Solar in Providence, RI
With Rhode Island Energy's electricity at about 29.5¢ per kWh and 1,294 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Providence home today: about a 4.9-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 4.9 yrsRhode Island: 5 yrs
- 25-year net
- $63,875after paying $9,380
- Sun
- 1,294kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 29.5¢64% above U.S. average
A typical Providence home, by the numbers
| Utility | Rhode Island Energy |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 552 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5.6 kW, about 13 panels, 7,244 kWh a year (109% of use) |
| Cost | $18,620, or $9,380 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,905 |
| Payback | 4.9 years |
| Exported power | 25¢/kWh (Rhode Island Energy) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 4.0% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Providence
- Owner-occupied homes
- 41%
- Single-family detached
- 26%
- Median home value
- $362k
- Median year built
- 1938
- Population
- 191,767
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 85%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 31,388 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 Providence
Public installation records for Rhode Island don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Rhode Island.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Providence
Is solar worth it in Providence, RI?
For a typical home in Providence, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 5.6 kW system costs about $9,380 after state incentives, saves about $1,905 in year one and pays back in about 4.9 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Providence?
About 1,294 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 Rhode Island average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Providence?
Most homes in Providence are served by Rhode Island Energy, at about 29.5¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in Providence?
A fair cash price is around $3.20 per watt before incentives, so about $18,620 for a 5.6 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- East Providence 4.9 yrs
- Pawtucket 4.9 yrs
- Cranston 4.9 yrs
- Warwick 4.9 yrs
- Woonsocket 5 yrs
- All of Rhode Island
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.