Solar in Des Moines, WA
With Puget Sound Energy's electricity at about 18.2¢ per kWh and 1,110 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Des Moines home today: about a 12.9-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 12.9 yrsWashington: 16.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $29,766after paying $21,125
- Sun
- 1,110kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 18.2¢1% above U.S. average
A typical Des Moines home, by the numbers
| Utility | Puget Sound Energy |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 863 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 7.5 kW, about 17 panels, 8,324 kWh a year (80% of use) |
| Cost | $21,125 |
| First-year savings | $1,518 |
| Payback | 12.9 years |
| Exported power | 13¢/kWh (Puget Sound Energy) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.8% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Des Moines
- Owner-occupied homes
- 61%
- Single-family detached
- 56%
- Median home value
- $597k
- Median year built
- 1974
- Population
- 32,823
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 92%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 8,210 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 Des Moines
Public installation records for Washington don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Washington.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Des Moines
Is solar worth it in Des Moines, WA?
For a typical home in Des Moines, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 7.5 kW system costs about $21,125 after state incentives, saves about $1,518 in year one and pays back in about 12.9 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Des Moines?
About 1,110 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 0% more than the Washington average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Des Moines?
Most homes in Des Moines are served by Puget Sound Energy, at about 18.2¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in Des Moines?
A fair cash price is around $2.85 per watt before incentives, so about $21,125 for a 7.5 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- SeaTac 13.5 yrs
- Kent 13.9 yrs
- Federal Way 13.1 yrs
- Burien 13.2 yrs
- Auburn 13.9 yrs
- Renton 13.9 yrs
- Tacoma 20 yrs
- Mercer Island 13.9 yrs
- All of Washington
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.