Solar Atlas · California
Is solar worth it in Los Angeles, CA?
A 7 kWdc rooftop array in Los Angeles makes about 11,740 kWh a year (NLR PVWatts, modeled) and pays back in 7.0 years at Los Angeles Department of Water & Power’s 27.6¢/kWh residential rate (Aug 2025–Jul 2026), with no federal credit. Exports follow LADWP Net Energy Metering.
34.05°N · 9.7–14.3 h daylight · site signature
- Production
- 1,677 kWh per kWdc per year · capacity factor 19.1% AC
- Residential rate
- 27.6¢/kWh · Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
- Exported solar
- LADWP Net Energy Metering · credited at retail
- Climate
- hot semi-arid (Köppen BSh, bordering Csa) · 18.8 °C mean, 362 mm/yr
Source: NLR PVWatts v8.5.0 (NSRDB PSM V3 GOES tmy-2020 3.2.0) — 1 kW, tilt 20°, azimuth 180°, roof mount, 14% losses · fetched 2026-09-24 · modeled, not metered
Source: EIA-861M utility average · Aug 2025–Jul 2026 · EIA California average Jan–Jul 2026 33.3¢ · utility’s EIA-861 2024 average 23.8¢
Source: LADWP customers on R-1, A-1, A-2 or A-3 with solar PV ≤ 1 MW AC · checked 2026-09-24
Source: NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020, LOS ANGELES DWTN USC CAMPUS, CA US (0.4 km away) · fetched 2026-09-24
No federal credit: the homeowner credit (§25D) ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31. A lease or PPA price may reflect the lessor’s §48E credit. 26 U.S.C. §25D(h) and (e)(8)(A) · policy as of 2026-09-24
Make it your answer
Start from your bill. Everything else is prefilled from this page and can be changed.
Your exact roof, or a business
The payback calculator runs hourly PVWatts at your address. The Modeler opens a grid-tied home at Los Angeles. A business goes to the Quote Studio with the 26.3¢/kWh commercial rate.