SolarByCity

Solar Panel Cost & Payback in South Dakota

Home solar in South Dakota pays back in a median 25+ years across the 20 places we cover, at an average electricity price of 14.5¢/kWh and about $3.60 per watt installed. Power sent back to the grid earns only about 3.0¢/kWh (Avoided-cost purchase), which lengthens payback. Sioux Falls has the fastest payback (25+ years).

Solar estimates for South Dakota cities and towns

Sorted by fastest payback. Each figure is for a system sized to an average South Dakota home (994 kWh/month).

PlacekWh per kWSystemCostPayback25-yr savings
Sioux Falls1,4098.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$1,545
Rapid City1,4608.4 kW$30,24025+ yrs−$433
Aberdeen1,3568.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$2,678
Brookings1,3858.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$2,058
Watertown1,3439.2 kW$33,12025+ yrs−$3,091
Mitchell1,4248.4 kW$30,24025+ yrs−$1,168
Yankton1,3968.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$1,823
Pierre1,4208.4 kW$30,24025+ yrs−$1,250
Huron1,3878.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$2,015
Spearfish1,3928.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$1,908
Vermillion1,3698.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$2,400
Brandon1,3678.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$2,443
Box Elder1,4598.4 kW$30,24025+ yrs−$454
Rapid Valley1,4698.4 kW$30,24025+ yrs−$250
Ellsworth Air Force Base1,4598.4 kW$30,24025+ yrs−$454
Madison1,3878.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$2,015
Sturgis1,4188.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$1,352
Belle Fourche1,4158.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$1,416
Harrisburg1,4118.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$1,502
Tea1,3948.8 kW$31,68025+ yrs−$1,866