Solar in Duluth, MN
With ALLETE's electricity at about 16.3¢ per kWh and 1,302 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Duluth home today: about a 17.3-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 17.3 yrsMinnesota: 16.8 yrs
- 25-year net
- $12,438after paying $21,700
- Sun
- 1,302kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 16.3¢10% below U.S. average
A typical Duluth home, by the numbers
| Utility | ALLETE |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 673 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5.6 kW, about 13 panels, 7,292 kWh a year (90% of use) |
| Cost | $21,700 |
| First-year savings | $1,185 |
| Payback | 17.3 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (ALLETE) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 2.7% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Duluth
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
- Single-family detached
- 60%
- Median home value
- $243k
- Median year built
- 1951
- Population
- 87,093
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 65%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 25,635 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 Duluth
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 Duluth
Is solar worth it in Duluth, MN?
For a typical home in Duluth, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 5.6 kW system costs about $21,700 after state incentives, saves about $1,185 in year one and pays back in about 17.3 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Duluth?
About 1,302 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 Minnesota average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Duluth?
Most homes in Duluth are served by ALLETE, at about 16.3¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Lake Country Power.
How much do solar panels cost in Duluth?
A fair cash price is around $3.75 per watt before incentives, so about $21,700 for a 5.6 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Andover 20.1 yrs
- Elk River 16.4 yrs
- Ramsey 20.1 yrs
- Blaine 16.9 yrs
- Coon Rapids 16.5 yrs
- Shoreview 16.5 yrs
- Fridley 16.4 yrs
- Maplewood 16.5 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.