Solar in Aberdeen, SD
With Montana-Dakota Utilities's electricity at about 12.0¢ per kWh and 1,366 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Aberdeen home today: it does not pay back within 25 years.
- Payback, typical home
- NeverSouth Dakota: 21.8 yrs
- 25-year net
- −$1,331after paying $12,750
- Sun
- 1,366kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 12.0¢33% below U.S. average
A typical Aberdeen home, by the numbers
| Utility | Montana-Dakota Utilities |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 852 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3.7 kW, about 9 panels, 5,055 kWh a year (49% of use) |
| Cost | $12,750 |
| First-year savings | $487 |
| Payback | never within 25 years |
| Exported power | No statewide net metering (South Dakota rule) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 1.9% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Aberdeen
- Owner-occupied homes
- 62%
- Single-family detached
- 57%
- Median home value
- $217k
- Median year built
- 1972
- Population
- 28,189
Census ACS 2020–2024.
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 Aberdeen
Public installation records for South Dakota don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in South Dakota.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Aberdeen
Is solar worth it in Aberdeen, SD?
For a typical home in Aberdeen, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 3.7 kW system costs about $12,750 after state incentives, saves about $487 in year one and does not pay back within 25 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Aberdeen?
About 1,366 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 4% less than the South Dakota average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Aberdeen?
Most homes in Aberdeen are served by Montana-Dakota Utilities, at about 12.0¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Northern Electric Cooperative, NorthWestern Energy.
How much do solar panels cost in Aberdeen?
A fair cash price is around $3.00 per watt before incentives, so about $12,750 for a 3.7 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Sioux Falls 19 yrs
- Rapid City 20.3 yrs
- All of South 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.