Solar power in Rancho Cucamonga, California
Both RCMU and Southern California Edison both have a solid net metering plan for its solar customers.
The generous solar system rebate program previously offered by RCMU ended after successfully meeting the City's targets in 2018, with more than 1 Megawatt of solar installed.
However, despite the end of the rebate program, solar remains a very attractive proposition for nearly all home owners in the City of Rancho Cucamonga due to the exceptional levels of sunshine and the relatively high cost of utility power.
Projections of system payback time using the Solar-Estimate Calculator continue to indicate a full cost recovery time of 5-7 years, which is then followed by 20 or more years of virtually free power.
Net Metering Broken Down
Net metering requires your utility to credit you 1 for 1 with each kWh exported to the grid and credit you for the excess after wiping out your nighttime or cloudy day power bill. RCMU's net metering plan is slightly better as it doesn't require customers to switch to time of use billing which reduces returns by about 10%.
The average cost of installing residential solar panels in Rancho Cucamonga,
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 Rancho Cucamonga, 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 Rancho Cucamonga 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 Colton, Southern California Edison Co, Southern California Water Co, City of Rancho Cucamonga, City of Victorville - (CA)
How much can solar panels save you in Rancho Cucamonga
What does the cost of a real solar system look like?
Facts about installing a 7.4kW solar system in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
This system would offset 100% of your energy usage if your typical monthly bill is $226, however your situation may vary so try our Rancho Cucamonga solar calculator to get a result tailored to you.
$14,457
Net cost of system
4 Years 10 Months
Average payback time
11,394 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 7.4kW system
Life-time savings on this system over the next 25 years
$99,843
(Prices shown after repayments of capital)
293
Solar companies in Rancho Cucamonga, CA that provide pricing through the SolarEstimate marketplace.
Average total cost of solar panel installation in Rancho Cucamonga
| 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.
