Solar in South Pasadena, CA
With Southern California Edison (SCE)'s electricity at about 33.8¢ per kWh and 1,669 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical South Pasadena home today: about a 10.6-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 10.6 yrsCalifornia: 10.9 yrs
- 25-year net
- $22,773after paying $10,700
- Sun
- 1,669kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 33.8¢88% above U.S. average
A typical South Pasadena home, by the numbers
| Utility | Southern California Edison (SCE) |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 468 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3 kW, about 7 panels, 5,007 kWh a year (89% of use) |
| Cost | $10,700 |
| First-year savings | $931 |
| Payback | 10.6 years |
| Exported power | 4.6¢/kWh (Southern California Edison (SCE)) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 4.0% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in South Pasadena
- Owner-occupied homes
- 44%
- Single-family detached
- 44%
- Median home value
- $1.6M
- Median year built
- 1953
- Population
- 26,068
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 315
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 61%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 4,491 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 South Pasadena
Companies with the most installations in South Pasadena's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- Tesla Energy 30 installs
- SunPower 26 installs
- Sunrun 22 installs
- SOLAR OPTIMUM DESIGN & ELECTRICAL 18 installs
- A P Electrical 13 installs
- ALTADENA ENERGY & SOLAR 8 installs
- Ameco Solar 7 installs
- CALIFORNIA SOLAR & ELECTRIC 6 installs
- Green Convergence 6 installs
- Onesun 6 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in South Pasadena
Is solar worth it in South Pasadena, CA?
For a typical home in South Pasadena, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 3 kW system costs about $10,700 after state incentives, saves about $931 in year one and pays back in about 10.6 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in South Pasadena?
About 1,669 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 1% more than the California average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in South Pasadena?
Most homes in South Pasadena are served by Southern California Edison (SCE), at about 33.8¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by LADWP, City of Pasadena.
How much do solar panels cost in South Pasadena?
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
- Alhambra 10.6 yrs
- San Gabriel 10.5 yrs
- Pasadena 13.2 yrs
- Monterey Park 10.6 yrs
- Rosemead 10.6 yrs
- East Los Angeles 10.6 yrs
- Temple City 10.6 yrs
- Altadena 10.5 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.