Independent solar advice in Mesa
Three utilities: SRP, APS, or Mesa City Electric - your utility determines your solar strategy. $2.08/W installed cost. SolarAPP+ instant permit.
The federal residential solar tax credit ended on December 31, 2025. We tell you the truth about what is left in 2026: which state programs still apply, and which financing paths can still capture federal value.
Electricity rate as of 2026-06-01. Sun hours: NREL PVWatts Mesa fixed tilt annual average; range 6.0-6.4 hrs/day. Cost per watt: EnergySage April 2026, Mesa and east Maricopa County. Payback estimate assumes zero federal residential credit (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025) and current utility net-metering tariffs.
Your utility determines your savings
Mesa has THREE distinct utility service territories: SRP serves the vast majority of Mesa residential customers; APS serves a small area primarily near boundaries with Scottsdale and Phoenix; and Mesa City Electric (a municipal utility) serves a distinct northeast Mesa service area with its own solar interconnection process and tariff. Confirming which utility serves your specific address is the mandatory first step before any solar evaluation in Mesa. The export rates and demand charge structures differ substantially between all three utilities.
LADWP is a municipal utility exempt from the CPUC's NEM 3.0 mandate. Customers retain full retail 1:1 net energy metering. Every kilowatt-hour your solar system exports to the grid is credited at the retail rate you pay, estimated at 22 to 37 cents per kWh depending on usage tier.
Export credit: approximately 22 to 37 cents/kWh
Full retail 1:1 NEM. Verify at ladwp.com. Rate as of June 2026.
SCE customers are on the NEM 3.0 Solar Billing Plan, which took effect for new interconnections after April 2023. Under NEM 3.0, solar exports earn only 5 to 8 cents per kWh -- roughly 75 to 80 percent less than the retail rate. Battery storage becomes significantly more valuable for SCE customers: stored solar used during peak TOU hours at 35 to 40 cents per kWh avoids the most expensive grid purchases.
Export credit: approximately 5 to 8 cents/kWh (NEM 3.0)
Solar Billing Plan. Verify at sce.com/nem. Battery storage recommended for SCE territory.
Your address determines your utility. Look up your utility at ladwp.com or sce.com before reviewing any solar proposal. The net-metering difference affects your estimated annual savings by $1,000 to $1,500 on a typical 8 to 9 kW system.
Available programs
Federal residential solar credit (Section 25D): expired. The Section 25D residential investment tax credit expired December 31, 2025. The residential credit rate is 0%. State and local incentives below may still significantly reduce your net system cost. Commercial systems still qualify for Section 48E (30%).
| Program | Benefit | Eligibility | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona 25% State Income Tax Credit Local/State Incentive | 25% of installed solar cost as Arizona state income tax credit, capped at $1,000 per year; excess carries forward (A.R.S. 43-1083) Non-refundable credit with carryforward. Verify eligibility with a tax advisor. | Arizona state residents with solar on primary residence; requires Arizona state income tax liability | Active | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
| Arizona Sales Tax Exemption Local/State Incentive | Solar energy devices exempt from Arizona transaction privilege tax (approximately 5.6% state and county) | All Arizona solar equipment purchases | Active | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
| Arizona Property Tax Exemption (Permanent) Local/State Incentive | Added home value from solar excluded from property tax assessment permanently No sunset date. Source: DSIRE. | All Arizona homeowners with solar | Active | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
| Mesa City Electric Net Metering (northeast Mesa only) Local/State Incentive | Mesa City Electric customers in northeast Mesa have access to city-run solar interconnection with net metering terms that may differ from SRP; traditional net metering access unavailable from SRP after November 2025 Confirm current net metering terms directly with Mesa Utilities (mesaaz.gov/Utilities/Energy/Electric/Solar-Program) before signing. This is a meaningful differentiator for northeast Mesa customers. | Mesa City Electric customers only; verify service territory at mesaaz.gov using Mesa Electric and Gas Service Area Maps | Active | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
| City of Mesa Solar Carport Demonstration (3.7 MW) Local/State Incentive | City of Mesa completed 3.7 MW of solar carports at city facilities in late 2025 (SOLON/Onyx Renewables build), creating a visible local proof of concept for solar reliability and production Context for homeowner conversations: the city's own investment validates local solar production at scale. | N/A - municipal installation, not a homeowner incentive | Active | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
Data last verified June 1, 2026. Incentive programs change; verify current amounts and availability at dsireusa.org (opens in new tab) before committing to a project.
Why Mesa homeowners are moving now
Mesa completed 3.7 MW of solar carports at city facilities in late 2025, providing visible local proof that solar generation is reliable and productive at Mesa's latitude. Mesa's flat, suburban rooftop geometry and wide lots provide near-ideal solar exposure with minimal shading. The city's triple-utility territory (SRP, APS, Mesa City Electric) is a unique content differentiator: northeast Mesa customers on Mesa City Electric retain access to traditional net metering that is no longer available from SRP, which has retired legacy net metering as of November 2025.
Source: City of Mesa 3.7 MW solar carport completion, late 2025 (SOLON/Onyx Renewables; Solar Power World Online, February 2026) (2026).
Illustrative example
Zero federal residential credit applied (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). Figures are estimates based on market data as of 2026-06-01. Your numbers depend on your roof, your utility, and your bill.
Based on a 10 kW system at $2.08/W (EnergySage, April 2026; Mesa and east Maricopa County) and an assumed SRP retail rate of approximately 15 cents/kWh (2026; SRP temporarily reduced rates $0.0038/kWh for May through October 2026 due to lower natural gas costs). Zero federal residential credit applied (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). SRP's TOU Export Plan credits exports at only $0.0345/kWh, so savings are driven almost entirely by onsite self-consumption. SRP demand plan options credit exports closer to retail but add a summer demand charge of approximately $14.50/kW; right-sizing is critical. Arizona's 25% state income tax credit (capped at $1,000) reduces net cost to approximately $19,800 in year one. Battery storage can reduce SRP demand charges and improve net economics.
Ready to see what solar works out to for your Mesa home?
A free in-home assessment reviews your utility bill, your roof, your options, and every available incentive for your address. No pressure. No shared leads.
Neighborhoods we serve
Established solar saturation; higher installers per block, active neighbor referrals, and permit history at LADBS.
Designated disadvantaged communities (DAC) eligible for SGIP equity resiliency, DAC-SASH, and other income-qualified programs. Income verification required.
Wildfire-affected and adjacent neighborhoods where battery storage demand surged following the January 2025 fires. Rebuilding homeowners and proximate neighbors with elevated grid-resilience priorities.
Permitting and interconnection
Your local Mesa advisor
[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial with SRP demand charge experience and Mesa utility verification process]
System: 10 kW rooftop solar, SRP territory, TOU Export plan
[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial mentioning SRP demand charge reduction from battery and SolarAPP+ permit speed]
System: 10 kW rooftop solar plus battery, SRP territory
For business owners and property managers
Mesa's commercial and light industrial base in east Maricopa County benefits from 6.0-6.4 peak sun hours and the SRP, APS, and Mesa City Electric commercial solar programs. The federal Section 48E commercial Investment Tax Credit was available for qualifying projects where construction begins by July 4, 2026. The city's 3.7 MW solar carport installation demonstrates municipal commitment to solar at scale. Verify utility territory for all Mesa commercial projects.
See commercial solar optionsCommercial 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.
Schedule a Free Commercial AssessmentMesa solar questions
City-specific answers. Every number references your utility and your permit office.
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