Solar in Opelika, AL
With Alabama Power's electricity at about 18.3¢ per kWh and 1,401 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Opelika home today: about a 17.2-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 17.2 yrsAlabama: 18.8 yrs
- 25-year net
- $11,894after paying $18,380
- Sun
- 1,401kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 18.3¢2% above U.S. average
A typical Opelika home, by the numbers
| Utility | Alabama Power |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 1,129 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 4.8 kW, about 11 panels, 6,724 kWh a year (50% of use) |
| Cost | $18,380 |
| First-year savings | $965 |
| Payback | 17.2 years |
| Exported power | 3¢/kWh (Alabama Power) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.2% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Opelika
- Owner-occupied homes
- 69%
- Single-family detached
- 69%
- Median home value
- $242k
- Median year built
- 1992
- Population
- 32,820
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 78%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 5,410 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Opelika
Public installation records for Alabama don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Alabama.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Opelika
Is solar worth it in Opelika, AL?
For a typical home in Opelika, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 4.8 kW system costs about $18,380 after state incentives, saves about $965 in year one and pays back in about 17.2 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Opelika?
About 1,401 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 0% less than the Alabama average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Opelika?
Most homes in Opelika are served by Alabama Power, at about 18.3¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by City of Opelika, Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative, Dixie Electric Cooperative.
How much do solar panels cost in Opelika?
A fair cash price is around $3.60 per watt before incentives, so about $18,380 for a 4.8 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Auburn 17.1 yrs
- Phenix City 17.2 yrs
- Montgomery 16.6 yrs
- Prattville 16.5 yrs
- Alabaster 17.3 yrs
- Enterprise 19.2 yrs
- Vestavia Hills 17.6 yrs
- Hoover 17.3 yrs
- All of Alabama
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.