Solar in University Place, WA
With Puget Sound Energy's electricity at about 18.2¢ per kWh and 1,087 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical University Place home today: about a 13.2-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 13.2 yrsWashington: 16.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $29,013after paying $21,360
- Sun
- 1,087kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 18.2¢1% above U.S. average
A typical University Place home, by the numbers
| Utility | Puget Sound Energy |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 863 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 7.6 kW, about 18 panels, 8,261 kWh a year (80% of use) |
| Cost | $21,360 |
| First-year savings | $1,507 |
| Payback | 13.2 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 University Place
- Owner-occupied homes
- 57%
- Single-family detached
- 54%
- Median home value
- $625k
- Median year built
- 1981
- Population
- 34,911
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 88%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 8,711 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in University Place
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 University Place
Is solar worth it in University Place, WA?
For a typical home in University Place, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 7.6 kW system costs about $21,360 after state incentives, saves about $1,507 in year one and pays back in about 13.2 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in University Place?
About 1,087 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 2% less than the Washington average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in University Place?
Most homes in University Place are served by Puget Sound Energy, at about 18.2¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Peninsula Light, City of Tacoma.
How much do solar panels cost in University Place?
A fair cash price is around $2.85 per watt before incentives, so about $21,360 for a 7.6 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Lakewood 13.4 yrs
- Tacoma 20 yrs
- Parkland 13.7 yrs
- Spanaway 13.9 yrs
- Federal Way 13.1 yrs
- Frederickson 13.9 yrs
- Puyallup 13.5 yrs
- South Hill 13.5 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.