Solar by State
All 51 states + DC, ranked by real electricity rates, peak sun hours, and installed cost — sourced from EIA, NREL PVWatts, and LBNL Tracking the Sun. Click or tap any state row to view the full incentive breakdown, utility net metering rules, and payback estimate.
19.4¢
US avg electricity rate
9
states with real $/W data
12
states with full-retail NEM
5.8 h
most sun: Arizona
51 of 51 states
| State▲ | Avg rate⇅ | Peak sun⇅ | $/W installed⇅ | Net metering | Perks | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | 16.4¢▲1.5% | 4.65 h | — | Varies by utility | View guide | |
| Alaska(AK) | 28.2¢▲8.2% | 2.50 h | — | Varies by utility | 1 incentiveCommunity solar | View guide |
| Arizona(AZ) | 15.2¢▼3.4% | 5.78 h | $4.05 | Varies by utility | 3 incentivesVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Arkansas(AR) | 14.1¢▲7.1% | 4.41 h | — | Net billing | 1 incentiveCommunity solar | View guide |
| California(CA) | 34.7¢▲4.4% | 5.07 h | $4.25 | Net billing | 3 incentivesCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Colorado(CO) | 17.1¢▲9.9% | 4.83 h | $4.70 | Full retail | 6 incentivesCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Connecticut(CT) | 24.3¢▼23.0% | 3.84 h | — | Net billing | 3 incentivesCommunity solarBattery rebate | View guide |
| Delaware(DE) | 19.3¢▲6.4% | 4.13 h | $4.10 | Full retail | 5 incentivesCommunity solarBattery rebate | View guide |
| District of Columbia(DC) | 24.4¢▲19.4% | 4.15 h | — | Full retail | 3 incentivesCommunity solarBattery rebate | View guide |
| Florida(FL) | 15.1¢▲0.9% | 4.79 h | — | Full retail | 2 incentivesCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Georgia(GA) | 16.4¢▲9.2% | 4.50 h | — | Varies by utility | 1 incentiveCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Hawaii(HI) | 52.7¢▲28.5% | 5.67 h | — | Varies by utility | 1 incentiveCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Idaho(ID) | 14.4¢▲21.0% | 4.62 h | — | Varies by utility | 3 incentivesBattery rebate | View guide |
| Illinois(IL) | 19.9¢▲7.1% | 4.14 h | — | Varies by utility | 3 incentivesCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Indiana(IN) | 17.5¢▲3.6% | 4.01 h | — | Varies by utility | View guide | |
| Iowa(IA) | 15.9¢▲12.5% | 4.02 h | — | Varies by utility | 1 incentive | View guide |
| Kansas(KS) | 15.7¢▲6.7% | 4.31 h | — | Net billing | View guide | |
| Kentucky(KY) | 14.3¢▲3.0% | 4.12 h | — | Varies by utility | Community solar | View guide |
| Louisiana(LA) | 13.5¢▲1.7% | 4.65 h | — | Avoided cost | Community solar | View guide |
| Maine(ME) | 29.6¢▲6.0% | 3.72 h | — | Net billing | 2 incentivesCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Maryland(MD) | 21.8¢▲14.9% | 4.14 h | — | Full retail | 4 incentivesCommunity solarBattery rebate | View guide |
| Massachusetts(MA) | 29.6¢▼1.0% | 3.84 h | $3.90 | Full retail | 5 incentivesCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Michigan(MI) | 23.0¢▲13.6% | 3.80 h | — | Net billing | 4 incentives | View guide |
| Minnesota(MN) | 17.5¢▲10.6% | 3.80 h | — | Varies by utility | 2 incentivesCommunity solar | View guide |
| Mississippi(MS) | 14.9¢▲0.3% | 4.58 h | — | Net billing | 1 incentive | View guide |
| Missouri(MO) | 16.2¢▲24.7% | 4.26 h | — | Avoided cost | Battery rebate | View guide |
| Montana(MT) | 15.1¢▲17.5% | 3.99 h | — | Full retail | 1 incentive | View guide |
| Nebraska(NE) | 13.3¢▲0.8% | 4.24 h | — | Varies by utility | 2 incentivesCommunity solar | View guide |
| Nevada(NV) | 13.1¢▼1.4% | 5.27 h | — | Varies by utility | 3 incentives | View guide |
| New Hampshire(NH) | 27.0¢▲12.4% | 3.79 h | $3.52 | Varies by utility | 2 incentivesCommunity solar | View guide |
