Solar in Southgate, MI
With DTE Electric's electricity at about 21.3¢ per kWh and 1,309 kWh of sun per kW, solar is a close call for a typical Southgate home today: about a 15.7-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 15.7 yrsMichigan: 16 yrs
- 25-year net
- $9,796after paying $11,900
- Sun
- 1,309kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 21.3¢18% above U.S. average
A typical Southgate home, by the numbers
| Utility | DTE Electric |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 623 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3 kW, about 7 panels, 3,927 kWh a year (53% of use) |
| Cost | $11,900 |
| First-year savings | $695 |
| Payback | 15.7 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 Southgate
- Owner-occupied homes
- 67%
- Single-family detached
- 69%
- Median home value
- $174k
- Median year built
- 1963
- Population
- 29,366
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 86%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 10,304 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 Southgate
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 Southgate
Is solar worth it in Southgate, MI?
For a typical home in Southgate, solar is a close call at 2026 prices: a 3 kW system costs about $11,900 after state incentives, saves about $695 in year one and pays back in about 15.7 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Southgate?
About 1,309 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 Michigan average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Southgate?
Most homes in Southgate 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 Southgate?
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
- Lincoln Park 15.9 yrs
- Taylor 15.9 yrs
- Allen Park 15.8 yrs
- Dearborn 15.8 yrs
- Inkster 15.8 yrs
- Dearborn Heights 15.9 yrs
- Garden City 15.8 yrs
- Westland 15.8 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.