Solar Savings by State
Compare one input to solar economics across all 50 states and DC: residential electricity prices. These June 2026 benchmarks are not measured solar savings or a ranking of state payback periods.
Source review: September 7, 2026
Retail prices are a starting point, not a solar quote
The EIA U.S. residential average is 18.34 cents/kWh for June 2026. The comparison below multiplies each state price by 1,000 kWh: cents/kWh times 10 gives dollars. It does not model a roof, a year of generation, fixed charges or the value of exported power.
Higher residential electricity prices
Nine highest state prices in this EIA month. Higher prices alone do not establish better solar returns.
Hawaii
California
Massachusetts
Maine
New York
Rhode Island
Alaska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Other states and DC
The same 1,000 kWh benchmark, listed alphabetically. State profiles use separate screening assumptions, not guaranteed savings.
| State | Price (cents/kWh) | Value of 1,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.40 | $164.00 |
| Arizona | 15.18 | $151.80 |
| Arkansas | 14.12 | $141.20 |
| Colorado | 17.13 | $171.30 |
| Connecticut | 24.32 | $243.20 |
| Delaware | 19.29 | $192.90 |
| District of Columbia | 24.39 | $243.90 |
| Florida | 15.10 | $151.00 |
| Georgia | 16.36 | $163.60 |
| Idaho | 14.37 | $143.70 |
| Illinois | 19.89 | $198.90 |
| Indiana | 17.51 | $175.10 |
| Iowa | 15.93 | $159.30 |
| Kansas | 15.71 | $157.10 |
| Kentucky | 14.26 | $142.60 |
| Louisiana | 13.49 | $134.90 |
| Maryland | 21.84 | $218.40 |
| Michigan | 22.99 | $229.90 |
| Minnesota | 17.52 | $175.20 |
| Mississippi | 14.88 | $148.80 |
| Missouri | 16.22 | $162.20 |
| Montana | 15.14 | $151.40 |
| Nebraska | 13.25 | $132.50 |
| Nevada | 13.11 | $131.10 |
| New Mexico | 15.06 | $150.60 |
| North Carolina | 14.74 | $147.40 |
| North Dakota | 14.12 | $141.20 |
| Ohio | 19.19 | $191.90 |
| Oklahoma | 14.33 | $143.30 |
| Oregon | 16.32 | $163.20 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.73 | $217.30 |
| South Carolina | 15.55 | $155.50 |
| South Dakota | 15.36 | $153.60 |
| Tennessee | 14.07 | $140.70 |
| Texas | 15.94 | $159.40 |
| Utah | 13.37 | $133.70 |
| Vermont | 24.44 | $244.40 |
| Virginia | 17.22 | $172.20 |
| Washington | 14.91 | $149.10 |
| West Virginia | 15.45 | $154.50 |
| Wisconsin | 19.56 | $195.60 |
| Wyoming | 15.24 | $152.40 |
Why a price benchmark is not a savings forecast
Washington's EIA residential price is 14.91 cents/kWh for June 2026, equivalent to $149.10 per 1,000 kWh at that average. A household's actual avoided cost depends on its tariff, timing of use and charges that remain after installing solar. Exported power may earn a different credit from the price paid for imported power.
A meaningful solar estimate combines an itemized installation quote, a roof-specific production forecast and the applicable utility rules. These tables do not measure installation prices, system sizes or household solar adoption.
Four inputs to a defensible payback estimate
Upfront cost
An itemized installed price, with documented incentives separated from financing fees, batteries and roof work. A generic cost per watt is not a quote.
Usable production
A location and roof-specific estimate, with shading and system losses stated. Electricity generated and electricity used on-site are not automatically equal.
Utility tariff
Import prices, export credits, time-of-use periods, minimum bills and fixed charges. State averages cannot replace the applicable utility schedule.
Ongoing costs
Maintenance, insurance where applicable, financing and possible equipment replacement. A simple payback estimate is not a lifetime investment-return calculation.
Correction to the earlier payback ranking
Earlier versions listed fixed state payback periods, including 15 years for Washington, and fixed annual savings. Those were legacy screening figures, not a documented survey of homeowner outcomes. They are no longer presented here as current statewide averages.
This September 7, 2026 review replaces that ranking with sourced retail-price benchmarks and explicit limitations. State calculators have separate inputs and were not recalibrated by this content review. No automatic federal residential credit is assumed for new 2026 installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the best solar savings?
There is no universal state winner. Higher retail electricity prices can increase the value of electricity used on-site, but installation cost, roof production, financing and utility export rules determine the actual return. The price ranking here is not a solar-payback ranking.
What do the state electricity figures measure?
They are EIA monthly residential average retail prices, not installer quotes, individual utility tariffs or solar export-credit rates. The value per 1,000 kWh is a common comparison benchmark, not a promise that a solar system will reduce a bill by that amount.
How is simple solar payback calculated?
Simple payback is net upfront cost divided by positive annual net savings under stated assumptions. For example, an illustrative $21,000 cost and $1,200 annual net savings give 17.5 years. This is not a state average, installer quote or discounted cash-flow result. Maintenance, financing, production changes and future tariffs can change the outcome.
Can cloudy locations still have useful solar production?
Yes, but production needs a location-specific estimate. Roof direction, shading, system losses and weather matter; a state name or a single sun-hours assumption cannot establish a home-specific forecast. PVWatts can model production from a location and system assumptions.
Does the federal residential solar credit apply to new 2026 installations?
The IRS says the Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. That differs from carrying forward unused credit from an eligible earlier installation. State and utility programs have separate eligibility rules.