Solar by State — Compare All 50 + DC
Solar economics change the moment you cross a state line. The same rooftop array can pay back in 5 years in one state and 18 in the next — driven less by sunshine than by net-metering policy, utility rates, and the specific incentives each state runs. This hub ranks every state on one yardstick so you can see, at a glance, where solar pencils out and where it needs a closer look.
Last updated 2026-07-25. Data: EIA May 2026; NREL PVWatts V8 (representative state centroid); 2026 Q2; DSIRE 2026-05-27.
The interactive 50-State Solar Comparison tool adds live region + text search, grade-band filtering, and FAQ — built on the same dataset.
50-state solar economics matrix
Click a column header to sort — click again to reverse. Use the region filter to narrow by geography.
| State | Grade | $/W | Rate ¢/kWh | Sun hrs/day | Payback yr | Incentives | NEM Policy | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii(HI) | S | $3.10 | 52.0 | 6.0 | 3.1 | 2 | Net Billing | — |
| California(CA) | A | $3.05 | 33.3 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 2 | NEM 3.0 | — |
| New York(NY) | A | $3.10 | 29.9 | 4.4 | 7.4 | 5 | Net Metering 2.0 | — |
| Massachusetts(MA) | A | $3.10 | 28.8 | 4.3 | 7.8 | 4 | Net Metering 2.0 | — |
| Connecticut(CT) | A | $3.10 | 27.4 | 4.4 | 8.0 | 4 | Full Retail | — |
| District of Columbia(DC) | A | $3.20 | 25.4 | 4.6 | 8.6 | 6 | Full Retail | — |
| Maine(ME) | A | $3.06 | 28.6 | 4.1 | 8.1 | 3 | Full Retail | — |
| Rhode Island(RI) | A | $3.25 | 29.5 | 4.3 | 8.0 | 2 | Full Retail | — |
| Florida(FL) | A | $2.60 | 15.2 | 5.8 | 9.2 | 2 | Full Retail | — |
| Maryland(MD) | A | $2.90 | 21.8 | 4.6 | 9.0 | 4 | Full Retail | — |
| Illinois(IL) | B | $2.90 | 23.9 | 4.3 | 8.8 | 3 | Full Retail | — |
| New Jersey(NJ) | B | $2.95 | 23.3 | 4.4 | 9.0 | 4 | Full Retail | — |
| New Hampshire(NH) | B | $3.16 | 27.3 | 4.2 | 8.6 | 1 | Full Retail | — |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | B | $2.80 | 21.6 | 4.5 | 9.0 | 1 | Full Retail | — |
| Texas(TX) | B | $2.50 | 16.4 | 5.4 | 8.8 | 2 | Net Billing | — |
| Louisiana(LA) | B | $2.60 | 14.2 | 5.5 | 10.4 | 1 | Full Retail | — |
| Vermont(VT) | B | $3.06 | 24.9 | 4.0 | 9.6 | 2 | Net Metering 2.0 | — |
| South Carolina(SC) | B | $2.60 | 16.2 | 5.1 | 9.8 | 3 | Net Billing | — |
| Alaska(AK) | B | $3.00 | 28.2 | 3.5 | 9.5 | 0 | Full Retail | — |
| West Virginia(WV) | B | $2.60 | 16.8 | 4.7 | 10.2 | 0 | Full Retail | — |
| Arizona(AZ) | B | $2.50 | 15.2 | 5.2 | 9.9 | 2 | Net Billing | — |
| North Carolina(NC) | B | $2.60 | 15.1 | 4.9 | 10.9 | 2 | Full Retail | — |
| Virginia(VA) | B | $2.80 | 17.6 | 4.7 | 10.6 | 2 | Full Retail | — |
| Mississippi(MS) | B | $2.60 | 16.2 | 5.4 | 9.3 | 0 | Avoided Cost | — |
| Delaware(DE) | B | $2.97 | 19.4 | 4.5 | 10.6 | 2 | Full Retail | — |
| Michigan(MI) | B | $2.80 | 22.0 | 4.3 | 9.2 | 1 | Net Billing | — |
| Colorado(CO) | B | $2.80 | 16.2 | 4.5 | 12.0 | 18 | Full Retail | — |
| Ohio(OH) | B | $2.80 | 19.5 | 4.5 | 9.9 | 2 | Net Billing | — |
| Alabama(AL) | B | $2.70 | 16.8 | 5.2 | 9.7 | 0 | Avoided Cost | — |
