Solar Panels in Ketchikan, AK: Cost, Payback & Savings
A typical 9.6 kW home solar system in Ketchikan costs about $34,560 and pays for itself in about 15.7 years, saving roughly $26,235 over 25 years at Alaska's average electricity price of 27.1¢/kWh.
Monthly solar production in Ketchikan
Estimated output of a 9.6 kW south-facing roof system. Jun is the strongest month (1,055 kWh); Dec the weakest (138 kWh).
Solar production (kWh) Typical home use, 578 kWh/month
Solar payback calculator for Ketchikan
Pre-filled with Ketchikan's sunshine and Alaska's average electricity price. Enter your own bill and an installer's price per watt to see your payback.
Leave export credit blank where the utility offers full net metering. Where exports earn less, solar used at home as it's produced is worth the full price and the rest earns the export credit.
How Ketchikan compares
- Each kW of panels here produces about 731 kWh a year — 21% less than the Alaska median and 47% less than the US median city (1,371 kWh).
- Payback ranks #19 of 20 Alaska places we cover.
- Sunshine varies little across a state; electricity price, installed cost and how utilities credit exported power drive most of the difference between states.
Net metering, tax credits and incentives in 2026
Alaska offers net metering: power you send to the grid is credited at or near the retail price, so every solar kWh is valued at 27.1¢ here.
There is no federal tax credit for buying home solar installed in 2026. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so the costs and paybacks on this page include no federal credit.
Alaska and local utilities may still offer rebates, performance payments, property-tax or sales-tax exemptions. Search the DSIRE incentives database for Alaska and ask installers which programs they apply for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it in Ketchikan, AK?
For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 15.7 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $26,235. Verdict: slow payback. Your own payback depends on your roof, your bill and the quotes you get.
How many solar panels do I need in Ketchikan, AK?
A home using 578 kWh a month (the Alaska average) needs about 24 panels of 400 W — a 9.6 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 731 to get the kW you need.
How much do solar panels cost in Ketchikan, AK?
At 3.60 dollars per watt, a 9.6 kW system costs about $34,560 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.
How much sun does Ketchikan get?
Ketchikan averages 2.6 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 731 kWh a year.
Does Alaska have net metering?
Yes. Power sent back to the grid is credited at or near the retail price (27.1¢ per kWh on average).
How much does electricity cost in Alaska?
Residential electricity in Alaska averages 27.1¢ per kWh, and a typical home uses 578 kWh a month (EIA).
Solar payback in nearby places
- Sitka15.7 yrs
- Juneau16.4 yrs
- Palmer12.9 yrs
- Eagle River12.5 yrs
- Elmendorf Air Force Base12.7 yrs
- Lakes12.7 yrs
- Wasilla12.8 yrs
- Tanaina12.7 yrs