Disclaimer

Last updated: 2026-05-12.

Estimates, not guarantees

Every number generated by this site — annual production in kWh, year-one bill savings in dollars, payback period in years, lifetime savings — is a modeled estimate. It is not a quote, not a binding offer, not a guarantee, and not a prediction of what your specific household will actually experience. Real-world results will vary, sometimes by 20% or more, based on factors the site does not capture.

Factors the model does not fully account for

• Roof shading from trees, neighboring structures, chimneys, or vents.
• Roof pitch, azimuth (compass direction), and condition.
• Local microclimate effects (coastal fog, persistent overcast, snowfall accumulation).
• Panel manufacturer, inverter manufacturer, and balance-of-system component selection.
• Local labor rates, permitting fees, and HOA or AHJ requirements.
• Your specific utility rate plan, including time-of-use scheduling, tiered pricing, and demand charges.
• The specific export compensation tariff your utility applies to your account on your install date.
• Future changes to electricity rates, fuel costs, federal and state tax law, and utility tariffs.
• Eligibility for state and local incentives, which often depends on income, geography, system characteristics, and timing.

The federal solar tax credit

The Section 25D Residential Clean Energy Credit (the 30% federal solar tax credit) expired for residential systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. This site does not apply the federal credit to its 2026 calculations. Other calculators that still apply it are out of date. The Section 48E commercial credit follows a different schedule and is not modeled here.

Get a real quote before deciding

Before purchasing or financing a solar system, get itemized quotes from at least two or three licensed local installers, request a written production estimate based on your specific roof, confirm your utility's new-customer net-metering or net-billing tariff in writing, and consult a tax professional about your eligibility for any state credits or incentives that this site references. Do not make a purchase decision based on numbers from this site alone.

No relationship with installers

This site does not collect leads, does not sell your information to installers, and is not affiliated with any solar installation company. We are not paid for referrals. The site is supported solely by display advertising, kept conservative in placement.

Data accuracy

We refresh state electricity rates quarterly from the EIA Electric Power Monthly report, and review state-level incentive information against DSIRE periodically. Data can become outdated between refreshes — utility commissions issue tariff orders, legislatures pass and amend incentive laws, and we may not catch every change immediately. If you find an error, please contact us.

No warranties

The site is provided "as is." We make no warranties, express or implied, about the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose of any information on the site. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any decision, action, or outcome resulting from your reliance on information shown here. See our Terms of Use for the full limitation of liability.