Solar in Owatonna, MN
With Xcel Energy Minnesota's electricity at about 17.0¢ per kWh and 1,347 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Owatonna home today: about a 16.4-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 16.4 yrsMinnesota: 16.8 yrs
- 25-year net
- $13,274after paying $19,425
- Sun
- 1,347kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 17.0¢5% below U.S. average
A typical Owatonna home, by the numbers
| Utility | Xcel Energy Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 615 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 4.9 kW, about 11 panels, 6,601 kWh a year (89% of use) |
| Cost | $19,425 |
| First-year savings | $1,123 |
| 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 Owatonna
- Owner-occupied homes
- 76%
- Single-family detached
- 70%
- Median home value
- $245k
- Median year built
- 1978
- Population
- 26,498
Census ACS 2020–2024.
Installers working in Owatonna
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 Owatonna
Is solar worth it in Owatonna, MN?
For a typical home in Owatonna, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 4.9 kW system costs about $19,425 after state incentives, saves about $1,123 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 Owatonna?
About 1,347 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 Minnesota average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Owatonna?
Most homes in Owatonna are served by Xcel Energy Minnesota, at about 17.0¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by City of Owatonna, Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric.
How much do solar panels cost in Owatonna?
A fair cash price is around $3.75 per watt before incentives, so about $19,425 for a 4.9 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Austin 16.4 yrs
- Mankato 16.6 yrs
- Rochester 15.2 yrs
- Lakeville 16.5 yrs
- Prior Lake 16.4 yrs
- Apple Valley 16.5 yrs
- Rosemount 16.4 yrs
- Burnsville 16.3 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.