Solar in Sacramento, CA
With SMUD's electricity at about 19.9¢ per kWh and 1,614 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Sacramento home today: about a 12.7-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 12.7 yrsCalifornia: 10.9 yrs
- 25-year net
- $16,117after paying $11,180
- Sun
- 1,614kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 19.9¢11% above U.S. average
A typical Sacramento home, by the numbers
| Utility | SMUD |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 663 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3.2 kW, about 7 panels, 5,163 kWh a year (65% of use) |
| Cost | $11,180 |
| First-year savings | $823 |
| 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 Sacramento
- Owner-occupied homes
- 52%
- Single-family detached
- 59%
- Median home value
- $506k
- Median year built
- 1977
- Population
- 528,706
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 4
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 89%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 131,992 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Sacramento
Companies with the most installations in Sacramento's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- Bryton Power 1 installs
- SunPower 1 installs
- Sunrise Solar 1 installs
- Mona LEE Solar CA 1 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Sacramento
Is solar worth it in Sacramento, CA?
For a typical home in Sacramento, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 3.2 kW system costs about $11,180 after state incentives, saves about $823 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 Sacramento?
About 1,614 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 3% less than the California average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Sacramento?
Most homes in Sacramento 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 Sacramento?
A fair cash price is around $2.90 per watt before incentives, so about $11,180 for a 3.2 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- West Sacramento 10.2 yrs
- Arden-Arcade 12.7 yrs
- Florin 12.7 yrs
- North Highlands 12.6 yrs
- Carmichael 12.7 yrs
- Vineyard 12.7 yrs
- Foothill Farms 12.7 yrs
- Elk Grove 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.