| New Jersey(NJ) | 24.9¢▲21.8% | 3.99 h | — | Full retail | 3 incentivesCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| New Mexico(NM) | 15.1¢▲3.9% | 5.47 h | $4.62 | Net billing | 1 incentiveCommunity solar | View guide |
| New York(NY) | 29.5¢▲10.5% | 3.82 h | $4.26 | Full retail | 7 incentivesCommunity solarBattery rebate | View guide |
| North Carolina(NC) | 14.7¢▲2.9% | 4.46 h | — | Varies by utility | 3 incentivesVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| North Dakota(ND) | 14.1¢▲7.8% | 3.87 h | — | Avoided cost | 1 incentive | View guide |
| Ohio(OH) | 19.2¢▲12.3% | 3.91 h | — | Avoided cost | 2 incentives | View guide |
| Oklahoma(OK) | 14.3¢▲10.7% | 4.70 h | — | Avoided cost | View guide | |
| Oregon(OR) | 16.3¢▲2.6% | 3.77 h | — | Full retail | 4 incentivesCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | 21.7¢▲12.6% | 3.96 h | — | Full retail | 1 incentive | View guide |
| Rhode Island(RI) | 29.2¢▲0.8% | 3.86 h | — | Net billing | 5 incentivesCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| South Carolina(SC) | 15.6¢▲0.9% | 4.58 h | — | Net billing | 3 incentivesCommunity solarVPP | View guide |
| South Dakota(SD) | 15.4¢▲7.2% | 4.14 h | — | No mandate | 1 incentive | View guide |
| Tennessee(TN) | 14.1¢▲2.5% | 4.25 h | — | No mandate | 1 incentiveCommunity solar | View guide |
| Texas(TX) | 15.9¢▲2.6% | 4.74 h | $3.85 | Varies by utility | 3 incentivesVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Utah(UT) | 13.4¢▲6.1% | 4.71 h | — | Net billing | 1 incentiveCommunity solarVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Vermont(VT) | 24.4¢▲2.9% | 3.61 h | — | Varies by utility | 2 incentivesVPPBattery rebate | View guide |
| Virginia(VA) | 17.2¢▲12.8% | 4.27 h | — | Full retail | 2 incentivesCommunity solarVPP | View guide |
| Washington(WA) | 14.9¢▲9.2% | 3.34 h | — | Varies by utility | 1 incentiveCommunity solarVPP | View guide |
| West Virginia(WV) | 15.4¢▼4.5% | 3.96 h | — | Varies by utility | View guide | |
| Wisconsin(WI) | 19.6¢▲3.3% | 3.86 h | — | Varies by utility | 3 incentives | View guide |
| Wyoming(WY) | 15.2¢▲10.3% | 4.57 h | — | Varies by utility | View guide |
Electricity rates: EIA Form 861 / OpenEI URDB, 12-month avg. Peak sun hours: NREL PVWatts v8. Installed cost: LBNL Tracking the Sun (median, residential, 2023–2024 installs where sample ≥ 20 systems). "—" means fewer than 20 systems in dataset for that state. Click any row or button to view that state's full guide.
How we pick the numbers
- Electricity rate: EIA Form 861 monthly data (residential sector), 12-month rolling average. Year-on-year change compared to the same month 12 months prior.
- Peak sun hours: NREL PVWatts v8, state centroid, fixed-tilt south-facing at latitude, direct normal irradiance (kWh/m²/day annual mean).
- Installed cost per watt: LBNL Tracking the Sun database, median residential system cost for 2023–2024 installs. States with fewer than 20 systems in the sample show "—" — we don't publish thin averages.
- Net metering policy: Manually verified from state PUC orders, DSIRE, and utility tariff filings as of September 2026. Policies change — always confirm with your installer before finalising contracts.
- Incentives: Count of open (non-expired, non-closed) state and utility programs. Federal 30% ITC applies to all states for systems completed before January 1, 2026. See each state page for full details.
Not sure which numbers apply to your roof?
The solar calculator lets you enter your actual monthly usage and your installer's quote to get a personalised payback estimate — covers all 50 states with real electricity-rate and sun-hour data.