Solar in La Crosse, WI
With Northern States Power's electricity at about 16.1¢ per kWh and 1,309 kWh of sun per kW, solar is a close call for a typical La Crosse home today: about a 14.9-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 14.9 yrsWisconsin: 13.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $16,341after paying $19,100
- Sun
- 1,309kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 16.1¢10% below U.S. average
A typical La Crosse home, by the numbers
| Utility | Northern States Power |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 726 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 6 kW, about 14 panels, 7,854 kWh a year (90% of use) |
| Cost | $21,500, or $19,100 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,267 |
| Payback | 14.9 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (Northern States Power) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 2.5% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in La Crosse
- Owner-occupied homes
- 46%
- Single-family detached
- 48%
- Median home value
- $210k
- Median year built
- 1965
- Population
- 51,356
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 140
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 75%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 13,452 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 La Crosse
Companies with the most installations in La Crosse's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- Olson Solar Energy 94 installs
- Ethos Green Power 15 installs
- All Energy Solar 6 installs
- Eagle Point Solar 5 installs
- Skyline Solar 5 installs
- Solar Connection 5 installs
- Jolma Electric 2 installs
- Carlson Electric 1 installs
- Everlight Solar 1 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in La Crosse
Is solar worth it in La Crosse, WI?
For a typical home in La Crosse, solar is a close call at 2026 prices: a 6 kW system costs about $19,100 after state incentives, saves about $1,267 in year one and pays back in about 14.9 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in La Crosse?
About 1,309 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 1% less than the Wisconsin average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in La Crosse?
Most homes in La Crosse are served by Northern States Power, at about 16.1¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in La Crosse?
A fair cash price is around $3.50 per watt before incentives, so about $21,500 for a 6 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Eau Claire 14.7 yrs
- Stevens Point 13.5 yrs
- Madison 11.5 yrs
- Fitchburg 11.3 yrs
- Sun Prairie 12.6 yrs
- Wausau 13.5 yrs
- Oshkosh 13.4 yrs
- Janesville 12.3 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.