SunSetup

Solar by state

Sun matters less than you'd think. What your utility pays for the power you export, and which incentives stack on top, decide whether solar pays where you live — and those are set state by state.

AL Solar panels in Alabama No statewide export mandate · 1,200 – 1,500 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → AK Solar panels in Alaska Retail-rate net metering · 650 – 1,000 kWh per kW per year Among the highest in the country Read → AZ Solar panels in Arizona Export rate set per utility, not full retail · 1,600 – 1,900 kWh per kW per year Around the national average, with very high summer consumption Read → AR Solar panels in Arkansas Retail-rate net metering · 1,200 – 1,500 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → CA Solar panels in California Net billing (NEM 3.0) · 1,450 – 1,750 kWh per kW per year Among the highest in the country Read → CO Solar panels in Colorado Retail-rate net metering · 1,350 – 1,700 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → CT Solar panels in Connecticut Incentive programme plus net metering · 1,100 – 1,300 kWh per kW per year Among the highest in the country Read → DE Solar panels in Delaware Retail-rate net metering · 1,200 – 1,450 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → DC Solar panels in District of Columbia Retail-rate net metering · 1,200 – 1,450 kWh per kW per year Among the highest in the country Read → FL Solar panels in Florida Full retail net metering (investor-owned utilities) · 1,400 – 1,600 kWh per kW per year Around the national average, with heavy year-round cooling load Read → GA Solar panels in Georgia No statewide export mandate · 1,300 – 1,550 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → HI Solar panels in Hawaii Net billing / avoided-cost exports · 1,500 – 1,800 kWh per kW per year Among the highest in the country Read → ID Solar panels in Idaho No statewide export mandate · 1,250 – 1,550 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → IL Solar panels in Illinois Incentive programme plus net metering · 1,100 – 1,350 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → IN Solar panels in Indiana Net billing / avoided-cost exports · 1,200 – 1,450 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → IA Solar panels in Iowa Retail-rate net metering · 1,200 – 1,450 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → KS Solar panels in Kansas Retail-rate net metering · 1,300 – 1,600 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → KY Solar panels in Kentucky Net billing / avoided-cost exports · 1,200 – 1,450 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → LA Solar panels in Louisiana Retail-rate net metering · 1,300 – 1,550 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → ME Solar panels in Maine Retail-rate net metering · 1,100 – 1,350 kWh per kW per year Among the highest in the country Read → MD Solar panels in Maryland Retail-rate net metering · 1,200 – 1,450 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → MA Solar panels in Massachusetts Net metering plus the SMART declining-block incentive · 1,150 – 1,350 kWh per kW per year Among the highest in the country Read → MI Solar panels in Michigan Net billing / avoided-cost exports · 1,100 – 1,350 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → MN Solar panels in Minnesota Retail-rate net metering · 1,200 – 1,500 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → MS Solar panels in Mississippi Net billing / avoided-cost exports · 1,300 – 1,550 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → MO Solar panels in Missouri Retail-rate net metering · 1,250 – 1,500 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → MT Solar panels in Montana Retail-rate net metering · 1,200 – 1,500 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → NE Solar panels in Nebraska Retail-rate net metering · 1,300 – 1,550 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → NV Solar panels in Nevada Tiered net metering — credit percentage set at interconnection · 1,550 – 1,850 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → NH Solar panels in New Hampshire Net billing / avoided-cost exports · 1,100 – 1,350 kWh per kW per year Among the highest in the country Read → NJ Solar panels in New Jersey Full retail net metering plus performance payments · 1,150 – 1,350 kWh per kW per year High Read → NM Solar panels in New Mexico Retail-rate net metering · 1,550 – 1,900 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → NY Solar panels in New York Value stack (VDER) transitioning from net metering · 1,100 – 1,300 kWh per kW per year High — among the more expensive states for electricity Read → NC Solar panels in North Carolina Net billing / avoided-cost exports · 1,300 – 1,600 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → ND Solar panels in North Dakota Retail-rate net metering · 1,200 – 1,500 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → OH Solar panels in Ohio Net billing / avoided-cost exports · 1,100 – 1,350 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → OK Solar panels in Oklahoma No statewide export mandate · 1,350 – 1,650 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → OR Solar panels in Oregon Retail-rate net metering · 1,100 – 1,350 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → PA Solar panels in Pennsylvania Retail-rate net metering · 1,150 – 1,400 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → RI Solar panels in Rhode Island Incentive programme plus net metering · 1,150 – 1,400 kWh per kW per year Among the highest in the country Read → SC Solar panels in South Carolina Net billing / avoided-cost exports · 1,300 – 1,600 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → SD Solar panels in South Dakota No statewide export mandate · 1,250 – 1,550 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → TN Solar panels in Tennessee No statewide export mandate · 1,200 – 1,500 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → TX Solar panels in Texas No statewide mandate — retailer-specific buyback · 1,400 – 1,650 kWh per kW per year Near the national average, but bills run high on summer cooling Read → UT Solar panels in Utah Net billing / avoided-cost exports · 1,400 – 1,750 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → VT Solar panels in Vermont Retail-rate net metering · 1,100 – 1,300 kWh per kW per year Among the highest in the country Read → VA Solar panels in Virginia Retail-rate net metering · 1,200 – 1,500 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → WA Solar panels in Washington Retail-rate net metering · 950 – 1,250 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read → WV Solar panels in West Virginia Retail-rate net metering · 1,150 – 1,400 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → WI Solar panels in Wisconsin Retail-rate net metering · 1,150 – 1,450 kWh per kW per year Around the national average Read → WY Solar panels in Wyoming Retail-rate net metering · 1,350 – 1,700 kWh per kW per year Below the national average Read →

The eight side by side

Sunshine sets the ceiling on what a panel can produce; it is the least interesting column, which is why it isn't one. Yield, export credit and system size are what actually decide whether producing the power is worth paying for. Peak sun hours are on each state's own page.

