Solar in Albuquerque, NM
With Public Service Co of NM's electricity at about 16.9¢ per kWh and 1,779 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Albuquerque home today: about a 11.5-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 11.5 yrsNew Mexico: 12.9 yrs
- 25-year net
- $16,763after paying $12,380
- Sun
- 1,779kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 16.9¢6% below U.S. average
A typical Albuquerque home, by the numbers
| Utility | Public Service Co of NM |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 555 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3.7 kW, about 9 panels, 6,582 kWh a year (99% of use) |
| Cost | $12,380 |
| First-year savings | $1,092 |
| Payback | 11.5 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (Public Service Co of NM) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 1.8% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Albuquerque
- Owner-occupied homes
- 62%
- Single-family detached
- 62%
- Median home value
- $292k
- Median year built
- 1982
- Population
- 562,218
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 3,832
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 97%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 186,479 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Albuquerque
Companies with the most installations in Albuquerque's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- Solar Works Energy 747 installs
- Affordable Solar 615 installs
- Our World Energy 568 installs
- Positive Energy 519 installs
- ION Solar 188 installs
- Freedom Forever 150 installs
- Sunstate Solar 148 installs
- Poulin Design Remodeling 82 installs
- Infinity Solar Systems 70 installs
- Photon Rainbow 63 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Albuquerque
Is solar worth it in Albuquerque, NM?
For a typical home in Albuquerque, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 3.7 kW system costs about $12,380 after state incentives, saves about $1,092 in year one and pays back in about 11.5 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Albuquerque?
About 1,779 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 0% less than the New Mexico average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Albuquerque?
Most homes in Albuquerque are served by Public Service Co of NM, at about 16.9¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Continental Divide El Cooperative, Central New Mexico El Cooperative, Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative.
How much do solar panels cost in Albuquerque?
A fair cash price is around $2.90 per watt before incentives, so about $12,380 for a 3.7 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- South Valley 11.6 yrs
- Rio Rancho 11.4 yrs
- Santa Fe 11.5 yrs
- Farmington 14.9 yrs
- Alamogordo 10.4 yrs
- Roswell 10.3 yrs
- Las Cruces 14.1 yrs
- Clovis 13 yrs
- All of New Mexico
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.