Arizona solar panels guide 2023
Updated August 26, 2022Arizona has some of the greatest solar potential in the United States. The state receives more sun than any other area in the nation, meaning a solar system can produce about 180% more than a system would in places like New York or Massachusetts.
But, it's not all about the sunshine. Policy changes and the reeling back of incentives have caused a hiccup or two for the state's solar industry, but it has thankfully persevered. Regardless of the state-specific changes, Arizona homeowners can still take advantage of the federal solar tax credit and other available incentives to turn that blaring sun into big savings.
On this page:
Solar power prices, savings and payback in your part of Arizona
The average cost for an installed residential solar system in Arizona is currently $11,071 after claiming the 30% federal solar tax credit. This is $2.64 per watt. However, there is some variance in solar prices in different parts of the state. The graph below shows the average cost of installed solar systems in your part of the state.
Showing data for:
Prices based on a 5.8kW system, after 30% federal tax credit
Net profit (savings less system cost)
$25,814-$31,550
Payback period
7.1-8.7 years
Recommended size for the selected utility bill
5.8kW
Solar panel cost calculator
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of a 5.8kW system
Are solar panels worth it in Arizona
Solar panels have fallen in price by more than 80% in the last ten years. In 2022 they also remain subsidized by the 30% federal tax credit and the net metering law, making them an excellent investment. They offer a return well above the long term average return from both the share market and also property investment.
Another way to look at this question is the levelized amount you will pay for each kWh of power you will use over the next 25 years with and without solar panels. As you can see below the savings are significant.
Levelized cost of solar energy
?
Levelized cost per kWh is the cost of the solar system divided by the total number of kWh produced by a solar system over it’s lifetime
4¢ /kWh
If you don't get solar
28¢ /kWh
(forecast avg Arizona electric rates over the next 25 years)
AZ solar panel cost calculator
Arizona solar incentives & tax credits
Federal solar tax credit
The most significant incentive to install solar panels for homes and businesses in Arizona is the federal solar tax credit. Right now, you can get a tax credit equal to 30% of the total costs of your solar installation. Battery storage systems also qualify for the tax credit.
The 30% tax credit is available until the end of 2032. In 2033, the tax credit value will fall to 26% of installation costs. Solar panels installed in 2034 will receive a tax credit equal to 22% of the solar system price before the incentive expires completely in 2035.
Arizona solar energy tax credit
Not only do Arizona residents get to take advantage of the federal tax credit, but they can also receive the state’s solar energy credit. Arizona’s solar energy credit is equal to 25% of the costs of a solar system, up to $1,000. That is a significant amount of savings on your income taxes.
Arizona net billing
Arizona replaced full retail net metering with net billing in 2016. Net billing is similar to net metering, except that excess energy produced by a solar system is not credited at the full retail rate. So, if your system produces more electricity than you use, you will still be compensated for that excess generation, it will just be less than the retail rate. The exact rate varies from utility to utility.
You can check out our complete guide to Arizona's net billing program for more information on how it works and what to expect.
Arizona sales tax exemption
The solar equipment sales tax exemption prevents the state’s sales and uses tax from being applied to solar energy equipment. It also prevents sales tax from being tacked onto renewable energy credits (RECs). The sales tax rate in Arizona is 5.6%, so this exemption saves you from having to spend a considerable amount of money.
Property tax exemption
Normally, installing a solar system on your property would increase property taxes. However, thanks to Arizona’s Energy Equipment Property Tax Exemption, solar systems add no value to your property when it comes to property tax assessments.
Table 2: Available incentive programs
|
Eligibility: Federal incentive
Type: Personal Tax Credit
|
|
Eligibility: State incentive
Type: Net Metering
|
Best unit price
$320.00 ($0.96 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,721.85
($2.53 p/w)
LG335N1K-V5 overview
Rated power
335 watts
Efficiency
19.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$562.50 ($1.50 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,120.18
($2.49 p/w)
LG375A1C-V5 overview
Rated power
375 watts
Efficiency
21.7
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$430.00 ($1.15 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,919.30
($2.65 p/w)
LG375Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
375 watts
Efficiency
21.7
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$473.34 ($1.30 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$13,231.07
($2.59 p/w)
LG365Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
365 watts
Efficiency
21.1
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$432.00 ($1.20 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,276.66
($2.63 p/w)
LG360Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
20.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$530.85 ($1.50 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,386.87
($2.49 p/w)
LG355Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
355 watts
Efficiency
20.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$495.00 ($1.38 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,091.06
($2.60 p/w)
LG360Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
20.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$407.97 ($1.10 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.2kW system
$13,159.30
($2.54 p/w)
LG370Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
370 watts
Efficiency
21.4
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$323.39 ($0.97 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,691.01
($2.53 p/w)
LG335N1C-V5 overview
Rated power
335 watts
Efficiency
19.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$338.19 ($0.99 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$0.00
($0.00 p/w)
LG340N1C-V5 overview
Rated power
340 watts
Efficiency
19.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$600.00 ($1.83 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,808.41
($2.61 p/w)
SPR-E20-327-COM overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$800.00 ($2.22 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,201.67
($2.62 p/w)
SPR-X22-360 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
22.2
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$620.00 ($1.90 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$13,703.10
($2.79 p/w)
SPR-E20-327-D-AC overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$620.00 ($1.90 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$13,610.59
($2.77 p/w)
SPR-E20-327 overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$181.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$11,003.04
($2.16 p/w)
CS6K-300MS overview
Rated power
300 watts
Efficiency
18.33
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$196.11 ($0.65 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$9,948.02
($1.95 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-300M overview
Rated power
300 watts
Efficiency
18.1
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$172.00 ($0.56 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$9,568.53
($1.96 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-305M overview
Rated power
305 watts
Efficiency
18.4
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$165.00 ($0.53 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$9,761.72
($1.97 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-310M overview
Rated power
310 watts
Efficiency
18.7
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$228.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$9,579.65
($1.94 p/w)
LR4-60HPH-380M overview
Rated power
380 watts
Efficiency
20.9
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$234.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$10,126.74
($2.00 p/w)
LR6-72HBD-390M overview
Rated power
390 watts
Efficiency
19.4
Number of Cells
144
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Average cost of solar panel installation in Arizona by system size
System size* |
Cash purchase(After tax credit) |
Financed purchase(After tax credit) |
|---|---|---|
| 4kW | $11,712 | $12,532 |
| 5kW | $14,080 | $15,066 |
| 6kW | $15,816 | $16,923 |
| 7kW | $18,284 | $19,564 |
| 8kW | $21,248 | $22,735 |
| 9kW | $23,076 | $24,691 |
| 10kW | $25,360 | $27,135 |
Best solar companies in the main cities of Arizona
Home solar basics
Is it better to lease or buy solar panels in Arizona
You will save most money by buying your solar system rather than leasing it. Read more about the pros and cons of leasing vs buying solar.
