About PVFig
PVFig exists because "is solar worth it?" is a question that cannot be answered with a national average. A 6 kW system pays back in roughly 7–8 years in Massachusetts and 18+ years in Idaho — a 2.4× difference driven entirely by where you live.
Generic answers from AI chatbots or national calculators ignore three things that decide your actual payback:
- Your electricity rate — the #1 variable, ranging from 12¢/kWh (Idaho) to 45¢/kWh (Hawaii).
- Your net metering policy — full retail 1:1 vs net billing (NEM 3.0) vs avoided cost changes the math dramatically.
- Your state incentives — tax credits, rebates, and SREC markets that the federal credit's expiration (Dec 31, 2025) made more important than ever.
Who runs PVFig
PVFig is an independent editorial research project run by The PVFig Editorial Team. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any solar manufacturer, installer, utility, or financing company — and we do not sell solar systems. The team is responsible for every page, figure and tool on this site.
What we do
- Compile real, dated, sourced data for all 50 states: EIA electricity rates, NREL PVWatts production, DSIRE incentives, and current net metering policy.
- Turn that data into interactive tools: payback calculators, a state comparison matrix, a reverse calculator that works backwards from your target payback, and an honest go/no-go quiz.
- Make the underlying numbers transparent and verifiable — every figure is dated and linked to its source.
Our approach
Data is compiled from primary sources — EIA electricity rates, NREL PVWatts production estimates, DSIRE incentives, and state net-metering rules — with retrieval dates on every page and figure. Every number is verified against its source before publication; anything unverified is marked as pending or omitted. Full method is documented on the Methodology page, and figures are refreshed on a regular schedule.
How we make money
PVFig is supported by advertising. We do not collect leads, sell your information, or require sign-ups. That means we can be straight with you: when solar is a bad deal in your state, we say so.
Data & corrections
Incentives, SREC prices, and net metering rules change. We update regularly and date every figure. If you spot an error or an outdated figure, contact us and we will correct it with the source.
What we are not
We are not a law firm, a financial adviser, a solar installer, or a tax professional. Where a solar installer or financing provider helps, we point to reputable third-party providers, but we hold no special endorsement from them and our recommendations are never paid for. Figures are estimates, not a quote — always verify current incentives and interconnection rules with your utility and a qualified installer before deciding.