| New Mexico(NM) | B | $2.69 | 14.1 | 5.0 | 11.9 | 2 | Full Retail | — |
| Indiana(IN) | B | $2.60 | 18.2 | 4.5 | 9.9 | 1 | Net Billing | — |
| Georgia(GA) | B | $2.70 | 15.8 | 5.1 | 10.4 | 0 | Net Billing | — |
| Missouri(MO) | B | $2.51 | 13.7 | 4.6 | 12.5 | 1 | Full Retail | — |
| Arkansas(AR) | B | $2.60 | 14.4 | 5.0 | 11.3 | 0 | Net Billing | — |
| Wisconsin(WI) | B | $2.78 | 19.7 | 4.2 | 10.5 | 0 | Net Billing | — |
| Kansas(KS) | B | $2.51 | 15.1 | 4.6 | 11.3 | 1 | Net Billing | — |
| Tennessee(TN) | B | $2.51 | 14.5 | 4.9 | 11.0 | 0 | Avoided Cost | — |
| Kentucky(KY) | B | $2.51 | 15.0 | 4.7 | 11.1 | 0 | Avoided Cost | — |
| Nevada(NV) | B | $2.60 | 13.6 | 4.9 | 12.1 | 1 | Net Billing | — |
| Oregon(OR) | B | $2.88 | 16.3 | 4.0 | 13.8 | 10 | Full Retail | — |
| Oklahoma(OK) | B | $2.60 | 13.4 | 5.0 | 12.1 | 1 | Avoided Cost | — |
| Minnesota(MN) | B | $2.88 | 17.0 | 4.0 | 13.2 | 1 | Full Retail | — |
| Iowa(IA) | B | $2.69 | 14.1 | 4.3 | 13.8 | 1 | Full Retail | — |
| South Dakota(SD) | C | $2.60 | 15.7 | 4.1 | 12.5 | 0 | Avoided Cost | — |
| Utah(UT) | C | $2.60 | 13.0 | 4.4 | 14.2 | 1 | Net Billing | — |
| Wyoming(WY) | C | $2.69 | 14.8 | 4.3 | 13.2 | 0 | Avoided Cost | — |
| Montana(MT) | C | $2.78 | 14.7 | 3.9 | 15.1 | 0 | Full Retail | — |
| Nebraska(NE) | C | $2.60 | 13.6 | 4.4 | 13.5 | 0 | Avoided Cost | — |
| Washington(WA) | C | $2.88 | 15.0 | 3.7 | 16.2 | 1 | Full Retail | — |
| North Dakota(ND) | C | $2.60 | 13.6 | 3.8 | 15.6 | 0 | Avoided Cost | — |
| Idaho(ID) | C | $2.69 | 12.4 | 4.1 | 16.5 | 0 | Avoided Cost | — |
51 of 51 states shown. Missing values shown as "—".
How the state grades are calculated
Every state earns a composite score from 0 to 100 across six weighted metrics: simple payback period (40%), residential electricity rate (20%), specific solar production in kWh/kW/yr (15%), installed cost per watt (10%), net-metering policy quality (10%), and the count of active state and local incentives (5%). The score maps to a letter grade — S for 85 and above, A for 70–84, B for 50–69, C for 30–49, and D below 30. Payback carries the heaviest weight because it is the single number that best reflects whether solar is a sound investment for a typical homeowner — it already folds in the cost, rate, production, and policy signals that matter.
The metrics are not guesses. Cost-per-watt figures derive from our installed-price dataset covering thousands of ZIP codes (refreshed semi-annually). Electricity rates use the EIA's April 2026 residential release, which is months fresher than most public comparison pages still carrying late-2025 numbers. Production values are representative NREL PVWatts V8 yields for each state's geographic centroid. Net-metering policy types come from our quarterly policy tracker, and incentive counts derive from the DSIRE database cross-checked against our internal state program guides. Payback assumes the post-OBBBA reality — the Section 25D residential federal credit expired December 31, 2025, so the numbers reflect ownership economics without federal help, which is the honest baseline for new 2026 buyers.
