Solar power in Sun City, California
Southern California Edison provides a net metering program to their customers who choose to install solar.
Part of the system costs can be claimed as a deduction to federal taxes under the federal solar tax credit. There is no limit on system size to receive the incentive, and you may elect to use this incentive in increments.
Incentives like these make solar a must have for your home and with SCE and other major utilities fighting to end net metering and incentive programs, the time to go solar is now!
Net Metering Broken Down
The net metering agreement offered by SCE means your utility values unused solar generation sent to the grid at the retail value for power.
Since most homeowners are away from the house during the day and with great sun cover in Sun city a lot of energy is sent to the grid offsetting your bill.
If more energy is sent to the grid than drawn SCE will continue crediting each kWh at their retail value in the form of credit to future bills within the same 12 month cycle. Any remaining credit at the end of the 12 months is deposited into your account.
NEM-2 rules do reduce net metering returns by about 10% by making customers switch to time of use billing to go solar. But since equipment prices are falling and solar irradiation levels being so high in Southern California, solar is still a great investment.
The average cost of installing residential solar panels in Sun City,
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 Sun City, 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 Sun City 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 Anza Electric Coop Inc, Banning City of, City of Riverside, Imperial Irrigation District, Southern California Edison Co, City of Corona DWP, Moreno Valley City of
How much can solar panels save you in Sun City
What does the cost of a real solar system look like?
Facts about installing a 2.08kW solar system in Sun City, CA
This system would offset 100% of your energy usage if your typical monthly bill is $70, however your situation may vary so try our Sun City solar calculator to get a result tailored to you.
$4,525
Net cost of system
4 Years 11 Months
Average payback time
3,333 kWh
Annual power production
5¢/kWh
Levelized cost of solar energy
45¢/kWh
If you don't get solar
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of this 2.08kW system
Life-time savings on this system over the next 25 years
$30,856
(Prices shown after repayments of capital)
213
Solar companies in Sun City, CA that provide pricing through the SolarEstimate marketplace.
Average total cost of solar panel installation in Sun City
| 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.
