Solar panels in Washington: savings by city
Washington’s average residential electricity price for January to August 2026 was 14.42¢ per kWh, 3.77¢ below the US average of 18.19¢ (EIA).
Panels in the 13 cities we cover here produce an average of 1,150 kWh per kW a year, 24% less than the average of the 400 US cities in our data (1,517 kWh).
At this price, a system that covers an average US home’s use (10,788 kWh a year) saves about $1,556 in its first year anywhere in Washington. Sunnier cities need a smaller system to do it, so it costs less at any price per watt.
Cities in Washington
| City | kWh per kW a year | System size |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 1,115 | 9.7 kW |
Each row is a home using the US average amount of electricity, with a system sized to cover it, at 14.42¢ per kWh. Enter your installer’s quote on any city page to see payback.
Sources
Electricity price: www.eia.gov (checked 2026-11-11). Washington, residential sector, year-to-date through August 2026. Published as 14.42 cents per kilowatthour.
Solar output: PVWatts V8 for each place; each place’s page links its own request. Methodology