Is Solar Worth It in Wisconsin? (2024 Homeowner's Guide)

Watch Below: How Well Will Your Solar Panels Still Work When Covered In Snow?

How to Figure Out if Solar Panels are Worth It in Wisconsin

Solar conversion on the right house in Wisconsin will pay for itself and then save tens of thousands of dollars on energy bills, but it can end up causing homeowners to lose money in some cases. Below are the metrics to determine if solar will actually save you money in the long run.

What’s Your Home Electricity Consumption?

The first step to determining your solar viability is to check your average monthly energy consumption. Most homeowners will be able to find this information in the billing history section on their past electric bills. Generally speaking, solar panels are expected to be profitable from a consumption standpoint for homes that use more than 500 kWh per month. Below this threshold means your consumption rate might not yield enough savings for solar to be worth it.

The average Wisconsin homeowner uses around 694 kWh monthly, which means solar will be a good investment for most homeowners in the area. The state’s energy needs are lower than the national average, however, meaning solar will give you the opportunity to save less than residents in most other states.

How Much Is It To Go Solar in Wisconsin?

The average price of solar panels in Wisconsin is around $3.32 per watt. With homeowners usually needing a system size of 7 kilowatts, the average total installation price is approximately $16,268 after the federal tax credit. The per-watt price and the system size requirement are both lower than the national averages, meaning you’ll spend far less than most US residents would on solar in Wisconsin, and your money will go further.

Solar provides the most value in areas where energy consumption or electricity rates are high. The energy needs in Wisconsin are below average, and the price per watt for power is above average. As such, solar provides around the average level of value in the Badger State.

What’s the Payback Period for Solar in Wisconsin?

One massive benefit of going solar is that the system almost always provides enough energy savings to pay for itself. The time it takes for this payoff to occur is called the solar panel payback period. This metric takes several other factors into consideration — including sun exposure on your roof, your system size and price and your monthly energy usage — making it one of the best metrics you can use for solar viability.

The average payback period in Wisconsin is around 11 years, with a standard range of 8 to 14 years. This is below the national average, meaning solar will yield more savings in Wisconsin than in most other states. The longer your payback period is, the lower your return on investment (ROI) will be. If your estimated timeline is longer than 14 years, solar might not be right for you, depending on your financial situation.

What Are Average Buy-Back Rates in Wisconsin?

Many states require electric companies to offer net metering, which is a billing policy that lets solar customers produce more energy than they use with their panels and sell the excess back for a credit on their energy bills. Net metering helps customers pay off their solar panel system more quickly and save more in the long run.

Wisconsin does mandate net metering programs, but the state doesn’t require that the energy companies buy back the electricity at the retail rate. As such, most will use an avoided-cost rate, which is less than what you’d pay for energy from the electric grid. This is still quite helpful, but customers will need to consider installing a solar battery along with their panels if they want the opportunity to eliminate their electric bills.

How Much Sun Does Your Roof Receive?

Solar panels will only save you money if they receive enough sunlight throughout the day to produce energy for your home. The more sun your panels absorb, the more electricity charges you’ll offset and the more you’ll save. Wisconsin as a whole experiences around 188 sunny days per year, which is below the national average of 205. From a sunlight availability perspective, Wisconsin is a bit below average in solar viability.

Of course, you need to assess your home on an individual basis, as not all homes in the state will receive the same amount of sun. For example, you should look for shading on your roof from trees and buildings, especially during peak production hours. Shading will reduce power generation and your solar panels’ value. You will also need to check the direction your roof faces, as south-facing and west-facing roofs are usually the only viable options in the US.

What’s the Outlook on Solar in Wisconsin?

Solar is generally well accepted in Wisconsin, although it currently takes a backseat to the state’s most prevalent renewable energy source: biomass. The majority of Wisconsin’s energy still comes from fossil fuels, including natural gas and coal.³ However, the solar policies in Wisconsin are decent, with some room for improvement, so it’s clear the state as a whole is taking some interest in solar as a clean energy source.

Residential solar installations have increased year over year in Wisconsin for the past decade, and the local solar industry is projected by the SEIA to see better growth than most other states over the next five years. Utility-scale solar has also skyrocketed in the past two years, so a more serious move to solar could mean that it overtakes biomass in terms of energy production in the state.

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Benefits of Solar Energy in Wisconsin

Going solar in Wisconsin means you’ll gain access to numerous benefits that make converting more appealing overall. Below, we’ll discuss some of the most significant upsides to going solar in Wisconsin.

Electricity Bill Savings

For homeowners looking for financial incentives, the savings solar panels provide on monthly energy bills will be the most appealing solar benefit. Solar produces electricity for your home, which reduces the amount you have to pull from the grid and pay for. The average Wisconsinite pays around $117.56 for electricity per month, meaning you could save about $1,410 every year by going solar.

Wisconsin solar panels are expected to pay for themselves in around 11 years. For the remaining 14 years of expected system life, your solar array will save you an average of $28,737, and that’s not including the savings that go toward paying off your system! These numbers are based on current energy rates, so your actual savings could be higher if electricity rates continue to climb.

Lower Taxes & Access to Other Incentives

Solar power is incentivized by both the State of Wisconsin and the federal government, so there are some tax incentives and other upsides to converting. Most important is the federal solar tax credit, also called the ITC. This is a tax credit in the amount of 30% of your total installation expenses that gets credited to your federal income taxes. The ITC averages around $6,972 in Wisconsin.

