Where solar saves the most over 25 years
Over 25 years an 8 kW system in Hawaii comes out $167,217 ahead of its price. In 51 of 51 it ends ahead at all; in North Dakota it ends $10,654 ahead.
The table
| # | State | Net saving, 25 yrs | System price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii* | $167,217 | $30,000 |
| 2 | Maine* | $72,401 | $30,000 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $68,599 | $29,920 |
| 4 | New York | $64,160 | $31,840 |
| 5 | California | $61,544 | $34,880 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $61,048 | $30,000 |
| 7 | New Hampshire* | $52,887 | $30,000 |
| 8 | District of Columbia* | $52,748 | $30,000 |
| 9 | New Jersey* | $52,360 | $30,000 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $48,992 | $30,000 |
| 11 | New Mexico* | $41,172 | $30,000 |
| 12 | Michigan* | $40,764 | $30,000 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania* | $40,292 | $30,000 |
| 14 | Maryland* | $40,220 | $30,000 |
| 15 | Vermont* | $39,571 | $30,000 |
| 16 | Arizona | $37,458 | $28,960 |
| 17 | Colorado* | $35,586 | $30,000 |
| 18 | Delaware | $34,840 | $25,440 |
| 19 | Alaska* | $34,611 | $30,000 |
| 20 | Virginia* | $31,601 | $30,000 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $31,405 | $29,840 |
| 22 | Illinois* | $30,923 | $30,000 |
| 23 | Ohio* | $30,707 | $30,000 |
| 24 | Texas | $28,750 | $27,680 |
| 25 | Georgia* | $28,607 | $30,000 |
| 26 | South Carolina* | $27,071 | $30,000 |
| 27 | Kansas* | $26,684 | $30,000 |
| 28 | Nevada* | $25,180 | $30,000 |
| 29 | Missouri* | $25,036 | $30,000 |
| 30 | Alabama* | $25,005 | $30,000 |
| 31 | Wyoming* | $24,923 | $30,000 |
| 32 | Minnesota* | $24,822 | $30,000 |
| 33 | Oklahoma* | $24,591 | $30,000 |
| 34 | Iowa* | $23,712 | $30,000 |
| 35 | Indiana* | $23,458 | $30,000 |
| 36 | North Carolina* | $23,135 | $30,000 |
| 37 | Florida | $22,192 | $32,640 |
| 38 | South Dakota* | $21,669 | $30,000 |
| 39 | Mississippi* | $21,408 | $30,000 |
| 40 | Arkansas* | $19,896 | $30,000 |
| 41 | Idaho* | $19,071 | $30,000 |
| 42 | Montana* | $19,011 | $30,000 |
| 43 | West Virginia* | $18,404 | $30,000 |
| 44 | Utah* | $17,898 | $30,000 |
| 45 | Nebraska* | $16,993 | $30,000 |
| 46 | Louisiana* | $15,722 | $30,000 |
| 47 | Kentucky* | $15,082 | $30,000 |
| 48 | Tennessee* | $14,966 | $30,000 |
| 49 | Oregon | $12,843 | $31,200 |
| 50 | Washington* | $10,870 | $30,000 |
| 51 | North Dakota* | $10,654 | $30,000 |
* Priced at the national median. Total value of the electricity an 8 kW system avoids over 25 years, less what the system cost, in today's dollars without discounting. Same assumptions as the payback ranking. Only 11 states have enough reported installations for Berkeley Lab to publish a local price, so the rest are priced at the national median of $3.75 a watt and marked with an asterisk. Their position reflects sunshine and power prices, not a measured local price. Full method on the methodology page.
Questions
Where does solar save the most money?
Hawaii. An 8 kW system costing $30,000 avoids enough electricity over 25 years to come out about $167,217 ahead, undiscounted, on Berkeley Lab prices, PVGIS output and the EIA's July 2026 power price with 2.5% annual growth.
In how many states does solar save money over its lifetime?
In 51 of the 50 states and DC an 8 kW system's avoided bills exceed its price within 25 years, with no federal credit. The figures are undiscounted, so they flatter the long tail: money saved in year 20 is worth less than money spent today.
Three competing quotes beat any amount of comparing panel brands
Sales cost and margin are over a third of an installed price, and they are the part that competition removes. A single quote from whoever reached you first is how people end up in the top quarter of what their neighbours paid.
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