Solar panels in California: savings by city
California’s average residential electricity price for January to August 2026 was 32.58¢ per kWh, 14.39¢ above the US average of 18.19¢ (EIA).
Panels in the 91 cities we cover here produce an average of 1,691 kWh per kW a year, 11% more than the average of the 400 US cities in our data (1,517 kWh). San Diego gets the most sun of the cities listed below (1,742 kWh per kW) and Los Angeles the least (1,707 kWh). For an average US home, that is the difference between a 6.2 kW and a 6.3 kW system to cover a year’s use.
At this price, a system that covers an average US home’s use (10,788 kWh a year) saves about $3,515 in its first year anywhere in California. Sunnier cities need a smaller system to do it, so it costs less at any price per watt.
Cities in California
| City | kWh per kW a year | System size |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego | 1,742 | 6.2 kW |
| Los Angeles | 1,707 | 6.3 kW |
Each row is a home using the US average amount of electricity, with a system sized to cover it, at 32.58¢ per kWh. Enter your installer’s quote on any city page to see payback.
Sources
Electricity price: www.eia.gov (checked 2026-11-11). California, residential sector, year-to-date through August 2026. Published as 32.58 cents per kilowatthour.
Solar output: PVWatts V8 for each place; each place’s page links its own request. Methodology