Solar in Milwaukee, WI
With We Energies's electricity at about 21.3¢ per kWh and 1,338 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Milwaukee home today: about a 11.6-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 11.6 yrsWisconsin: 13.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $22,332after paying $14,900
- Sun
- 1,338kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 21.3¢18% above U.S. average
A typical Milwaukee home, by the numbers
| Utility | We Energies |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 640 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 4.6 kW, about 11 panels, 6,154 kWh a year (80% of use) |
| Cost | $17,300, or $14,900 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,269 |
| 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 Milwaukee
- Owner-occupied homes
- 42%
- Single-family detached
- 39%
- Median home value
- $184k
- Median year built
- 1953
- Population
- 566,973
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 546
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 82%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 130,888 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 Milwaukee
Companies with the most installations in Milwaukee's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- Arch Electric 163 installs
- Everlight Solar 113 installs
- Tron Solar 59 installs
- Current Electric 35 installs
- All Energy Solar 32 installs
- Home Team Energy 29 installs
- Next Energy 22 installs
- Traditions 1291006 20 installs
- Sol Energy New Mexi 18 installs
- Freedom Forever 15 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Milwaukee
Is solar worth it in Milwaukee, WI?
For a typical home in Milwaukee, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 4.6 kW system costs about $14,900 after state incentives, saves about $1,269 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 Milwaukee?
About 1,338 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 1% more than the Wisconsin average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Milwaukee?
Most homes in Milwaukee are served by We Energies, at about 21.3¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in Milwaukee?
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
- Wauwatosa 11.6 yrs
- West Allis 11.7 yrs
- Greenfield 11.8 yrs
- Brookfield 11.6 yrs
- Menomonee Falls 11.5 yrs
- New Berlin 11.5 yrs
- Mequon 11.8 yrs
- Franklin 11.7 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.