What’s it cost to install solar in California

As residential solar continues its explosive growth in California, homeowners considering solar confront a persistent question: How much does solar actually cost?

To help homeowners navigate the confusing home solar market, Solar to the People, a solar information website, has released a study detailing the average cost of solar in regions across California.

According to this study, the average cost of installing solar in California in 2015, after incentives, is as follows:

1) Central Coast – $16,212
2) San Francisco Bay Area – $17,038
3) North Coast – $17,451
4) Los Angeles / Ventura Counties – $18,040
5) Sonoma / Napa / Solano Counties – $18,240
6) San Diego County – $18,540
7) Orange County – $18,866
8) San Bernardino / Inland Empire – $19,115
9) Sacramento – $19,302
10) Central Sierra – $19,700
11) Central Valley – $20,612
12) Redding and Shasta / Cascades – $20,698

State Average – $18,675

RELATED: Another solar win: California keeps net metering rates 

Key study findings:

– The average cost of purchasing home solar in California in 2015 was $18,675, after incentives.

– This average cost equates to $3,395 / kW installed, after incentives.

– The average size of home installations across the state in 2015 was 5.5 kW.

– Despite paying the most for solar overall, the Redding and Shasta / Cascades area paid the lowest per kW installed, at $3,178 / kW, after incentives.

– Interestingly, this trend was reversed for the Central Coast – which despite being the area with the lowest average cost of going solar paid the highest cost per kW installed, at $3,712 / kW, after incentives.

This study aims to provide transparency for California homeowners who are considering making the switch, by helping shed light on the average cost of solar in their region. The study also looks at average size and cost per installed kilowatt (kW) of residential solar.

Data was obtained from the new net energy metering interconnection data set published by the California Solar Statistics website, the official reporting site for the California Solar Initiative.

— Solar Builder magazine

[source: http://solarbuildermag.com/news/whats-it-cost-to-install-solar-in-california/]