How long do solar panels last?
Minimum of 25 years but generally 30 or more
How do solar panels work on a home?
Solar panels power your house when they can but your home uses the utility company for power at other times. In 2023 "solar systems with battery storage" are becoming more popular. These are known as hybrid systems.
How do solar panels work?
Grid-tied solar system
A grid-tied system is the most common type of solar system. It has no solar battery for backup power and utilizes net metering to maximize savings. Solar panels are mounted on your roof then wired together, and the power generated flows into an inverter where direct current (DC) electricity is converted into alternating current (AC) electricity. This electricity is either used by your home or is exported to the utility grid.
Hybrid solar system
In hybrid solar systems, rooftop solar panels are connected to both a solar battery and the electric grid. The solar electricity generated by your panels that your home does not use is stored in the battery instead of being sent to the grid, which reduces your reliance on the utility while also providing backup power when needed. Battery storage is still expensive but you may be able to reduce costs by using state incentives.
Off-grid solar system
Off-grid solar systems are not connected to the grid at all, so all of your energy needs must be met by the sun. There is no utility to fall back on. The solar installation needs to power your home not only during the day, but after dark as well, so many solar panels and a large battery system are required. These systems are often expensive and don’t make sense for homes that have access to the grid.
Read more about types of home solar systems.
Do solar panels require regular maintenance?
No, but cleaning them can improve power generation if they are dirty.
Will residential solar power system cost fall in Arizona in 2023?
Given this environment, and the effect of import tariffs placed on solar panels by the Trump administration during 2018, it is hard to see that solar power system prices in Arizona will fall during 2023.
How much electricity do solar panel systems generate in Arizona?
Depending on the location, solar panels will generate different amounts of electricity.
A solar system that is installed on a south-facing 23.5-degree pitch roof Arizona will generate 1,752kWh of peak DC (direct current) capacity per year per 1kW in the Phoenix area.
Enter your details into the solar panel calculator to see how your location, roof tilt, and roof direction impacts solar panel production.
What are the pros and cons of installing solar panels in Arizona?
What's great about going solar in Arizona is that you can take advantage of both the federal and the state tax credits. In addition to these incentives, Arizona receives the most sun in the U.S., so you don't need to buy as many panels to wipe out your electricity bill.
Unfortunately, though, utilities in the state don't offer full retail net metering, so savings are a bit lower than you might see in other states. It's not all bad though, despite the three major utilities in Arizona buying excess solar energy for a lower rate, it's not too much lower than the retail cost of electricity. But, over time the excess generation credit rate will get lower, so consider going solar sooner rather than later to get the most value out of your solar energy.
Enter your details to calculate the cost and savings you are likely to get from installing solar panels for your home.
What you can learn from our state solar panel calculator
This solar calculator requires you to input your address, utility company, your average monthly power spend - it tells you:
- What size solar system do you need?
- Answers the question of How many solar panels do I need?
- How many square feet of roof space you need for solar panels
- Solar electricity production in annual kWh (kilowatt-hours) you can expect from your solar system in Arizona
- The value of solar tax credits and other incentives you are entitled to based on the estimated size of system you need, your location and your utility provider.
- Likely cost based on an average of prices charged for solar systems of that size in the last year in Arizona or
- The likely payback period on your solar panels and your investment return.
- Your total lifetime solar savings based on each of the major solar finance options, a cash purchase, a cash purchase funded with a HELOC (home equity line of credit) and a zero-down PPA or third party lease product.
If you want to see all of the above but also see live pricing, the three best solar deals available in your city and get binding quotes from each of these solar companies then use this Arizona solar panels calculator. This calculator requires you to also input your name and contact details because most of our 200+ installer partners will only authorize the sharing of their live solar pricing where we have validated that you are a real homeowner with a home in their service area. We respect the privacy of your data and only share your contact details with the solar companies you ask us to get binding quotes from.
Note: Please keep in mind that the best source of up-to-date information on incentives are the solar installers who specialize in your area.