How to read the table
Start with the grade and the payback column together. A short payback with a B grade or better means solar is broadly competitive in that state — your main job is to confirm your specific roof, orientation, and utility tariff with the ROI Calculator. A C or D grade doesn't mean solar is impossible; it means the central tendency is weak and your personal numbers will determine whether the deal works. The table shows the central tendency; specific homes can deviate meaningfully.
- $ / Watt — installed cost before incentives. Lower is better; the national median sits near $2.70/W.
- Rate ¢/kWh — residential electricity price. Higher is better for solar, because every kWh you generate displaces a pricier bill (national avg 18.4¢).
- Sun hrs/day — peak sun hours; sunnier states clear 5.5+, cloudy ones struggle past 3.5.
- Payback yr — years to break even on an owned system with no federal credit (the honest post-OBBBA baseline).
- Incentives — count of distinct active state/local programs (tax credits, exemptions, rebates, SREC markets, low-income offerings).
- NEM Policy — the export-crediting regime. Full retail is the gold standard; net billing and avoided cost push you toward a battery.
Key findings
Three patterns stand out. First, high electricity rates beat high sun. Hawaii, California, and Connecticut grade at the top not because they are the sunniest (they aren't) but because their utility rates are among the nation's highest — every kWh of self-generation is worth more. Second, net metering is the swing factor for batteries. States on NEM 3.0 or net billing show battery attach rates above 50% because storage is the only way to capture the value of exports; full-retail states sit closer to 30%, where batteries are optional rather than economic necessity. Third, the South is bifurcated: Texas and Florida pair cheap installations with decent sun for solid economics, while states with low rates and no net metering lag despite favorable climates.
If your state is in the B band or higher, the next step is to get real quotes and model your exact roof. If your state sits in the C or D band, focus on the levers you can control — a south-facing unshaded roof, correctly sized system, and a careful look at whether time-of-use rates or a battery can unlock value the headline numbers miss. Either way, start with the ROI Calculator, then surface every federal, state, and utility perk with the Incentive Finder.
Deep-dive state solar guides
The matrix above shows the headline numbers. These long-form guides break down the named utilities, specific incentive programs, net-metering mechanics, and payback modeling for the states where it matters most.
California
NEM 3.0 (net billing) — exports credited at avoided cost (~$0.05–0.08/kWh)
- Cost / W
- $3.05
- 8kW Cost
- $23,920
- Payback
- 5.7 yr
Texas
No statewide mandate — solar buyback plans vary by retail provider (some near 1:1, some avoided-cost only)
- Cost / W
- $2.50
- 8kW Cost
- $19,520
- Payback
- 8.8 yr
Florida
Full 1:1 net metering (retail rate) — currently intact after a 2022 veto of rollback legislation
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,320
- Payback
- 9.2 yr
Arizona
Net billing since 2017 — exports credited at reduced avoided-cost rates set by each utility: APS ≈ $0.0617/kWh, TEP ≈ $0.0513/kWh, UNSE ≈ $0.0612/kWh (through Sep 1, 2026); SRP runs a separate net-billing plan
- Cost / W
- $2.50
- 8kW Cost
- $19,600
- Payback
- 9.9 yr
New York
Value Stack Tariff (VST) — exports compensated via a stack of avoided-cost, capacity, and environmental values
- Cost / W
- $3.10
- 8kW Cost
- $24,320
- Payback
- 7.4 yr
Pennsylvania
Full 1:1 net metering (retail rate) for systems under 50 kW, established by the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act
- Cost / W
- $2.80
- 8kW Cost
- $22,000
- Payback
- 9 yr
Illinois
Full retail net metering for ComEd and Ameren residential customers (with an evolving Smart Inverter tariff)
- Cost / W
- $2.90
- 8kW Cost
- $22,720
- Payback
- 8.8 yr
Ohio
Net metering historically at retail; undergoing PUCO review and utility-driven reforms (2023–2024) shifting some customers toward reduced export compensation
- Cost / W
- $2.80
- 8kW Cost
- $21,920
- Payback
- 9.9 yr
Georgia
No statewide net metering mandate; Georgia Power credits exports at avoided cost (~$0.04–0.06/kWh) via its solar programs
- Cost / W
- $2.70
- 8kW Cost
- $21,120
- Payback
- 10.4 yr
North Carolina
