Adding solar panels and switching rate plans can lower your Seattle City Light electric bill
Updated: October 22, 2020Installing solar panels can help reduce your SCL bill, thanks to Florida’s sunshine and the company’s net metering program! Combined with the 30% solar tax credit, KUA customers can see great savings when they switch to solar!
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Solar panel cost calculator
Are solar panels worth it for Seattle City Light customers?
Probably not. Washingtonians enjoy extremely low electricity prices because of the state's vast hydroelectric generation resources. This is very good for your pocketbook as a utility customer, but it means that solar panels pay you back much less here than they do for people in other states. Add to that the fact the King County is awfully cloudy during much of the year, and you get an equation that doesn't add up.
Does Seattle City Light offer net metering credits for exported solar power?
Yes, Seattle City Light offers net metering credits.
Under the Seattle City Light net metering program, solar panels will first send energy to your home. Any excess solar energy is sent to the grid and purchased in the form of a bill credit. The credit value is determined by the Tri-Party Net Metering Power Purchase Agreement. KUA customers are billed for all of the electric energy delivered to them by the company.
Excess generation credits expire on April 30th of each year.
What incentives, tax credits, and rebates are available to SCL customers for installing solar?
The biggest financial incentive for solar homeowners is the 30% federal solar tax credit. The tax credit equals 30% of the solar installation costs and directly reduces your federal income tax liability.
Some states and local governments offer additional solar incentives. These incentives include state tax credits, rebates, or performance-based incentives like Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs). The best part is that these local incentives can be used in addition to the federal tax credit!
Here is every incentive you may be eligible for as a SCL customer:
Table 1: Incentives
| Upfront Incentives | Value* |
|---|---|
| Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit (Federal) | -$9,900 |
|
Renewable Energy Sales and Use Tax Exemption
(State)
Sales and use tax not applied to machinery/equipment used to generate at least 1 kW but no more than 100 kW of electricity with solar energy. |
Varies |
|
Net Metering
(State)
All utilities must offer net metering, credited at retail rate and carried over month-to-month. Excess credits surrendered to utility on April 30 of each calendar year. |
Varies |
| TOTAL | -$9,900 |
*Based on 12.78 kW system, average installation cost $33,000
How much does installing solar panels save the average Seattle City Light residential customer?
If you input the details for a SCL customer with a power bill of $140 per month into the best online solar panels calculator, it tells you that you need a 12.78 kW solar system that will produce 14,072 kWh per year and that this system will return the owner a $36,243 profit after repaying the cost of the system.
The solar savings possible for you as a SCL customer will depend on the amount of electricity you use and the cost of the solar system you buy. Savings also vary based on the direction of your roof or any shading of your roof that affects output.
Here is a monthly and lifetime solar savings estimate for the same relatively typical SCL customer with a $140 per month electric bill prior to solar and who installs a 12.78 kW solar system.
How much do residential solar panels cost for SCL customers?
Showing data for:
Prices based on a 11.9kW system, after 30% federal tax credit
Solar prices near you
Net profit (savings less system cost)
$29,903-$36,548
Payback period
10.7-13.1 years
Recommended size for the selected utility bill
11.9kW
Solar panel cost calculator
Detailed information about your estimate
Table 2: Estimate details
|
System Size (for 100% usage offset) 12.78 kW |
|
Annual Power Generation 14,072 kWh |
|
Pay-back time (assuming Cash purchase) 12.4 Years |
|
Internal Rate of Return (IRR) on Investment 1% |
|
Gross cost $33,000 |
|
Total Upfront Incentives and Rebates -$8,579 |
|
Net Cost of System after rebates and incentives $24,418 |
|
Total Cost of Utility Power Avoided over 25 years $60,661 |
Please note that the investment return figures do not include the possible increase in property value.
What are the environmental impacts of Seattle City Light customers installing solar panels?
While most homeowners decide to install solar panels because of financial savings over time, the environmental impacts of this choice are the primary motive for others. Here is a breakdown of the environmental benefits from a Seattle City Light customer installing a 12.78 kW solar system on their property:
A solar system generating 14,072 kWh per year will save you money AND make the world a nicer place
Saves you
$1,450
on average per year
Reduces CO2 emissions
6.97
tons per year
Equivalent to planting
49 trees
per year
Equivalent to driving
15,409 mi
less per year
CO2 emissions calculation based on the electricity generation and emissions data for your state in 2015 as published by the US Government Energy Information Administration.
What factors affect the price of solar panels for Seattle City Light customers?
The cost of installing solar panels will vary with brands of solar panels and inverters you choose and also the installation company you choose to install them.
It is common to see really good systems, using quality brands of equipment, being sold for around $2.58 per watt or $24,418 for a standard 12.78 kW solar system after the customer claims the 30% federal solar tax credit.