HomeExpertly
www.homeexpertly.comSolar Payback Calculator
Find out how long a rooftop system takes to pay for itself — system size from your actual bill, the net cost after the federal credit and rebates, and what it saves you over 25 years.
Assumes a cash purchase with full retail net metering. Roof shading, net metering rules and incentives vary by utility and state. For planning purposes only.
Bill, System & Cost
1
Your Electric Bill
$
$
kWh
Bill divided by your rate. Edit to enter the kWh printed on your statement.% / yr
U.S. residential power has averaged roughly 2-4% a year. This drives the payback.
2
Your System
100%
How much of your yearly usage the array should cover.kW
Sized from your usage, sunlight and offset. Edit to price a quoted system.
3
Cost & Incentives
$/ watt
Turnkey price before incentives. Most U.S. quotes land between $2.50 and $3.50.
30%
Set to 0 if you will not have the tax liability to claim it.$
The federal credit is a credit against taxes owed, not a check in the mail. Check DSIRE for what your state and utility add on top.
Payback Estimate
Payback Period
—
Enter your bill to begin
System Size
—
Net Cost
—
Year 1 Savings
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System & Cost
System size—
Annual production year 1—
Bill offset of your usage—
Gross system cost—
Federal tax credit—
State & utility rebates—
Net cost out of pocket—
PAYBACK PERIOD—
Panels (400 W)
—
25-Year Savings
—
CO2 Avoided
—
Payback By Installed Price
Years to break even on your system at different prices per watt
Installed Price Comparison — Your System
| Price / Watt | Gross Cost | Net Cost | Payback | 25-Yr Savings |
|---|
For your 8.6 kW system at a 30% federal credit. Quotes for the same hardware vary widely — get three.