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Solar Savings Calculator

See what solar saves you before you talk to anyone.

Enter your monthly bill, your state, and your utility. In three steps, you get an estimated monthly savings range, system size, gross and net cost, payback period, and a summary of state incentives available to you.

Results are shown before any contact requirement. No email. No phone number. Just your numbers.

State-specific net metering rules applied (CA NEM 3.0, TX no mandate)
Zero federal residential tax credit applied (expired December 31, 2025)
Ranged outputs, not false-precision single numbers
Data from NREL PVWatts, EnergySage June 2026, ElectricChoice June 2026

Your electricity costs

Enter your average monthly electricity bill and location. We use state-specific utility rates and net-metering rules, not national averages.

Enter your typical bill, including all charges. $150 is the national average.

State selection determines your utility rate, net metering rules, and available incentives.

State-specific utility rates covered
50
Federal residential credit applied (expired Dec 31, 2025)
$0
Net metering models accounted for by utility
6
Steps to your personalized savings range
3

Understanding your estimate

What each number in your results means

The calculator produces ranges for all four outputs. A range is more honest than a single number because installed costs, production, and incentive availability all vary. Here is how to read each one.

  1. Step 1: Monthly savings range

    The range reflects two system sizes: one that offsets 80 percent of your bill (a conservative, lower-cost choice) and one that offsets 100 percent. Most homeowners choose a point in between based on budget and roof space.

  2. Step 2: Gross and net cost range

    Gross cost is the full installed price before any incentives. Net cost subtracts state-level incentives where programs exist. Both are ranges because equipment pricing and installer costs vary. A free in-home assessment produces a site-specific quote.

  3. Step 3: Payback period

    Payback is net cost divided by annual savings. It is a range because both inputs are ranges. The lower end assumes you select a smaller system at the lower gross cost with the best available state incentives. The upper end assumes a larger system at the higher cost with no state incentive.

  4. Step 4: State incentive summary

    When your state has tracked programs (production incentives, SREC markets, or rebates), they appear below your results. Programs flagged as volatile have limited funding or are first-come first-served. An in-home assessment confirms current availability.

State incentives

State programs that affect your net cost and payback

In states with active incentive programs, your results panel shows a summary below the four main metrics. The summary lists program names, amounts, and a note on volatility. Here is what each flag means:

Volatile
The program has limited funding, opens in annual block rounds, or has a history of exhausting its budget mid-year. The amount shown is the most recent known rate, but availability at the time of your install is not guaranteed. Your advisor confirms current status at the in-home assessment.
No state programs listed
Some states have no tracked production incentives, rebate programs, or SREC markets above the utility-savings level. Your net cost and payback are based on utility savings only, which may still produce an acceptable return in high-rate states.
Net cost estimate
The net cost figure in your results applies a rough incentive discount (5 to 12 percent of gross cost) where programs exist. It is not a guarantee of incentive availability or amount. A confirmed net cost requires verifying current program open enrollment at the assessment.

Commercial solar projects must begin construction by July 4, 2026 to qualify for the 30 percent Section 48E federal tax credit. After that date, the system must be placed in service by December 31, 2027.

Learn About Commercial Solar

Common questions

How this calculator works

Every methodology assumption is explained in the transparency section inside your results. These questions cover the ones homeowners ask before they run the estimate.

Why we never knock

Why does this calculator show zero federal tax credit?
The 30 percent federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) ended on December 31, 2025, when the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed. A homeowner who buys or finances a solar system placed in service in 2026 receives no federal tax credit. We apply zero federal credit in every estimate because that is accurate for 2026 purchases. Many other calculators still apply the 30 percent credit, which produces inflated estimates.

Why does California show two different net metering rates?
California is a split-market state. Customers of PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E (the large investor-owned utilities) are under NEM 3.0, which credits solar exports at approximately 5 to 8 cents per kilowatt-hour, well below the full retail rate. Customers of LADWP and SMUD retain full retail net metering. Selecting your utility in Step 1 allows the calculator to apply the correct export credit for your situation.

Why does Texas show zero export credit?
Texas has no statewide net metering mandate. Solar export buyback rates in Texas are set by each retail electric provider and vary widely. Some offer modest buyback rates; others offer none. Because the rate is unknown without knowing your specific provider, the calculator uses the conservative assumption of zero export credit and displays a note. Your actual savings from exported solar may be higher, depending on your provider.

What is the Connecticut Solar Energy Adjustment?
Connecticut enacted a Solar Energy Adjustment (SEA) charge of $0.0402 per kilowatt-hour that applies to all solar production for systems interconnecting on or after January 1, 2026. This charge is subtracted from both your export credit and the savings on self-consumed solar. The calculator applies it automatically for Connecticut selections and explains it in the methodology section of your results.

Can I use this calculator if I rent my home?
The calculator runs the same estimate regardless of ownership status, but your results panel will include a note explaining that renters typically cannot install rooftop solar directly. Community solar programs and virtual net metering arrangements may allow renters to benefit from solar generation. An advisor can identify options available in your area during a consultation.

How accurate is this estimate?
The estimate is a range based on state-level data: average electricity rates by state, regional solar production ratios from NREL PVWatts data, and national system cost benchmarks from EnergySage (June 2026). It is not a quote. Actual costs vary by roof orientation, shading, local installer pricing, and current equipment pricing. A free in-home assessment produces a site-specific proposal with exact numbers.

Does the commercial solar tax credit (Section 48E) apply to homeowners?
No. Section 48E is the commercial investment tax credit. It applies to systems owned by businesses, tax-exempt organizations using direct pay, and third-party owners (solar leasing companies and PPA providers). A homeowner who purchases or directly finances a system cannot claim 48E. If you lease a system or sign a power purchase agreement, the third-party owner may claim 48E and may pass some of that value to you through a lower monthly rate. We explain this in detail at our financing page.

Ready for exact numbers? Book a free in-home assessment.

This calculator uses state-level data. Your actual savings depend on your roof orientation, shading, your utility's current tariff, and current incentive availability in your area. A free in-home assessment gives you a site-specific system design, confirmed costs, and current incentive amounts, in writing, with no sales pressure and no shared leads.

Book My Free In-Home Assessment