Solar Panel Cost & Payback in Alabama
Home solar in Alabama pays back in a median 25+ years across the 72 places we cover, at an average electricity price of 16.5¢/kWh and about $3.60 per watt installed. Power sent back to the grid earns only about 3.0¢/kWh (Avoided-cost purchase plus capacity reservation charge), which lengthens payback. Huntsville has the fastest payback (25+ years).
Solar estimates for Alabama cities and towns
Sorted by fastest payback. Each figure is for a system sized to an average Alabama home (1,143 kWh/month).
| Place | kWh per kW | System | Cost | Payback | 25-yr savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | 1,376 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$15,197 |
| Birmingham | 1,367 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,057 |
| Montgomery | 1,474 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 25+ yrs | −$12,057 |
| Mobile | 1,485 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 25+ yrs | −$11,773 |
| Tuscaloosa | 1,381 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$15,062 |
| Hoover | 1,369 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,001 |
| Dothan | 1,492 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 25+ yrs | −$11,109 |
| Auburn | 1,415 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,147 |
| Decatur | 1,359 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,280 |
| Madison | 1,393 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,739 |
| Florence | 1,403 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,470 |
| Phenix City | 1,414 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,174 |
| Gadsden | 1,361 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,224 |
| East Florence | 1,403 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,470 |
| Prattville | 1,468 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 25+ yrs | −$12,212 |
| Vestavia Hills | 1,341 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,784 |
| Alabaster | 1,353 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,448 |
| Opelika | 1,401 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,524 |
| Enterprise | 1,432 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 25+ yrs | −$13,142 |
| Bessemer | 1,361 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,224 |
| Homewood | 1,343 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,728 |
| Athens | 1,385 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,955 |
| Daphne | 1,512 | 9.2 kW | $33,120 | 25+ yrs | −$10,614 |
| Northport | 1,381 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$15,062 |
| Dixiana | 1,378 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$15,143 |
| Pelham | 1,362 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,196 |
| Prichard | 1,489 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 25+ yrs | −$11,669 |
| Anniston | 1,352 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,476 |
| Albertville | 1,377 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$15,170 |
| Oxford | 1,355 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,392 |
| Trussville | 1,335 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,952 |
| Mountain Brook | 1,320 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$17,372 |
| Selma | 1,407 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,362 |
| Troy | 1,401 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,524 |
| Fairhope | 1,484 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 25+ yrs | −$11,798 |
| Helena | 1,353 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,448 |
| Tillmans Corner | 1,455 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 25+ yrs | −$12,548 |
| Foley | 1,479 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 25+ yrs | −$11,928 |
| Center Point | 1,362 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,196 |
| Hueytown | 1,376 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$15,197 |
| Talladega | 1,368 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,029 |
| Cullman | 1,379 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$15,116 |
| Millbrook | 1,456 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 25+ yrs | −$12,522 |
| Scottsboro | 1,376 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$15,197 |
| Ozark | 1,428 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$13,797 |
| Alexander City | 1,408 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,335 |
| Hartselle | 1,407 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,362 |
| Fort Payne | 1,353 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,448 |
| Jasper | 1,350 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,532 |
| Saraland | 1,394 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,712 |
| Gardendale | 1,352 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,476 |
| Muscle Shoals | 1,416 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,120 |
| Pell City | 1,348 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,588 |
| Calera | 1,375 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$15,224 |
| Sylacauga | 1,376 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$15,197 |
| Eufaula | 1,406 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,389 |
| Moody | 1,338 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,868 |
| Irondale | 1,337 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,896 |
| Jacksonville | 1,350 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,532 |
| Chelsea | 1,362 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,196 |
| Leeds | 1,374 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$15,251 |
| Gulf Shores | 1,480 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 25+ yrs | −$11,902 |
| Fairfield | 1,355 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,392 |
| Saks | 1,348 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,588 |
| Pleasant Grove | 1,368 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,029 |
| Forestdale | 1,370 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$15,973 |
| Atmore | 1,406 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,389 |
| Russellville | 1,414 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$14,174 |
| Boaz | 1,360 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,252 |
| Clay | 1,354 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,420 |
| Rainbow City | 1,359 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,280 |
| Valley | 1,360 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$16,252 |