US: is home solar worth it?
A typical 6kW residential system — compiled August 2026.
Typical 6kW system, installed cost
$18,000
Payback estimate
~45 years
Estimated simple payback: $18,000 system cost ÷ ~$400/year export income at 4,000 kWh exported/year via Net metering credit ($0.1/kWh)
No federal tax credit for 2026 — the 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit expired 31 Dec 2025. Source: NREL/installer average cost-per-watt 2026; representative net-metering credit — varies hugely by state (5-30c/kWh)
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System cost, export rate and payback vary by installer, roof orientation, and your own usage pattern — this is a typical-scenario estimate, not a quote. This is not financial advice.