Solar Panel Cost & Payback in Tennessee
Home solar in Tennessee pays back in a median 25+ years across the 70 places we cover, at an average electricity price of 13.9¢/kWh and about $3.60 per watt installed. Power sent back to the grid earns only about 2.6¢/kWh (TVA Dispersed Power Production), which lengthens payback. Nashville has the fastest payback (25+ years).
Solar estimates for Tennessee cities and towns
Sorted by fastest payback. Each figure is for a system sized to an average Tennessee home (1,154 kWh/month).
| Place | kWh per kW | System | Cost | Payback | 25-yr savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 1,338 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,810 |
| New South Memphis | 1,435 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$3,381 |
| Memphis | 1,439 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$3,290 |
| Knoxville | 1,345 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,644 |
| Chattanooga | 1,335 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,881 |
| Clarksville | 1,358 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,337 |
| Murfreesboro | 1,362 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,242 |
| East Chattanooga | 1,335 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,881 |
| Franklin | 1,356 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,384 |
| Cordova | 1,443 | 9.6 kW | $34,560 | 25+ yrs | −$3,071 |
| Jackson | 1,368 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,100 |
| Johnson City | 1,330 | 10.8 kW | $38,880 | 25+ yrs | −$6,229 |
| Bartlett | 1,394 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$4,313 |
| Hendersonville | 1,343 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,691 |
| Kingsport | 1,355 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,408 |
| Collierville | 1,399 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$4,200 |
| Smyrna | 1,349 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,550 |
| Cleveland | 1,336 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,857 |
| Brentwood | 1,352 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,479 |
| Germantown | 1,409 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$3,972 |
| Hermitage | 1,369 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,077 |
| Columbia | 1,373 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$4,982 |
| Spring Hill | 1,382 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$4,769 |
| La Vergne | 1,360 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,290 |
| Gallatin | 1,344 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,668 |
| Cookeville | 1,316 | 10.8 kW | $38,880 | 25+ yrs | −$6,573 |
| Mount Juliet | 1,362 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,242 |
| Lebanon | 1,354 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,431 |
| Morristown | 1,347 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,597 |
| Oak Ridge | 1,315 | 10.8 kW | $38,880 | 25+ yrs | −$6,598 |
| Maryville | 1,383 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$4,746 |
| Bristol | 1,354 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,431 |
| Ellendale | 1,409 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$3,972 |
| Farragut | 1,328 | 10.8 kW | $38,880 | 25+ yrs | −$6,279 |
| Shelbyville | 1,397 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$4,245 |
| East Ridge | 1,345 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,644 |
| Tullahoma | 1,383 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$4,746 |
| Goodlettsville | 1,348 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,573 |
| Springfield | 1,376 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$4,911 |
| Dyersburg | 1,383 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$4,746 |
| Sevierville | 1,337 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,833 |
| Dickson | 1,336 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,857 |
| East Brainerd | 1,335 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,881 |
| Greeneville | 1,328 | 10.8 kW | $38,880 | 25+ yrs | −$6,279 |
| Elizabethton | 1,327 | 10.8 kW | $38,880 | 25+ yrs | −$6,303 |
| McMinnville | 1,339 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,786 |
| Athens | 1,318 | 10.8 kW | $38,880 | 25+ yrs | −$6,524 |
| Soddy-Daisy | 1,346 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,620 |
| Middle Valley | 1,348 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,573 |
| Lakeland | 1,395 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$4,290 |
| Portland | 1,369 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,077 |
| Red Bank | 1,342 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,715 |
| Arlington | 1,425 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$3,609 |
| Lewisburg | 1,398 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$4,222 |
| Crossville | 1,292 | 10.8 kW | $38,880 | 25+ yrs | −$7,162 |
| White House | 1,338 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,810 |
| Millington | 1,414 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$3,859 |
| Martin | 1,402 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$4,131 |
| Seymour | 1,357 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,360 |
| Collegedale | 1,338 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,810 |
| Union City | 1,400 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$4,177 |
| Lawrenceburg | 1,355 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,408 |
| Manchester | 1,395 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$4,290 |
| Paris | 1,364 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,195 |
| Clinton | 1,316 | 10.8 kW | $38,880 | 25+ yrs | −$6,573 |
| Bloomingdale | 1,335 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$5,881 |
| Brownsville | 1,410 | 10.0 kW | $36,000 | 25+ yrs | −$3,950 |
| Christiana | 1,374 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$4,959 |
| Chuckey | 1,319 | 10.8 kW | $38,880 | 25+ yrs | −$6,499 |
| Alcoa | 1,383 | 10.4 kW | $37,440 | 25+ yrs | −$4,746 |