Tip
Is solar right for your home?
Quick yes/no checklist
- ✅ Roof orientation: south-facing is best; east or west is OK; north is poor
- ✅ Roof age: < 10 years OR you plan to replace it before solar install
- ✅ Shading: minimal shade between 9 AM-3 PM
- ✅ Roof pitch: 15-40 degrees; flat roofs need racking systems
- ✅ Electric usage: > 600 kWh/month average (smaller usage has longer payback)
- ✅ Net metering: available in your state at retail rate or near-retail
- ✅ Federal tax liability: enough to claim 30% credit (or carry forward)
Roof orientation impact (in same climate)
| Orientation | Annual production vs south |
|---|---|
| South | 100% (baseline) |
| SE / SW | ~95% |
| East / West | ~80% |
| North | ~40-50% |
Net metering rules drive payback more than panel cost
A 6-year payback in MN becomes 12-year in CA NEM 3.0 with the same equipment. Always check your state's current net-metering or net-billing rules before committing.
Battery — when it makes sense
- States with net-billing rules (CA, HI, AZ post-2017): essential for self-consumption
- Time-of-use rate plans where peak rates > 2x off-peak
- Frequent grid outages (resilience value)
- Areas without net metering at all
Federal stack
25D Residential Clean Energy Credit: 30% of total system cost, no cap, runs through 2032 (steps down 2033, 2034). Stacks with state programs and net-metering revenue. Cannot stack with the commercial ITC (different program, different rules).