Solar in Richland, WA
With PUD No 1 of Benton County's electricity at about 9.8¢ per kWh and 1,344 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Richland home today: about a 20.1-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 20.1 yrsWashington: 16.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $5,837after paying $15,955
- Sun
- 1,344kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 9.8¢46% below U.S. average
A typical Richland home, by the numbers
| Utility | PUD No 1 of Benton County |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 1,195 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5.3 kW, about 12 panels, 7,124 kWh a year (50% of use) |
| Cost | $15,955 |
| First-year savings | $697 |
| Payback | 20.1 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 Richland
- Owner-occupied homes
- 64%
- Single-family detached
- 62%
- Median home value
- $437k
- Median year built
- 1988
- Population
- 62,753
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 86%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 16,782 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Richland
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 Richland
Is solar worth it in Richland, WA?
For a typical home in Richland, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 5.3 kW system costs about $15,955 after state incentives, saves about $697 in year one and pays back in about 20.1 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Richland?
About 1,344 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 21% more than the Washington average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Richland?
Most homes in Richland are served by PUD No 1 of Benton County, at about 9.8¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Benton Rural Electric Association, PUD No 1 of Franklin County, City of Richland.
How much do solar panels cost in Richland?
A fair cash price is around $2.85 per watt before incentives, so about $15,955 for a 5.3 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Kennewick 19.9 yrs
- Pasco 17.2 yrs
- Walla Walla 13.8 yrs
- Moses Lake no payback
- Yakima 13 yrs
- Wenatchee no payback
- Pullman 14.4 yrs
- Spokane 14.5 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.