Transitioning — Duke Energy's Net Metering Bridge Rate enrollment window closes December 31, 2026; after that, new solar customers move to a net billing / time-of-use structure with reduced export credits
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,320
- Payback
- 10.9 yr
Michigan
Inflow/Outflow tariff — pays retail for consumption offset, credits exports at a lower avoided-cost 'outflow' rate (replaced 1:1 net metering under PA 342 of 2016)
- Cost / W
- $2.80
- 8kW Cost
- $21,920
- Payback
- 9.2 yr
Maryland
Full 1:1 retail net metering (codified, Public Utilities §7-306) — exports credited at full retail rate with annual true-up; grandfathered for the life of the interconnection
- Cost / W
- $2.90
- 8kW Cost
- $22,720
- Payback
- 9 yr
Colorado
Full retail net metering (1:1 kilowatt-hour credit) — Xcel Energy credits residential exports at the full retail rate with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.80
- 8kW Cost
- $22,000
- Payback
- 12 yr
Alabama
No statewide net metering mandate — Alabama Power offers a reduced Solar Generation Buyback rate (~$0.04–0.06/kWh); TVA territory operates separate dispersed-power programs
- Cost / W
- $2.70
- 8kW Cost
- $21,200
- Payback
- 9.7 yr
Alaska
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 25 kW under Regulatory Commission of Alaska rules
- Cost / W
- $3.00
- 8kW Cost
- $23,520
- Payback
- 9.5 yr
Arkansas
Net metering mandated, but since the 2020 PSC move to net billing exports are credited at each utility's avoided cost (~$0.03–0.05/kWh), well below the retail rate
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,400
- Payback
- 11.3 yr
Connecticut
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for residential systems up to 20 kW under PURA rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $3.10
- 8kW Cost
- $24,320
- Payback
- 8 yr
Delaware
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 25 kW under PSC rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.97
- 8kW Cost
- $23,280
- Payback
- 10.6 yr
District of Columbia
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 1 MW under DC Public Service Commission rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $3.20
- 8kW Cost
- $25,120
- Payback
- 8.6 yr
Hawaii
NEM 3.0-style — traditional net metering ended in 2015; customers enroll in Customer Grid-Supply (reduced export credits) or Customer Self-Supply (no export), making self-consumption and storage central
- Cost / W
- $3.10
- 8kW Cost
- $24,320
- Payback
- 3.1 yr
Idaho
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) mandated under PUC rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.69
- 8kW Cost
- $21,040
- Payback
- 16.5 yr
Indiana
Excess Distributed Generation (EDG) credits at avoided cost (~$0.03–0.05/kWh) — replaced full retail net metering under SEA 309 of 2017
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,320
- Payback
- 9.9 yr
Iowa
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 500 kW under Iowa Utilities Board rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.69
- 8kW Cost
- $21,040
- Payback
- 13.8 yr
Kansas
Net metering mandated, but exports credited at each utility's avoided cost (net billing) — below the full retail rate
- Cost / W
- $2.51
- 8kW Cost
- $19,680
- Payback
- 11.3 yr
Kentucky
Net metering mandated but at a rate set by the PSC — net billing at avoided cost, below the full retail rate (under SB 100 of 2021)
- Cost / W
- $2.51
- 8kW Cost
- $19,680
- Payback
- 11.1 yr
Louisiana
Net billing since 2020 — exports credited at the utility's avoided cost (~$0.03–0.05/kWh), well below the retail rate
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,400
- Payback
- 10.4 yr
Maine
Net energy billing at full retail rate (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 660 kW under PUC rules
- Cost / W
- $3.06
- 8kW Cost
- $24,000
- Payback
- 8.1 yr
Massachusetts
Net metering at close to full retail rate (NEM 1.0) for Class I systems up to 10 kW under DPU rules
- Cost / W
- $3.10
- 8kW Cost
- $24,320
- Payback
- 7.8 yr
Minnesota
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 40 kW under PUC rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.88
- 8kW Cost
- $22,560
- Payback
- 13.2 yr
Mississippi
Net metering mandated but exports credited at the utility's avoided cost (net billing) — below the full retail rate
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,400
- Payback
- 9.3 yr
Missouri
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 100 kW under PSC rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.51
