Solar in Richfield, MN
With Xcel Energy Minnesota's electricity at about 17.0¢ per kWh and 1,341 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Richfield home today: about a 16.4-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 16.4 yrsMinnesota: 16.8 yrs
- 25-year net
- $13,431after paying $19,750
- Sun
- 1,341kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 17.0¢5% below U.S. average
A typical Richfield home, by the numbers
| Utility | Xcel Energy Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 615 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5 kW, about 12 panels, 6,703 kWh a year (91% of use) |
| Cost | $19,750 |
| First-year savings | $1,140 |
| 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 Richfield
- Owner-occupied homes
- 62%
- Single-family detached
- 59%
- Median home value
- $344k
- Median year built
- 1959
- Population
- 36,642
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 46%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 5,459 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 Richfield
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 Richfield
Is solar worth it in Richfield, MN?
For a typical home in Richfield, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 5 kW system costs about $19,750 after state incentives, saves about $1,140 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 Richfield?
About 1,341 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 Richfield?
Most homes in Richfield are served by Xcel Energy Minnesota, at about 17.0¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in Richfield?
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
- Bloomington 16.5 yrs
- Edina 16.4 yrs
- Minneapolis 16.5 yrs
- St. Louis Park 16.4 yrs
- Eagan 16.6 yrs
- Burnsville 16.3 yrs
- Eden Prairie 16.3 yrs
- Savage 16.6 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.