Solar in Minneapolis, MN
With Xcel Energy Minnesota's electricity at about 17.0¢ per kWh and 1,333 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Minneapolis home today: about a 16.5-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 16.5 yrsMinnesota: 16.8 yrs
- 25-year net
- $13,217after paying $19,750
- Sun
- 1,333kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 17.0¢5% below U.S. average
A typical Minneapolis home, by the numbers
| Utility | Xcel Energy Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 615 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5 kW, about 12 panels, 6,665 kWh a year (90% of use) |
| Cost | $19,750 |
| First-year savings | $1,134 |
| Payback | 16.5 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 Minneapolis
- Owner-occupied homes
- 48%
- Single-family detached
- 40%
- Median home value
- $362k
- Median year built
- 1951
- Population
- 427,246
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 58%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 61,486 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 Minneapolis
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 Minneapolis
Is solar worth it in Minneapolis, MN?
For a typical home in Minneapolis, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 5 kW system costs about $19,750 after state incentives, saves about $1,134 in year one and pays back in about 16.5 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Minneapolis?
About 1,333 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 Minneapolis?
Most homes in Minneapolis are served by Xcel Energy Minnesota, at about 17.0¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Connexus Energy, City of Anoka, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association.
How much do solar panels cost in Minneapolis?
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
- St. Louis Park 16.4 yrs
- Richfield 16.4 yrs
- Roseville 16.4 yrs
- Edina 16.4 yrs
- Brooklyn Center 16.6 yrs
- St. Paul 16.6 yrs
- Fridley 16.4 yrs
- Bloomington 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.