Solar in San Clemente, CA
With SDG&E's electricity at about 45.1¢ per kWh and 1,666 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical San Clemente home today: about a 11.4-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 11.4 yrsCalifornia: 10.9 yrs
- 25-year net
- $19,888after paying $10,700
- Sun
- 1,666kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 45.1¢150% above U.S. average
A typical San Clemente home, by the numbers
| Utility | SDG&E |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 296 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3 kW, about 7 panels, 4,998 kWh a year (141% of use) |
| Cost | $10,700 |
| First-year savings | $858 |
| Payback | 11.4 years |
| Exported power | 3.7¢/kWh (SDG&E) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 4.0% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in San Clemente
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
- Single-family detached
- 57%
- Median home value
- $1.4M
- Median year built
- 1983
- Population
- 63,273
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 1,338
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 97%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 19,530 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in San Clemente
Companies with the most installations in San Clemente's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- Sunrun 314 installs
- Tesla Energy 66 installs
- Freedom Solar 65 installs
- Bright Planet Solar 59 installs
- SunPower 50 installs
- Enlightened Solar 45 installs
- Lgcy Installation Services 38 installs
- Orange County Solar 35 installs
- Kota Construction 30 installs
- Better Earth Electric 29 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in San Clemente
Is solar worth it in San Clemente, CA?
For a typical home in San Clemente, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 3 kW system costs about $10,700 after state incentives, saves about $858 in year one and pays back in about 11.4 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in San Clemente?
About 1,666 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 0% more than the California average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in San Clemente?
Most homes in San Clemente are served by SDG&E, at about 45.1¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in San Clemente?
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
- San Juan Capistrano 11.4 yrs
- Dana Point 11.4 yrs
- Laguna Niguel 11.4 yrs
- Laguna Hills 10.6 yrs
- Aliso Viejo 10.6 yrs
- Mission Viejo 11.4 yrs
- Rancho Santa Margarita 11.4 yrs
- Lake Forest 11.4 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.