Solar in Appleton, WI
With We Energies's electricity at about 21.3¢ per kWh and 1,333 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Appleton home today: about a 11.6-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 11.6 yrsWisconsin: 13.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $22,250after paying $14,900
- Sun
- 1,333kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 21.3¢18% above U.S. average
A typical Appleton home, by the numbers
| Utility | We Energies |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 640 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 4.6 kW, about 11 panels, 6,134 kWh a year (80% of use) |
| Cost | $17,300, or $14,900 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,262 |
| Payback | 11.6 years |
| Exported power | 4¢/kWh (We Energies) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 2.5% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Appleton
- Owner-occupied homes
- 67%
- Single-family detached
- 67%
- Median home value
- $231k
- Median year built
- 1971
- Population
- 75,023
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 99
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 73%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 15,827 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 Appleton
Companies with the most installations in Appleton's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- Appleton Solar 58 installs
- Freedom Forever 8 installs
- Eland Electric 7 installs
- Everlight Solar 6 installs
- All Energy Solar 3 installs
- Solcius 3 installs
- Traditions 1291006 3 installs
- Eagle Point Solar 2 installs
- Home Team Energy 1 installs
- Tron Solar 1 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Appleton
Is solar worth it in Appleton, WI?
For a typical home in Appleton, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 4.6 kW system costs about $14,900 after state incentives, saves about $1,262 in year one and pays back in about 11.6 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Appleton?
About 1,333 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 Wisconsin average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Appleton?
Most homes in Appleton are served by We Energies, at about 21.3¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by City of Kaukauna (WI), City of Menasha.
How much do solar panels cost in Appleton?
A fair cash price is around $3.50 per watt before incentives, so about $17,300 for a 4.6 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Neenah 11.9 yrs
- De Pere 11.8 yrs
- Oshkosh 13.4 yrs
- Green Bay 13.8 yrs
- Fond du Lac 12.7 yrs
- Manitowoc 22.8 yrs
- Sheboygan 12.4 yrs
- Stevens Point 13.5 yrs
- All of Wisconsin
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.