Solar in Longview, WA
With PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County's electricity at about 9.9¢ per kWh and 1,066 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Longview home today: about a 23.3-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 23.3 yrsWashington: 16.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $2,177after paying $20,655
- Sun
- 1,066kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 9.9¢45% below U.S. average
A typical Longview home, by the numbers
| Utility | PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 1,296 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 7.3 kW, about 17 panels, 7,780 kWh a year (50% of use) |
| Cost | $20,655 |
| First-year savings | $770 |
| Payback | 23.3 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (Washington rule) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.8% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Longview
- Owner-occupied homes
- 55%
- Single-family detached
- 60%
- Median home value
- $362k
- Median year built
- 1967
- Population
- 38,069
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 90%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 10,074 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 Longview
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 Longview
Is solar worth it in Longview, WA?
For a typical home in Longview, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 7.3 kW system costs about $20,655 after state incentives, saves about $770 in year one and pays back in about 23.3 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Longview?
About 1,066 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 Washington average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Longview?
Most homes in Longview are served by PUD No 1 of Cowlitz County, at about 9.9¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by PUD No 1 of Lewis County.
How much do solar panels cost in Longview?
A fair cash price is around $2.85 per watt before incentives, so about $20,655 for a 7.3 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Orchards 21.4 yrs
- Vancouver 20.6 yrs
- Camas 21.3 yrs
- Tumwater 13.4 yrs
- Olympia 13.6 yrs
- Lacey 13.5 yrs
- Graham 13.5 yrs
- Spanaway 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.