Solar in Rancho Cordova, CA
With SMUD's electricity at about 19.9¢ per kWh and 1,588 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Rancho Cordova home today: about a 12.7-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 12.7 yrsCalifornia: 10.9 yrs
- 25-year net
- $15,434after paying $10,700
- Sun
- 1,588kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 19.9¢11% above U.S. average
A typical Rancho Cordova home, by the numbers
| Utility | SMUD |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 663 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3 kW, about 7 panels, 4,764 kWh a year (60% of use) |
| Cost | $10,700 |
| First-year savings | $778 |
| 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 Rancho Cordova
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
- Single-family detached
- 62%
- Median home value
- $478k
- Median year built
- 1979
- Population
- 81,849
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 95%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 20,498 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Rancho Cordova
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 Rancho Cordova
Is solar worth it in Rancho Cordova, CA?
For a typical home in Rancho Cordova, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 3 kW system costs about $10,700 after state incentives, saves about $778 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 Rancho Cordova?
About 1,588 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 Rancho Cordova?
Most homes in Rancho Cordova are served by SMUD, at about 19.9¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by PG&E.
How much do solar panels cost in Rancho Cordova?
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
- Fair Oaks 12.8 yrs
- Carmichael 12.7 yrs
- Orangevale 10.3 yrs
- Folsom 12.8 yrs
- Arden-Arcade 12.7 yrs
- Vineyard 12.7 yrs
- Citrus Heights 12.8 yrs
- Foothill Farms 12.7 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.