Solar in Modesto, CA
With Modesto Irrigation District's electricity at about 24.2¢ per kWh and 1,638 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Modesto home today: about a 10.9-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 10.9 yrsCalifornia: 10.9 yrs
- 25-year net
- $21,878after paying $10,700
- Sun
- 1,638kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 24.2¢35% above U.S. average
A typical Modesto home, by the numbers
| Utility | Modesto Irrigation District |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 751 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3 kW, about 7 panels, 4,915 kWh a year (55% of use) |
| Cost | $10,700 |
| First-year savings | $890 |
| Payback | 10.9 years |
| Exported power | Net billing (reduced export credit) (California rule) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 4.0% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Modesto
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
- Single-family detached
- 71%
- Median home value
- $443k
- Median year built
- 1978
- Population
- 219,215
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 8
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 95%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 62,361 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Modesto
Companies with the most installations in Modesto's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- Sunrun 2 installs
- Aztec Solar 1 installs
- Better Earth Electric 1 installs
- Bright OPS 1 installs
- Freedom Forever 1 installs
- North Valley 1 installs
- SIG Solar, S.i.g. 1 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Modesto
Is solar worth it in Modesto, CA?
For a typical home in Modesto, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 3 kW system costs about $10,700 after state incentives, saves about $890 in year one and pays back in about 10.9 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Modesto?
About 1,638 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 1% less than the California average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Modesto?
Most homes in Modesto are served by Modesto Irrigation District, at about 24.2¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by PG&E, Turlock Irrigation District.
How much do solar panels cost in Modesto?
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
- Ceres 10.9 yrs
- Riverbank 10.2 yrs
- Turlock 13.3 yrs
- Manteca 10.2 yrs
- Lathrop 10.1 yrs
- Tracy 10.2 yrs
- Stockton 10.2 yrs
- Atwater 10.2 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.