Solar in Austin, MN
With Xcel Energy Minnesota's electricity at about 17.0¢ per kWh and 1,338 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Austin home today: about a 16.4-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 16.4 yrsMinnesota: 16.8 yrs
- 25-year net
- $13,356after paying $19,750
- Sun
- 1,338kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 17.0¢5% below U.S. average
A typical Austin home, by the numbers
| Utility | Xcel Energy Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 615 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5 kW, about 12 panels, 6,690 kWh a year (91% of use) |
| Cost | $19,750 |
| First-year savings | $1,138 |
| Payback | 16.4 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (Xcel Energy Minnesota) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 2.7% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Austin
- Owner-occupied homes
- 72%
- Single-family detached
- 73%
- Median home value
- $164k
- Median year built
- 1957
- Population
- 26,358
Census ACS 2020–2024.
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 Austin
Public installation records for Minnesota don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Minnesota.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Austin
Is solar worth it in Austin, MN?
For a typical home in Austin, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 5 kW system costs about $19,750 after state incentives, saves about $1,138 in year one and pays back in about 16.4 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Austin?
About 1,338 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 Minnesota average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Austin?
Most homes in Austin are served by Xcel Energy Minnesota, at about 17.0¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by City of Austin, Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative.
How much do solar panels cost in Austin?
A fair cash price is around $3.75 per watt before incentives, so about $19,750 for a 5 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Owatonna 16.4 yrs
- Rochester 15.2 yrs
- Mankato 16.6 yrs
- Winona 16.7 yrs
- Lakeville 16.5 yrs
- Rosemount 16.4 yrs
- Apple Valley 16.5 yrs
- Prior Lake 16.4 yrs
- All of Minnesota
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.