Solar in State College, PA
With FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric's electricity at about 20.5¢ per kWh and 1,179 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical State College home today: about a 10.8-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 10.8 yrsPennsylvania: 9.9 yrs
- 25-year net
- $47,293after paying $26,000
- Sun
- 1,179kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 20.5¢14% above U.S. average
A typical State College home, by the numbers
| Utility | FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 885 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 9 kW, about 21 panels, 10,615 kWh a year (100% of use) |
| Cost | $26,000 |
| First-year savings | $2,074 |
| Payback | 10.8 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (Pennsylvania rule) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.5% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in State College
- Owner-occupied homes
- 26%
- Single-family detached
- 26%
- Median home value
- $438k
- Median year built
- 1971
- Population
- 41,050
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 91%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 3,470 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 State College
Public installation records for Pennsylvania don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Pennsylvania.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in State College
Is solar worth it in State College, PA?
For a typical home in State College, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 9 kW system costs about $26,000 after state incentives, saves about $2,074 in year one and pays back in about 10.8 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in State College?
About 1,179 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 9% less than the Pennsylvania average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in State College?
Most homes in State College are served by FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric, at about 20.5¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, PPL Electric Utilities.
How much do solar panels cost in State College?
A fair cash price is around $3.00 per watt before incentives, so about $26,000 for a 9 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Altoona 13.3 yrs
- Williamsport 10.6 yrs
- Harrisburg 10.1 yrs
- Lebanon 10.1 yrs
- York 11.6 yrs
- Lancaster 9.7 yrs
- Hazleton 10.4 yrs
- Plum 9.2 yrs
- All of Pennsylvania
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.