Independent solar economics
A practical, unbiased guide to going solar — straight answers on cost, savings, financing, and whether it's worth it. Use current rate data as context, then enter documented household and project evidence.
01 / Evidence
A published residential average is useful context, but it is not a household tariff or savings input. Compare the jurisdiction where you live, then document your actual bill and tariff before modeling a project.
State comparison
Tile position approximates geography; tile area does not represent land area. Each value is the published state residential average, not a household tariff.
| State | Average rate | Vs. U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 17.41¢/kWh | -9.9% |
| Alaska | 27.35¢/kWh | +41.6% |
| Arizona | 15.48¢/kWh | -19.9% |
| Arkansas | 14.16¢/kWh | -26.7% |
| California | 35.25¢/kWh | +82.5% |
| Colorado | 16.54¢/kWh | -14.4% |
| Connecticut | 32.24¢/kWh | +66.9% |
| Delaware | 18.79¢/kWh | -2.7% |
| District of Columbia | 25.41¢/kWh | +31.5% |
| Florida | 15.38¢/kWh | -20.4% |
| Georgia | 15.37¢/kWh | -20.4% |
| Hawaii | 46.62¢/kWh | +141.3% |
| Idaho | 12.70¢/kWh | -34.3% |
| Illinois | 20.47¢/kWh | +6.0% |
| Indiana | 17.90¢/kWh | -7.3% |
| Iowa | 13.86¢/kWh | -28.3% |
| Kansas | 15.78¢/kWh | -18.3% |
| Kentucky | 15.02¢/kWh | -22.3% |
| Louisiana | 14.44¢/kWh | -25.3% |
| Maine | 28.42¢/kWh | +47.1% |
| Maryland | 22.07¢/kWh | +14.2% |
| Massachusetts | 29.45¢/kWh | +52.4% |
| Michigan | 21.39¢/kWh | +10.7% |
| Minnesota | 16.39¢/kWh | -15.2% |
| Mississippi | 16.76¢/kWh | -13.3% |
| Missouri | 14.01¢/kWh | -27.5% |
| Montana | 13.90¢/kWh | -28.1% |
| Nebraska | 13.28¢/kWh | -31.3% |
| Nevada | 14.29¢/kWh | -26.0% |
| New Hampshire | 27.24¢/kWh | +41.0% |
| New Jersey | 23.53¢/kWh | +21.8% |
| New Mexico | 15.15¢/kWh | -21.6% |
| New York | 29.45¢/kWh | +52.4% |
| North Carolina | 16.25¢/kWh | -15.9% |
| North Dakota | 12.35¢/kWh | -36.1% |
| Ohio | 19.49¢/kWh | +0.9% |
| Oklahoma | 13.31¢/kWh | -31.1% |
| Oregon | 15.78¢/kWh | -18.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 21.47¢/kWh | +11.1% |
| Rhode Island | 28.30¢/kWh | +46.5% |
| South Carolina | 17.06¢/kWh | -11.7% |
| South Dakota | 14.52¢/kWh | -24.8% |
| Tennessee | 14.94¢/kWh | -22.7% |
| Texas | 16.99¢/kWh | -12.1% |
| Utah | 13.29¢/kWh | -31.2% |
| Vermont | 24.56¢/kWh | +27.1% |
| Virginia | 17.38¢/kWh | -10.0% |
| Washington | 14.36¢/kWh | -25.7% |
| West Virginia | 16.06¢/kWh | -16.9% |
| Wisconsin | 19.21¢/kWh | -0.6% |
| Wyoming | 14.68¢/kWh | -24.0% |
02 / Orientation
Learn the physical system or evaluate the financial decision. Both paths lead to focused explanations without a sales handoff.
Solar Energy Wiki
03 / Decision lab
Choose the question you are working through. Each calculator or guide states its evidence boundary and gives you a focused next step.
Selected calculator: Solar Savings Calculator
01 / 05
Size and value a proposal
Enter documented usage, site production, same-scope price, and utility cash flows.
Open the full calculator to review and change its assumptions.
Open calculator04 / Field notes
Start with the newest available analysis, then move through the dated reading trail without losing publication context.