Solar in Des Moines, IA
With MidAmerican Energy's electricity at about 11.5¢ per kWh and 1,367 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Des Moines home today: it does not pay back within 25 years.
- Payback, typical home
- NeverIowa: 22.7 yrs
- 25-year net
- −$2,157after paying $15,200
- Sun
- 1,367kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 11.5¢36% below U.S. average
A typical Des Moines home, by the numbers
| Utility | MidAmerican Energy |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 828 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3.6 kW, about 8 panels, 4,921 kWh a year (50% of use) |
| Cost | $15,200 |
| First-year savings | $565 |
| Payback | never within 25 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (MidAmerican Energy) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 1.6% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Des Moines
- Owner-occupied homes
- 60%
- Single-family detached
- 62%
- Median home value
- $195k
- Median year built
- 1961
- Population
- 212,421
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 64%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 48,342 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 Des Moines
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 Des Moines
Is solar worth it in Des Moines, IA?
For a typical home in Des Moines, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 3.6 kW system costs about $15,200 after state incentives, saves about $565 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 Des Moines?
About 1,367 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 0% less than the Iowa average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Des Moines?
Most homes in Des Moines are served by MidAmerican Energy, at about 11.5¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Alliant Energy (Interstate Power & Light), Consumers Energy Cooperative, Midland Power Cooperative.
How much do solar panels cost in Des Moines?
A fair cash price is around $3.75 per watt before incentives, so about $15,200 for a 3.6 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- West Des Moines no payback
- Urbandale no payback
- Ankeny no payback
- Waukee no payback
- Ames no payback
- Marshalltown 15.9 yrs
- Ottumwa 15.8 yrs
- Cedar Falls no payback
- All of Iowa
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.