Statewide solar averages hide the utility-specific rules that actually determine whether your system pays for itself in 4 years or loses money for 15. Below is our forensic breakdown of the 12 most critical US metropolitan utility territories—comparing 2026 peak $/kWh tariffs, export credit traps (NEM 3.0, TDU fees, demand charges), and side-by-side battery ROI.
| Metro Area & Utility | Peak Rate (2026) | Net Metering Policy | Direct Battery Payback | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) | $0.65 – $0.82 / kWh Off-Peak: $0.16 – $0.38 / kWh (Super Off-Peak 12am–6am) | NEM 3.0 Net Billing (Battery Mandatory) | ⚡ 4.1 yrs Solar-Only: 14.2 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) | $0.58 – $0.66 / kWh Off-Peak: $0.39 – $0.43 / kWh (Midnight–3pm) | NEM 3.0 Net Billing (Battery Mandatory) | ⚡ 4.5 yrs Solar-Only: 16.5 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
Southern California Edison (SCE) | $0.54 – $0.63 / kWh Off-Peak: $0.24 – $0.27 / kWh (8am–4pm & 9pm–8am) | NEM 3.0 Net Billing (Battery Mandatory) | ⚡ 4.4 yrs Solar-Only: 15.8 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
Consolidated Edison (Con Edison) | $0.34 – $0.44 / kWh Off-Peak: $0.14 – $0.21 / kWh (Overnight TOU Off-Peak) | 1:1 Net Metering + 25% NY Tax Credit | ⚡ 4.8 yrs Solar-Only: 6.4 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
PSEG Long Island | $0.31 – $0.39 / kWh Off-Peak: $0.15 – $0.18 / kWh (Super Off-Peak 10pm–6am) | 1:1 TOD Bucket Net Metering + $5k NY Credit | ⚡ 4.9 yrs Solar-Only: 7.2 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
Arizona Public Service (APS) & Salt River Project (SRP) | $0.21 – $0.34 / kWh (+ Demand Charges) Off-Peak: $0.09 – $0.12 / kWh (APS Super Off-Peak Winter 10am–3pm: ~$0.035/kWh) | Net Billing + Demand Charges (Battery Essential) | ⚡ 4.3 yrs Solar-Only: 11.8 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
NV Energy (Southern Nevada) | $0.15 – $0.43 / kWh (Standard vs Optional TOU) Off-Peak: $0.095 / kWh (Optional TOU Off-Peak) | 75% Retail Net Metering Floor (20-Yr Lock) | ⚡ 4.7 yrs Solar-Only: 8.8 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
CenterPoint Energy (ERCOT Deregulated REPs) | $0.17 – $0.29 / kWh Off-Peak: $0.00 / kWh (Free Nights 9pm–7am) or ~$0.145/kWh | Deregulated Buyback + Hurricane Backup | ⚡ 4.5 yrs Solar-Only: 13.8 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
Oncor Electric Delivery (ERCOT Deregulated REPs) | $0.16 – $0.28 / kWh Off-Peak: $0.00 / kWh (9pm–7am on Free Nights Plans) or ~$0.14/kWh | Deregulated Buyback / Free Nights Arbitrage | ⚡ 4.6 yrs Solar-Only: 13.4 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) | $0.165 – $0.21 / kWh Off-Peak: $0.09 – $0.14 / kWh (ComEd Hourly Pricing) | Upfront Illinois Shines SRECs ($9k–$12k Cash) + $300/kW Rebate | ⚡ 3.9 yrs Solar-Only: 5.8 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
Austin Energy (Municipal Utility) | $0.14 – $0.21 / kWh (4-Tier Progressive Rate) Off-Peak: $0.09 – $0.11 / kWh (Tier 1 Base) | Value of Solar Tariff ($0.0991/kWh) + $2,500 Rebate | ⚡ 5.2 yrs Solar-Only: 10.6 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
Florida Power & Light (FPL) | $0.145 – $0.175 / kWh (Over 1,000 kWh Tier) Off-Peak: $0.135 / kWh (Flat 1:1 Retail Net Metering) | 1:1 Retail Net Metering (10 kW AC Tier 1 Cap) | ⚡ 5.4 yrs Solar-Only: 8.2 yrs | Analyze Rates → |
Select your metropolitan utility zone below to view exact 2026 Time-of-Use windows, monthly fixed charges, local rebate stacking, and 3-way payback math.
Cities: San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Escondido, El Cajon
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) charges the highest electricity rates in continental US ($0.65–$0.82/kWh peak). See why solar + a 14.3kWh battery cuts NEM 3.0 payback from 14 years to 4.1–5.2 years.
Cities: San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Fremont, Santa Rosa, Walnut Creek, Palo Alto
Forensic payback math for San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland homeowners on PG&E E-ELEC: beat $0.64/kWh peak rates, wildfire PSPS blackouts, and $40,000 contractor quotes.
Cities: Irvine, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Long Beach, Santa Clarita, Torrance, Riverside, San Bernardino
Southern California Edison (SCE) NEM 3.0 solar and battery payback guide for LA, Orange County, and Inland Empire homeowners: TOU-D-PRIME math and direct battery savings.
