Typical home: Not worth it

Solar in Bettendorf, IA

With MidAmerican Energy's electricity at about 11.5¢ per kWh and 1,347 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Bettendorf home today: it does not pay back within 25 years.

Payback, typical home
NeverIowa: 22.7 yrs
25-year net
−$2,364after paying $15,525
Sun
1,347kWh per kW per year
Electricity
11.5¢36% below U.S. average

A typical Bettendorf home, by the numbers

UtilityMidAmerican Energy
Electricity use828 kWh a month
Best-value system3.7 kW, about 9 panels, 4,983 kWh a year (50% of use)
Cost$15,525
First-year savings$572
Paybacknever within 25 years
Exported powerFull retail net metering (MidAmerican Energy)

Cash purchase, no federal credit, 1.6% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.

Solar production per kW in Bettendorf

kWh per kW each month, south-facing at 20° tilt. PVWatts v8 with local typical-year weather.

Show as a table
PeriodValue
Jan72
Feb91
Mar116
Apr123
May141
Jun141
Jul146
Aug143
Sep126
Oct95
Nov79
Dec74

Homes in Bettendorf

Owner-occupied homes
75%
Single-family detached
69%
Median home value
$307k
Median year built
1979
Population
39,647
Roofs suitable for solar†
82%

Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 10,602 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).

Installers working in Bettendorf

Public installation records for Iowa don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Iowa.

Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.

Questions about solar in Bettendorf

Is solar worth it in Bettendorf, IA?

For a typical home in Bettendorf, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 3.7 kW system costs about $15,525 after state incentives, saves about $572 in year one and does not pay back within 25 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.

How much solar power does a system produce in Bettendorf?

About 1,347 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 2% less than the Iowa average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.

Who is the electric utility in Bettendorf?

Most homes in Bettendorf are served by MidAmerican Energy, at about 11.5¢ per kWh on average.

How much do solar panels cost in Bettendorf?

A fair cash price is around $3.75 per watt before incentives, so about $15,525 for a 3.7 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.

Nearby

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.