Solar Payback in Washington
An 8 kW system in Washington pays for itself in roughly 25.0 years — slower than the national average by about 11.2 years.
The 30% federal residential solar credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures after 31 December 2025. Homeowners buying in 2026 receive no federal credit. Businesses are treated differently under Section 48E.
Payback period
25.0 years
51 of 51 states
Net cost, 8 kW
$24,000
No federal credit in 2026
Electricity rate
11.4¢ / kWh
Peak sun hours
3.6 / day
Averages for Washington (2025 averages, reviewed October 2026). Your own bill and roof will differ — use the full calculator to put your numbers in.
Why Washington lands where it does
Electricity in Washington is cheap at 11.4 cents a kilowatt-hour, and that is the problem. Solar competes with what you already pay, so when grid power is inexpensive the savings are small however much sun there is. This is the single biggest reason payback here is long.
At 3.6 peak sun hours a day Washington is on the low side, so systems here need to be larger than a southern equivalent to produce the same amount.
Local and utility incentives are not included above, because they change too often for any published list to stay right. If Washington offers a rebate, enter it in the calculator and the payback will shorten accordingly.