There are some additional Wisconsin solar incentives available, which we’ll list and explain briefly below:

• Net Metering: Net metering is mandated in Wisconsin and lets you offset your expenses for incoming electricity using overproduction from your panels. Wisconsin’s net metering rates vary, and most are below the retail rate.
• Sales Tax Exemption: In an effort to keep installation fees down, Wisconsin waives sales tax on all solar equipment and installation charges.
• Property Tax Exemption: Solar panels will improve your property value, which would, under normal circumstances, cause your property taxes to increase. To prevent this from keeping residents from installing solar power systems, Wisconsin has a property tax exemption that stops your taxes from increasing as a result of going solar.
• Focus on Energy Program: Many Wisconsin homeowners will also be eligible for this solar rebate program, which provides solar customers with up to $500 for converting to solar.

Home Resale Value Increase

Another massive benefit of going solar in Wisconsin is the bump in home value you’ll experience. According to research conducted by Zillow, the average home will increase by around 4.1% in value when a solar energy system is added.⁴ Given the average home value of $286,787 in Wisconsin, this comes out to a typical value jump of approximately $11,758.⁵ The added value could be even higher if you live in a more expensive area, like Madison or Milwaukee.

This benefit will only be enjoyed by solar customers who choose solar financing options or pay for their systems with cash. A substantial downside to solar leases and power purchase agreements is that they don’t provide an increase in home value.

Clean, Renewable Energy

Wisconsin is a relatively eco-friendly state, so many homeowners will also be drawn to solar for non-financial benefits. For example, converting to solar panels lets you reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, which, in turn, minimizes your contribution to pollution and global warming and reduces your carbon footprint. Solar panels also make you more energy independent, meaning you can avoid relying on your utility company and the price hikes in electricity rates that are expected in the future.

What to Look Out For When Considering Solar in Wisconsin

Determining your solar viability is a great first step to take in your solar journey, but there are many other things you’ll have to think about and decide on before having your panels installed. Below, we’ll discuss some additional considerations you’ll need to make along the way.

Upfront Fees

The upfront fees of solar panels are prohibitively expensive for many homeowners, even in Wisconsin, where the prices are well below the national average. Luckily, there are some things you can do to keep your initial payments to a minimum. Most importantly, you can choose a solar loan that only requires a small down payment or none at all. You can also reduce equipment expenses by choosing a cheap solar panel brand and avoiding add-on products like solar batteries and EV chargers.

Payback Period

As mentioned above, your solar panel payback period is a crucial metric for deciding if solar panels are right for you, but you can also use it to determine your expected ROI. With the average payback period of 11 years in Wisconsin and a normal range of 8 to 14 years, you can see where your ROI falls as compared to other homeowners in your area. If yours is longer than 14 years but under 25, you’ll still save money, but your overall savings will be lower than average.

Net Metering Policies in Wisconsin

Wisconsin mandates net metering from all electric companies, so every solar customer will have access to the program. However, the rate at which you’re compensated for excess energy production and other program specifics can vary among electricity providers. The policy you have usually won’t make or break solar viability, but you should check with your provider before committing. Less favorable net metering programs often require customers to pay more to install a solar battery if they want to eliminate their utility bills.

Pending Policies & Changes to Incentives

The solar industry is still expanding and improving, so changes to policies and incentives could happen at any time. Things may improve — like new solar rebate programs popping up or incentives becoming more beneficial — or change for the worse — in the case of solar incentive programs disappearing or expiring. While it’s not wise to wait for better incentives to come along, you should check for updates and new incentives before signing anything.

Weather & Climate in Wisconsin

Some Wisconsinites will be concerned that the state receives well below the average number of sunny days per year. Cloudy days can limit panel production, but most residents will find that there is plenty of sunshine in Wisconsin to make solar panels a worthwhile investment.

Solar panels are most efficient nearest the equator, where the sunlight is most intense. As such, many Wisconsin residents also worry that the northern location — and specifically the long, cold winters and abundant snowfall — will make solar a poor choice for the area. While the Wisconsin winter will bring reduced panel production, electricity actually travels more quickly in the cold, so you’ll still get decent efficiency. The snow coverage will also limit production temporarily, but it will also naturally keep your panels clean, which can boost production once the snow clears.

Companies Pushing Solar Leases or PPAs

Finally, you need to take some time to decide on the right solar company to handle your home solar project. Generally, it’s best to avoid companies that use marketing tactics like advertising “free panels,” which is really just a solar lease in disguise. Solar leases are much less appealing than they first seem, as they don’t bump up your property value, they don’t let you take advantage of the federal tax credit and they yield far fewer savings over time.

Unfortunately, there are a handful of other scams to be wary of. Local electric companies like Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative have warned customers of installers that over-promise savings and either never deliver a working system or install one that never covers the home’s energy consumption.⁶ WEAU 13 News has also reported on solar scams involving companies that take customers’ money — sometimes tens of thousands of dollars — and never install any panels or return phone calls.⁷ You should always be vigilant, do your research, and only work with reputable and vetted solar installers.

Wrap Up: Is Solar Worth it in Wisconsin?

Most Wisconsin homeowners will see massive returns averaging over $28,000 when converting to solar, and that’s after the solar photovoltaic (PV) system pays for itself. However, not every WI resident will save with solar, so it’s important to calculate your home’s solar viability and your estimated savings before diving into solar panel installation.

Some of the most crucial factors to consider include your monthly energy bills, your total system expense, the net metering policy offered by your electric company, your home’s energy efficiency and more. Given how complicated the process can be, we suggest having a local solar installer assess your home and help figure out if solar is a good option for your home.

See also: Calculate the costs and savings you can get from installing solar panels

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Read More About Going Solar

• What Are the Best Solar Companies in Wisconsin?
• What Solar Incentives Are There in Wisconsin?
• Find Cost Savings on Solar in Wisconsin

The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.