Home solar guides

• How many solar panels do I need? Sizing from your electric bill

  A step-by-step way to size a home solar system from your annual kWh, daytime use and local sunshine, with real size-vs-payback tables for four states.

• Is solar still worth it without the 30% federal tax credit?

  The 30% federal solar credit is gone for new systems. We ran payback for every state without it, and compared it with what the credit used to do.

• Net metering vs. net billing: how export credits change payback

  How much your utility pays for exported solar power can add years to payback. We compare full, half and quarter-retail credits in every state.