Solar power in Poway, California
SDG&E provides a net metering program in Poway making solar a great home investment.
A big part of the total system cost can also be claimed under the federal solar tax credit (can be spread out over time). The tax credit is worth 26% in 2020, before falling to 22% in 2021.
With many incentives set to expire, it's best not to wait.
Net Metering Broken Down
Net metering requires your utility to record how much power your solar system exports to the grid and how much your home draws from the grid.
Power exported to the grid is subtracted by power drawn and that's how much your bill is. Since usually more power is exported than drawn SDG&E will then write you a check at their retail power rate.
With NEM-2 rules, new solar customers must switch to time of use billing which reduces returns by about 10%; however, with amazing sun exposure and equipment prices decreasing solar is still an excellent investment.
With such high amounts of sunshine net metering, will save you a lot of money.
The average cost of installing residential solar panels in Poway,
California in 2025 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 Poway, 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 Poway 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 City of Escondido, Imperial Irrigation District, San Diego Gas & Electric Co, Southern California Edison Co
How much can solar panels save you in Poway
What does the cost of a real solar system look like?
Facts about installing a 7.74kW solar system in Poway, CA
This system would offset 100% of your energy usage if your typical monthly bill is $258, however your situation may vary so try our Poway solar calculator to get a result tailored to you.
$15,064
Net cost of system
4 Years 5 Months
Average payback time
11,639 kWh
Annual power production
5¢/kWh
Levelized cost of solar energy
47¢/kWh
If you don't get solar
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of this 7.74kW system
Life-time savings on this system over the next 25 years
$116,087
(Prices shown after repayments of capital)
277
Solar companies in Poway, CA that provide pricing through the SolarEstimate marketplace.
Average total cost of solar panel installation in Poway
| 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.
