Solar in Carmichael, CA
With SMUD's electricity at about 19.9¢ per kWh and 1,596 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Carmichael home today: about a 12.7-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 12.7 yrsCalifornia: 10.9 yrs
- 25-year net
- $15,508after paying $10,700
- Sun
- 1,596kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 19.9¢11% above U.S. average
A typical Carmichael home, by the numbers
| Utility | SMUD |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 663 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3 kW, about 7 panels, 4,788 kWh a year (60% of use) |
| Cost | $10,700 |
| First-year savings | $780 |
| Payback | 12.7 years |
| Exported power | 9.6¢/kWh (SMUD) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 4.0% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Carmichael
- Owner-occupied homes
- 52%
- Single-family detached
- 55%
- Median home value
- $580k
- Median year built
- 1972
- Population
- 76,948
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 91%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 19,615 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Older housing stock. Many homes here were built before 1975. Have the roof and electrical panel checked before signing; a roof or panel upgrade can add thousands. Roof first?
Installers working in Carmichael
Public installation records for California don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in California.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Carmichael
Is solar worth it in Carmichael, CA?
For a typical home in Carmichael, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 3 kW system costs about $10,700 after state incentives, saves about $780 in year one and pays back in about 12.7 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Carmichael?
About 1,596 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 4% less than the California average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Carmichael?
Most homes in Carmichael are served by SMUD, at about 19.9¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in Carmichael?
A fair cash price is around $2.90 per watt before incentives, so about $10,700 for a 3 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- North Highlands 12.6 yrs
- Arden-Arcade 12.7 yrs
- Foothill Farms 12.7 yrs
- Fair Oaks 12.8 yrs
- Citrus Heights 12.8 yrs
- Antelope 10.3 yrs
- Rancho Cordova 12.7 yrs
- Orangevale 10.3 yrs
- All of California
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.