Solar economics compared across eight states
State Annual kWh per kW Export credit Typical size
Alabama 1,200 – 1,500 No statewide export mandate 7 – 9 kW
Alaska 650 – 1,000 Retail-rate net metering 10.5 – 16 kW
Arizona 1,600 – 1,900 Export rate set per utility, not full retail 7 – 11 kW
Arkansas 1,200 – 1,500 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 9 kW
California 1,450 – 1,750 Net billing (NEM 3.0) 6 – 9 kW
Colorado 1,350 – 1,700 Retail-rate net metering 6 – 8 kW
Connecticut 1,100 – 1,300 Incentive programme plus net metering 8 – 9.5 kW
Delaware 1,200 – 1,450 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 9 kW
District of Columbia 1,200 – 1,450 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 9 kW
Florida 1,400 – 1,600 Full retail net metering (investor-owned utilities) 8 – 12 kW
Georgia 1,300 – 1,550 No statewide export mandate 7 – 8 kW
Hawaii 1,500 – 1,800 Net billing / avoided-cost exports 6 – 7 kW
Idaho 1,250 – 1,550 No statewide export mandate 7 – 8.5 kW
Illinois 1,100 – 1,350 Incentive programme plus net metering 8 – 9.5 kW
Indiana 1,200 – 1,450 Net billing / avoided-cost exports 7 – 9 kW
Iowa 1,200 – 1,450 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 9 kW
Kansas 1,300 – 1,600 Retail-rate net metering 6.5 – 8 kW
Kentucky 1,200 – 1,450 Net billing / avoided-cost exports 7 – 9 kW
Louisiana 1,300 – 1,550 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 8 kW
Maine 1,100 – 1,350 Retail-rate net metering 8 – 9.5 kW
Maryland 1,200 – 1,450 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 9 kW
Massachusetts 1,150 – 1,350 Net metering plus the SMART declining-block incentive 6 – 9 kW
Michigan 1,100 – 1,350 Net billing / avoided-cost exports 8 – 9.5 kW
Minnesota 1,200 – 1,500 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 9 kW
Mississippi 1,300 – 1,550 Net billing / avoided-cost exports 7 – 8 kW
Missouri 1,250 – 1,500 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 8.5 kW
Montana 1,200 – 1,500 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 9 kW
Nebraska 1,300 – 1,550 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 8 kW
Nevada 1,550 – 1,850 Tiered net metering — credit percentage set at interconnection 7 – 10 kW
New Hampshire 1,100 – 1,350 Net billing / avoided-cost exports 8 – 9.5 kW
New Jersey 1,150 – 1,350 Full retail net metering plus performance payments 6 – 9 kW
New Mexico 1,550 – 1,900 Retail-rate net metering 5.5 – 7 kW
New York 1,100 – 1,300 Value stack (VDER) transitioning from net metering 6 – 9 kW
North Carolina 1,300 – 1,600 Net billing / avoided-cost exports 6.5 – 8 kW
North Dakota 1,200 – 1,500 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 9 kW
Ohio 1,100 – 1,350 Net billing / avoided-cost exports 8 – 9.5 kW
Oklahoma 1,350 – 1,650 No statewide export mandate 6.5 – 8 kW
Oregon 1,100 – 1,350 Retail-rate net metering 8 – 9.5 kW
Pennsylvania 1,150 – 1,400 Retail-rate net metering 7.5 – 9 kW
Rhode Island 1,150 – 1,400 Incentive programme plus net metering 7.5 – 9 kW
South Carolina 1,300 – 1,600 Net billing / avoided-cost exports 6.5 – 8 kW
South Dakota 1,250 – 1,550 No statewide export mandate 7 – 8.5 kW
Tennessee 1,200 – 1,500 No statewide export mandate 7 – 9 kW
Texas 1,400 – 1,650 No statewide mandate — retailer-specific buyback 8 – 12 kW
Utah 1,400 – 1,750 Net billing / avoided-cost exports 6 – 7.5 kW
Vermont 1,100 – 1,300 Retail-rate net metering 8 – 9.5 kW
Virginia 1,200 – 1,500 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 9 kW
Washington 950 – 1,250 Retail-rate net metering 8.5 – 11 kW
West Virginia 1,150 – 1,400 Retail-rate net metering 7.5 – 9 kW
Wisconsin 1,150 – 1,450 Retail-rate net metering 7 – 9 kW
Wyoming 1,350 – 1,700 Retail-rate net metering 6 – 8 kW

Yield figures are planning estimates for a well-oriented roof; a shaded or north-facing array produces materially less. Export-credit regimes are summarised — the detail is on each state's page, and your own utility's tariff governs.

Why state matters more than sunshine

Arizona gets roughly 60% more sun than Massachusetts, yet both are strong solar markets — because Massachusetts electricity is expensive and its incentive stack is deep. Meanwhile two identical houses in the same Texas city can face completely different returns depending on which retailer sells them power.

The variable that moves payback most is your export credit: what you're paid for the power you send back. Full retail net metering, net billing at avoided cost, a fixed percentage of retail, or nothing at all — each changes how big a system should be and whether storage makes sense. Start with net metering explained, then read your own state above.

Don't see your state? The guides cover the parts that apply everywhere, and the savings check works for any US address.

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