Solar in Bismarck, ND
With Montana-Dakota Utilities's electricity at about 12.0¢ per kWh and 1,383 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Bismarck home today: about a 21.4-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 21.4 yrsNorth Dakota: 20.3 yrs
- 25-year net
- $2,504after paying $12,500
- Sun
- 1,383kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 12.0¢33% below U.S. average
A typical Bismarck home, by the numbers
| Utility | Montana-Dakota Utilities |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 828 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3.6 kW, about 8 panels, 4,980 kWh a year (50% of use) |
| Cost | $12,500 |
| First-year savings | $596 |
| Payback | 21.4 years |
| Exported power | Avoided-cost export credit (North Dakota rule) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 2.1% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Bismarck
- Owner-occupied homes
- 65%
- Single-family detached
- 47%
- Median home value
- $300k
- Median year built
- 1985
- Population
- 75,556
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 86%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 16,899 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Bismarck
Public installation records for North Dakota don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in North Dakota.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Bismarck
Is solar worth it in Bismarck, ND?
For a typical home in Bismarck, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 3.6 kW system costs about $12,500 after state incentives, saves about $596 in year one and pays back in about 21.4 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Bismarck?
About 1,383 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 5% more than the North Dakota average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Bismarck?
Most homes in Bismarck are served by Montana-Dakota Utilities, at about 12.0¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Capital Electric Cooperative, Roughrider Electric Cooperativ.
How much do solar panels cost in Bismarck?
A fair cash price is around $3.00 per watt before incentives, so about $12,500 for a 3.6 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Dickinson 21.5 yrs
- Minot 20.8 yrs
- Williston 22.1 yrs
- West Fargo 15.1 yrs
- Fargo 14.8 yrs
- Grand Forks 18.3 yrs
- All of North Dakota
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.