¢/kWh · 9,366 kWh/yr

$1,497/yr 8.4 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,558 kWh/yr

$1,490/yr 8.5 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,486 kWh/yr

$1,479/yr 8.5 yr payback

Santa Cruz County

15.6¢/kWh · 9,522 kWh/yr

$1,484/yr 8.5 yr payback

Stanislaus County

15.0¢/kWh · 9,852 kWh/yr

$1,474/yr 8.5 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,450 kWh/yr

$1,473/yr 8.6 yr payback

El Dorado County

15.6¢/kWh · 9,384 kWh/yr

$1,463/yr 8.6 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,378 kWh/yr

$1,462/yr 8.6 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,438 kWh/yr

$1,471/yr 8.6 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,396 kWh/yr

$1,465/yr 8.6 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,246 kWh/yr

$1,441/yr 8.7 yr payback

Mendocino County

15.6¢/kWh · 9,324 kWh/yr

$1,454/yr 8.7 yr payback

San Mateo County

15.6¢/kWh · 9,270 kWh/yr

$1,445/yr 8.7 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,204 kWh/yr

$1,435/yr 8.8 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,168 kWh/yr

$1,429/yr 8.8 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,192 kWh/yr

$1,433/yr 8.8 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 9,150 kWh/yr

$1,426/yr 8.8 yr payback

15.6¢/kWh · 8,580 kWh/yr

$1,338/yr 9.4 yr payback

Riverside County

11.9¢/kWh · 11,202 kWh/yr

$1,333/yr 9.5 yr payback

Humboldt County

15.6¢/kWh · 8,208 kWh/yr

$1,280/yr 9.8 yr payback

Imperial County

11.9¢/kWh · 10,734 kWh/yr

$1,277/yr 9.9 yr payback

Sacramento County

12.4¢/kWh · 9,672 kWh/yr

$1,198/yr 10.5 yr payback

Siskiyou County

13.1¢/kWh · 9,048 kWh/yr

$1,185/yr 10.6 yr payback

Del Norte County

13.1¢/kWh · 7,992 kWh/yr

$1,047/yr 12 yr payback

10.3¢/kWh · 9,456 kWh/yr

$975/yr 12.9 yr payback

7.5¢/kWh · 9,924 kWh/yr

$746/yr 16.9 yr payback

7.5¢/kWh · 9,006 kWh/yr

$672/yr 18.8 yr payback

Figures are modeled estimates from NREL PVWatts v8 + EIA. Not affiliated with NREL, DOE or EIA · not financial advice. Last updated June 2026.