Solar Panels in Rawlins, WY: Cost, Payback & Savings
A typical 6.8 kW home solar system in Rawlins costs about $24,480 and pays for itself in about 14.2 years, saving roughly $23,693 over 25 years at Wyoming's average electricity price of 14.0¢/kWh.
Monthly solar production in Rawlins
Estimated output of a 6.8 kW south-facing roof system. Jul is the strongest month (1,163 kWh); Dec the weakest (529 kWh).
Solar production (kWh) Typical home use, 863 kWh/month
Solar payback calculator for Rawlins
Pre-filled with Rawlins's sunshine and Wyoming'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 Rawlins compares
- Each kW of panels here produces about 1,588 kWh a year — 3% more than the Wyoming median and 16% more than the US median city (1,371 kWh).
- Payback ranks #2 of 20 Wyoming 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
Wyoming offers net metering: power you send to the grid is credited at or near the retail price, so every solar kWh is valued at 14.0¢ 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.
Wyoming and local utilities may still offer rebates, performance payments, property-tax or sales-tax exemptions. Search the DSIRE incentives database for Wyoming and ask installers which programs they apply for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it in Rawlins, WY?
For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 14.2 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $23,693. 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 Rawlins, WY?
A home using 863 kWh a month (the Wyoming average) needs about 17 panels of 400 W — a 6.8 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 1,588 to get the kW you need.
How much do solar panels cost in Rawlins, WY?
At 3.60 dollars per watt, a 6.8 kW system costs about $24,480 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.
How much sun does Rawlins get?
Rawlins averages 5.5 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 1,588 kWh a year.
Does Wyoming have net metering?
Yes. Power sent back to the grid is credited at or near the retail price (14.0¢ per kWh on average).
How much does electricity cost in Wyoming?
Residential electricity in Wyoming averages 14.0¢ per kWh, and a typical home uses 863 kWh a month (EIA).
Solar payback in nearby places
- Casper15.0 yrs
- Laramie14.5 yrs
- Rock Springs14.2 yrs
- Riverton14.4 yrs
- Lander14.6 yrs
- Douglas15.1 yrs
- Green River14.3 yrs
- Ranchettes14.4 yrs