- 8kW Cost
- $19,680
- Payback
- 12.5 yr
Montana
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 50 kW under PSC rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.78
- 8kW Cost
- $21,760
- Payback
- 15.1 yr
Nebraska
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 25 kW, primarily under the state's public power districts
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,320
- Payback
- 13.5 yr
Nevada
Partial net metering / net billing — exports credited at roughly 75% of the retail rate; PUCN approved 15-minute netting and new demand charges for NV Energy Northern Nevada customers effective October 1, 2025, reducing export value
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,320
- Payback
- 12.1 yr
New Hampshire
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 100 kW under PUC rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $3.16
- 8kW Cost
- $24,720
- Payback
- 8.6 yr
New Jersey
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for solar systems under Board of Public Utilities rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.95
- 8kW Cost
- $23,120
- Payback
- 9 yr
New Mexico
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 80 MW under PRC rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.69
- 8kW Cost
- $21,040
- Payback
- 11.9 yr
North Dakota
Net metering mandated but compensated at the utility's avoided cost (net billing) — below the full retail rate
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,320
- Payback
- 15.6 yr
Oklahoma
Net metering mandated but compensated at the utility's avoided cost (net billing) — below the full retail rate
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,400
- Payback
- 12.1 yr
Oregon
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 25 kW under PUC rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.88
- 8kW Cost
- $22,560
- Payback
- 13.8 yr
Rhode Island
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 10 MW under PUC rules (Renewable Energy Growth program), with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $3.25
- 8kW Cost
- $25,520
- Payback
- 8 yr
South Carolina
Net billing since 2021 (Act 62) — transitioned from full retail net metering to a structure with reduced export credits
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,320
- Payback
- 9.8 yr
South Dakota
Net metering mandated but at the utility's avoided cost (net billing) — below the full retail rate
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,320
- Payback
- 12.5 yr
Tennessee
No traditional net metering — most of the state sits in TVA territory, which offers Green Power Providers or Dispersed Power Production programs with reduced buyback rather than retail-rate export credits
- Cost / W
- $2.51
- 8kW Cost
- $19,680
- Payback
- 11 yr
Utah
Net billing — Rocky Mountain Power credits exports at approximately its avoided cost, below the full retail rate; the state's residential transition has reduced export value
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,320
- Payback
- 14.2 yr
Vermont
Group net metering at full retail rate (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 500 kW under PUC rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $3.06
- 8kW Cost
- $24,000
- Payback
- 9.6 yr
Virginia
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 25 kW under SCC rules — the Virginia SCC final order (April 30, 2026) rejected Dominion Energy's proposed NEM 2.0 overhaul, preserving 1:1 retail net metering for Dominion territory (~2/3 of VA customers)
- Cost / W
- $2.80
- 8kW Cost
- $22,000
- Payback
- 10.6 yr
Washington
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 100 kW under UTC rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.88
- 8kW Cost
- $22,560
- Payback
- 16.2 yr
West Virginia
Net metering mandated but credits at the utility's avoided cost (net billing) — below the full retail rate
- Cost / W
- $2.60
- 8kW Cost
- $20,320
- Payback
- 10.2 yr
Wisconsin
Full retail net metering (NEM 1.0) for systems up to 20 kW under PSCW rules, with an annual true-up
- Cost / W
- $2.78
- 8kW Cost
- $21,760
- Payback
- 10.5 yr
Wyoming
Net metering mandated but at the utility's avoided cost (net billing) — below the full retail rate
- Cost / W
- $2.69
- 8kW Cost
- $21,040
- Payback
- 13.2 yr
All 50 states + DC covered
Every state has dedicated per-state data — pick yours in the matrix above, or drill into the payback, cost-per-watt, and solar-worth-it pages covering all 50 states.