Solar in Detroit, MI
With DTE Electric's electricity at about 21.3¢ per kWh and 1,295 kWh of sun per kW, solar is a close call for a typical Detroit home today: about a 15.9-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 15.9 yrsMichigan: 16 yrs
- 25-year net
- $9,617after paying $11,900
- Sun
- 1,295kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 21.3¢18% above U.S. average
A typical Detroit home, by the numbers
| Utility | DTE Electric |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 623 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3 kW, about 7 panels, 3,885 kWh a year (52% of use) |
| Cost | $11,900 |
| First-year savings | $690 |
| Payback | 15.9 years |
| Exported power | 9¢/kWh (DTE Electric) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.3% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Detroit
- Owner-occupied homes
- 50%
- Single-family detached
- 64%
- Median home value
- $84k
- Median year built
- 1947
- Population
- 638,530
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 73%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 198,134 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 Detroit
Public installation records for Michigan don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Michigan.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Detroit
Is solar worth it in Detroit, MI?
For a typical home in Detroit, solar is a close call at 2026 prices: a 3 kW system costs about $11,900 after state incentives, saves about $690 in year one and pays back in about 15.9 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Detroit?
About 1,295 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 Michigan average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Detroit?
Most homes in Detroit are served by DTE Electric, at about 21.3¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Wyandotte Municipal Serv Comm.
How much do solar panels cost in Detroit?
A fair cash price is around $3.30 per watt before incentives, so about $11,900 for a 3 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Hamtramck 15.8 yrs
- Oak Park 15.8 yrs
- Dearborn 15.8 yrs
- Warren 15.8 yrs
- Madison Heights 15.9 yrs
- Royal Oak 15.8 yrs
- Eastpointe 15.9 yrs
- Dearborn Heights 15.9 yrs
- All of Michigan
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.