Solar power in El Dorado Hills, California
Pacific Gas & Electric offers a net metering program to its solar customers in the El Dorado Hills.
There is also the federal solar tax credit covering a large proportion (26% in 2020, and 22% in 2021) of the total cost. This incentive may be spread over several years and will always cover the set percentage, no matter how large the system.
With PG&E wanting to kill off net metering, and the tax credit set to reduce, don't wait any longer to go solar!
Net Metering Broken Down
Net metering requires PG&E to value each excess kWh exported to the grid the same as another drawn from the grid at a later time e.g. 1,000kWh exported cancels out 1,000kWh drawn.
In Northern California, solar production is excellent and usually more power is exported than imported. In this case each kWh is credited at the retail power rate and may be used to offset future bills up to 1 year later, or be deposited into your account directly.
Sadly the new net metering rules require new solar customers to switch to time of use billing reducing returns by about 10%; however, this is small and with excellent sun exposure as well as equipment becoming cheaper, solar is still a great investment.
The average cost of installing residential solar panels in El Dorado Hills,
California in 2024 is
$2.72 per watt. The average system size
in the US is 6 kilowatts, which means the average price of a solar system
in El Dorado Hills, CA
is $13,600.
(after claiming 26% tax credit and other rebates)
The 26% federal solar tax credit explained
If you have a federal income tax liability, 26% of the cost of your solar system can be claimed as a deduction to your taxes. This incentive is claimed when you do your taxes. In order to receive the tax credit quicker it's best to do your taxes as soon as possible after installation.
What if my tax liability is less than 26% of my systems costThere is the option to claim this incentive over several years if your tax liability is less than 26% of the system cost.
How much will solar panels on my home save me?
The answer to this question depends on your electricity usage. Generally speaking the greater your power usage the greater the potential savings from installing solar.
The average monthly usage in California is only 573kWh per month however, you are most likely using a lot more than this since this average includes condos and small apartments.
The El Dorado Hills solar panel savings calculator below will convert your monthly power spend into power usage (in kWh's) and then work out exactly how many solar panels you need to offset your usage, how much they will cost based on the prices of local solar companies and the amount you will save. Our California solar savings calculator can do this because it contains a database of the electric rates charged by Pacific Gas & Electric Co, Sierra Pacific Power Co
How much can solar panels save you in El Dorado Hills
What does the cost of a real solar system look like?
Facts about installing a 10.84kW solar system in El Dorado Hills, CA
This system would offset 100% of your energy usage if your typical monthly bill is $304, however your situation may vary so try our El Dorado Hills solar calculator to get a result tailored to you.
$20,054
Net cost of system
5 Years
Average payback time
15,327 kWh
Annual power production
5¢/kWh
Levelized cost of solar energy
42¢/kWh
If you don't get solar
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of this 10.84kW system
Life-time savings on this system over the next 25 years
$133,426
(Prices shown after repayments of capital)
126
Solar companies in El Dorado Hills, CA that provide pricing through the SolarEstimate marketplace.
Average total cost of solar panel installation in El Dorado Hills
| System Size |
Cash purchase After 26% solar tax credit |
Financed purchase After 26% solar tax credit |
|---|---|---|
| 3kw | $6,416 | $6,929 |
| 4kw | $8,377 | $9,047 |
| 5kw | $10,286 | $11,109 |
| 6kw | $12,077 | $13,043 |
| 7kw | $13,831 | $14,937 |
| 8kw | $15,451 | $16,687 |
| 9kw | $17,050 | $18,414 |
| 10kw | $18,500 | $19,980 |
Find out what system size you need for your home
Going solar in California
Check out all of the ways energy providers of California can help you be more energy efficient and save money.
The following programs are available:
| Incentive Name | Eligibility | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit | Federal | Personal Tax Credit |
| Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems | State | Property Tax Incentive |
| Sonoma County - Energy Independence Program | Local | PACE Financing |
| NEM 2.0 | State | Net Metering |
Find your local rebates and incentives
Please keep in mind that the best source of up-to-date information on incentives are the solar installers who specialize in your area.