Cities: Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Bronx, Manhattan, Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle
Con Edison solar payback breakdown for NYC (Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Bronx) and Westchester: stack the $5,000 NY State Tax Credit, 30% NYC Property Tax Abatement, and 1:1 net metering.
Cities: Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Huntington, Brookhaven, Islip, Babylon, Smithtown, Southampton
PSEG Long Island solar and home battery audit for Nassau and Suffolk County homeowners: Rate 194 Time-of-Day bucket net metering, $5,000 NY State tax credit, and coastal backup.
Cities: Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise
Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, and Chandler solar payback guide for APS and SRP utilities: beat 4pm–7pm summer AC demand charges, low RCP export rates, and $35,000 solar loan traps.
Cities: Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Arlington, Frisco, McKinney, Irving, Denton, Garland
DFW (Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco) solar payback guide for Oncor territory: why '1:1' Texas buyback plans lose 5.1¢/kWh in Oncor TDU fees and how Free Nights + a 14.3kWh battery wins.
Cities: Houston, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Katy, Pearland, League City, Pasadena, Conroe
Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, and The Woodlands solar & battery guide for CenterPoint territory: beat 5.4¢/kWh TDU fees and keep central AC running during multi-day Gulf hurricane blackouts.
Cities: Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Kyle, San Marcos (Pedernales / Bluebonnet)
Complete Austin Energy Value of Solar Tariff (VOST) payback analysis: understand how the $0.0991/kWh gross generation credit works, claim the $2,500 rebate, and prevent Tier 3–4 bill spikes.
Cities: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Daytona Beach
Florida Power & Light (FPL) solar and hurricane battery audit for Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Southwest FL: 1:1 net metering, the $25 minimum bill, and the 10 kW AC Tier 2 insurance trap.
Cities: Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Enterprise, Paradise
Las Vegas, Henderson, and Summerlin solar and battery payback audit for NV Energy: understand NRS 704.773 75% net metering credits, optional TOU rates, and how to beat $4.20/W quotes.
Cities: Chicago, Naperville, Aurora, Joliet, Evanston, Schaumburg, Oak Lawn, Elgin, Waukegan
Chicago and Northern Illinois (ComEd) solar payback breakdown: claim your $8,500–$12,500 upfront Illinois Shines SREC check, ComEd's $300/kW + $300/kWh smart inverter/battery rebates, and winter math.
Turnkey solar salespeople routinely charge $3.60–$4.80/W by bundling 30% loan dealer fees and $12,000+ battery margins. Buying Tier-1 UL9540 hardware directly—either DIY or hiring a local licensed electrician ($1,500–$2,500)—cuts total cost by 50–65%.
The gold-standard UL9540 all-in-one hybrid system. Pair an 18kW PV input hybrid inverter (200A pass-through) with an indoor/outdoor IP65 14.3kWh LiFePO4 WallMount battery—saving $12,000+ vs turnkey quotes.
Skip the $30,000 contractor quote and 6-month utility interconnection wait. Delivers 7.2kW–21.6kW continuous 120V/240V split-phase output and 5.6kW Solar Input right out of the box—expandable up to 90kWh.
Complete modular 48V architecture combining high-efficiency N-type bifacial panels, a 48V 3,500W–5,000W MPPT inverter-charger, and smart modular LiFePO4 storage at ~$1.15/W hardware cost.
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San Diego (SDG&E) and the San Francisco Bay Area (PG&E) top the nation in 2026, with summer peak Time-of-Use rates reaching $0.62 to $0.82/kWh. Although California's NEM 3.0 cut daytime solar-only export credits by 75% to ~$0.04/kWh, pairing rooftop solar with a factory-direct 14.3kWh–15kWh LFP battery yields a 4.1 to 4.3-year simple payback by arbitraging a $0.55+/kWh daily rate spread.
Among major metro utilities in 2026, true 1:1 retail rate net metering remains available in New York City & Westchester (Con Edison with CBC fee), Long Island (PSEG Long Island), Miami / Tampa / South Florida (FPL Tier 1 under 10kW AC), and Chicago (ComEd 1:1 supply net metering plus Illinois Shines upfront SREC checks).
In Oncor (DFW) and CenterPoint (Houston) territories, Retail Electric Providers (REPs) routinely cap solar buyback credits at wholesale real-time prices ($0.03–$0.09/kWh) and do not credit the $0.052–$0.056/kWh TDU delivery pass-through fee on exported kWh. Storing midday solar in a home battery saves the full $0.18–$0.24/kWh delivered retail rate while providing hurricane and ERCOT grid-outage backup.
Across all 12 metro markets, door-to-door solar installers charge $14,000 to $19,500 per installed 13.5kWh battery and frequently tack on 28%–35% hidden loan dealer fees. Sourcing a UL 9540 certified EG4 PowerPro (14.3kWh + 18kPV hybrid inverter) or EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra directly at wholesale pricing and hiring a local C-10/master electrician saves $8,500 to $14,000 upfront and cuts payback periods in half.