Solar in Wausau, WI
With Wisconsin Public Service's electricity at about 17.8¢ per kWh and 1,324 kWh of sun per kW, solar is a close call for a typical Wausau home today: about a 13.5-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 13.5 yrsWisconsin: 13.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $17,427after paying $16,100
- Sun
- 1,324kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 17.8¢1% below U.S. average
A typical Wausau home, by the numbers
| Utility | Wisconsin Public Service |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 616 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5 kW, about 12 panels, 6,620 kWh a year (90% of use) |
| Cost | $18,500, or $16,100 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,180 |
| Payback | 13.5 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (Wisconsin Public Service) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 2.5% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Wausau
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
- Single-family detached
- 63%
- Median home value
- $168k
- Median year built
- 1963
- Population
- 39,996
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 42
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes.
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 Wausau
Companies with the most installations in Wausau's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- North Wind Renewable Energy 13 installs
- Olson Solar Energy 12 installs
- Everlight Solar 7 installs
- All Energy Solar 3 installs
- Freedom Forever 2 installs
- Eland Electric 2 installs
- Ltl Led 1 installs
- Traditions 1291006 1 installs
- Full Spectrum Solar 1 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Wausau
Is solar worth it in Wausau, WI?
For a typical home in Wausau, solar is a close call at 2026 prices: a 5 kW system costs about $16,100 after state incentives, saves about $1,180 in year one and pays back in about 13.5 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Wausau?
About 1,324 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 0% less than the Wisconsin average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Wausau?
Most homes in Wausau are served by Wisconsin Public Service, at about 17.8¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in Wausau?
A fair cash price is around $3.50 per watt before incentives, so about $18,500 for a 5 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Stevens Point 13.5 yrs
- Appleton 11.6 yrs
- Neenah 11.9 yrs
- Oshkosh 13.4 yrs
- De Pere 11.8 yrs
- Green Bay 13.8 yrs
- Eau Claire 14.7 yrs
- Fond du Lac 12.7 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.