Solar by state
What electricity costs, how much sun there is, and how each state credits power you send back. Each state's page also covers the sales laws and plug-in solar.
Prices: EIA, 2025 averages. Sun: NREL PVWatts. Credit rules checked November 12, 2026.
| State | Electricity price | kWh a year per kW of panels | Typical payback | Credit for exported power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.1¢ | 1,367 | 20 years | No statewide rule |
| Alaska | 26.1¢ | 922 | 11 years | Monthly netting |
| Arizona | 15.3¢ | 1,755 | 16 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Arkansas | 12.9¢ | 1,373 | 22 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| California | 31.4¢ | 1,677 | 10 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Colorado | 15.7¢ | 1,595 | 10 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Connecticut | 29.3¢ | 1,291 | 8 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Delaware | 17.1¢ | 1,364 | 11 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| District of Columbia | 21.9¢ | 1,391 | 8 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Florida | 15.2¢ | 1,455 | 11 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Georgia | 14.7¢ | 1,420 | 17 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Hawaii | 40.4¢ | 1,622 | 7 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Idaho | 11.8¢ | 1,468 | 24 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Illinois | 17.7¢ | 1,308 | 16 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Indiana | 16.0¢ | 1,332 | 19 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Iowa | 13.6¢ | 1,367 | 14 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Kansas | 14.4¢ | 1,526 | 14 years | Monthly netting |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢ | 1,343 | 20 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Louisiana | 12.5¢ | 1,479 | 22 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Maine | 27.7¢ | 1,319 | 7 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Maryland | 19.5¢ | 1,392 | 9 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Massachusetts | 30.4¢ | 1,302 | 7 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Michigan | 20.0¢ | 1,291 | 15 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Minnesota | 15.8¢ | 1,333 | 13 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Mississippi | 14.0¢ | 1,414 | 19 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Missouri | 13.3¢ | 1,433 | 15 years | Monthly netting |
| Montana | 13.0¢ | 1,344 | 15 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Nebraska | 12.1¢ | 1,423 | 17 years | Monthly netting |
| Nevada | 13.3¢ | 1,753 | 14 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| New Hampshire | 24.5¢ | 1,258 | 9 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| New Jersey | 22.5¢ | 1,305 | 9 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| New Mexico | 14.8¢ | 1,779 | 10 years | Monthly netting |
| New York | 26.4¢ | 1,291 | 8 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| North Carolina | 14.0¢ | 1,416 | 15 years | Monthly netting |
| North Dakota | 11.8¢ | 1,294 | 18 years | Monthly netting |
| Ohio | 16.9¢ | 1,296 | 13 years | Monthly netting |
| Oklahoma | 13.2¢ | 1,542 | 14 years | Monthly netting |
| Oregon | 15.5¢ | 1,121 | 15 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Pennsylvania | 19.3¢ | 1,356 | 10 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Rhode Island | 29.5¢ | 1,294 | 8 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| South Carolina | 15.1¢ | 1,454 | 13 years | Monthly netting |
| South Dakota | 13.3¢ | 1,409 | 23 years | No statewide rule |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢ | 1,338 | 24 years | No statewide rule |
| Texas | 15.4¢ | 1,421 | 20 years | No statewide rule |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | 1,484 | 22 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Vermont | 22.8¢ | 1,222 | 10 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Virginia | 15.3¢ | 1,427 | 11 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Washington | 13.2¢ | 1,088 | 17 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| West Virginia | 15.4¢ | 1,219 | 17 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Wisconsin | 18.1¢ | 1,334 | 14 years | Monthly netting |
| Wyoming | 13.4¢ | 1,533 | 14 years | Full credit (net metering) |
Typical payback: a system sized for the state's average home, bought with cash at the 2026 median price of $2.57 per watt, with no federal credit and one inverter replacement. Your roof, utility and quote will differ: run your own numbers.