Solar Atlas · California
Is solar worth it in San Diego, CA?
A 7 kWdc rooftop array in San Diego makes about 11,729 kWh a year (NLR PVWatts, modeled) and pays back in 8.4 years at San Diego Gas & Electric Co’s 47.1¢/kWh residential rate (Aug 2025–Jul 2026), with no federal credit. Exports follow Net Billing Tariff ("NEM 3.0"), paid at hourly values not tabulated here, so that payback assumes 4.0¢/kWh; with full retail net metering it would be 4.0 years.
32.72°N · 9.8–14.2 h daylight · site signature
- Production
- 1,676 kWh per kWdc per year · capacity factor 19.1% AC
- Residential rate
- 47.1¢/kWh · San Diego Gas & Electric Co
- Exported solar
- Net Billing Tariff ("NEM 3.0") · 4.03¢/kWh (assumption)
- Climate
- hot semi-arid (Köppen BSh, bordering BSk) · 18.2 °C mean, 249 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 43.6¢
San Diego Gas & Electric Co customers who buy supply from a competitive supplier or community choice aggregator pay delivery plus their supplier’s price; the average shown is the utility’s default (bundled) service.
Source: San Diego Gas & Electric customers applying for interconnection since 2023-04-15 · checked 2026-09-24
Source: NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020, SAN DIEGO LINDBERGH FLD, CA US (2.6 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 San Diego. A business goes to the Quote Studio with the 40.7¢/kWh commercial rate.