All states / Pennsylvania
Solar in Pennsylvania
At 21.72¢ per kWh and 1359 kWh of production per kW each year, a household paying $200 a month needs a 7.64 kW system. Paid in cash, it returns its $19,719 cost in 8.6 yr.
Two prices, two answers
Payback 8.6 yr — at competitive quoted prices ($2.58/W, EnergySage 2026): net cost $19,719, 25-year net $46,877.
LBNL 2023: fewer than 20 observations, so LBNL publishes no median for this state. We show one basis here rather than borrow a neighbouring state's.
Where a second basis exists, the gap between the two is methodology, not staleness: quoted prices are what you get if you shop around for competitive quotes; reported prices are what the average buyer actually paid, as recorded in permit and incentive data. Every table below uses quoted prices. Why we show both.
By monthly bill
| Your bill | Use / yr | System | Panels | Net cost | Payback | 25-yr net (cash) | Lease, year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100/mo | 4,862 kWh | 3.58 kW | 9 | $9,230 | 9.3 yr | $18,990 | $317 |
| $150/mo | 7,624 kWh | 5.61 kW | 15 | $14,474 | 8.8 yr | $32,934 | $497 |
| $200/mo | 10,387 kWh | 7.64 kW | 20 | $19,719 | 8.6 yr | $46,877 | $677 |
| $300/mo | 15,912 kWh | 11.71 kW | 30 | $30,207 | 8.5 yr | $74,763 | $1,037 |
Cash, loan or lease — at $200 a month
| How you pay | 25-year net | Upfront | Year 1 | Payback / cash flow | Federal credit to you |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $46,877 | $19,719 | $2,106 | 8.6 yr | $0 |
| Loan $153/mo · 6.99% APR · 20 yr | $29,933 | $0 | $273 | immediate (+$273 in year 1) | $0 |
| Lease / PPA | $18,997 | $0 | $677 | immediate (+$677 in year 1) | $0 |
The 30% federal credit goes to the system owner, not to you. It is reflected in the rate you are offered. The owner claims it at 30% under IRC 48E.
The inputs, and where they came from
| Input | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residential electricity rate | 21.72¢/kWh | U.S. EIA API v2, electricity/retail-sales, residential sector, 2026-07 |
| Specific yield | 1359 kWh/kW/yr | NLR (formerly NREL) PVWatts v8 API, 1 kW reference system (state:PA) |
| Installed cost | $2.58/W | EnergySage Marketplace real-quote average, as of Sep 2026; page updated 2026-08-28 |
| Export compensation | full retail net metering · 100% | 52 Pa. Code 75.13 requires an electric distribution company to credit a customer-generator at the full retail kilowatt-hour rate, which shall include generation, transmission and distribution charges. Excess kilowatt-hours are carried forward and credited against later billing periods at the full retail rate. A residential system may not exceed 50 kW. Follows: All electric distribution companies, under 52 Pa. Code Chapter 75. Source, read 2026-09-05. |
| Federal credit, purchase | 0% | IRC 25D (expired) |
| Federal credit, third-party owner | 30% | IRC 48E (Clean Electricity Investment Credit) |
| State incentives | $0 | No upfront statewide credit or rebate for a typical owner-occupier (verified) |