How to Read Your Electricity Bill: Find kWh, Rate & Solar Potential
Your electric bill hides the two numbers that decide if solar pays: monthly kWh and rate in ¢/kWh. Here is exactly where to find them and how to use them.
By The PVFig Editorial Team · 2026-08-10 · reviewed against EIA, NREL and DSIRE sources
The two numbers that matter
Every US residential bill shows monthly kWh usage and a rate structure in ¢/kWh. kWh tells you how big a system you need; the rate tells you how much each produced kWh is worth. Together they drive 80% of your solar payback math.
Where to look
Look for "electric usage", "kWh", or "meter reading" on page one — often a bar chart of the last 12 months. The rate is usually under "electric delivery" or "energy charge" as ¢/kWh. If you have time-of-use rates, note peak vs off-peak prices.
What to do with the numbers
Plug your monthly kWh into the PVFig system size calculator and your rate into the ROI calculator. The average US home uses ~875 kWh/month at ~18.1¢/kWh (EIA 2026) — compare yours to see if you are a good solar candidate.
FAQ
Where do I find my electricity rate?
On your bill under energy/delivery charges, shown in ¢/kWh. It varies by state, utility, and time-of-use plan.
How many kWh does the average home use?
About 875 kWh per month in the US (EIA), or roughly 10,500 kWh per year.
What is a good electricity rate for solar?
Above ~20¢/kWh makes solar economics attractive in most states; below ~13¢/kWh payback stretches past 15 years unless you self-consume heavily.
Ready to compare real installer quotes?
The estimates above are based on public data — your actual price depends on your roof, installer, and market. EnergySage collects quotes from pre-screened installers in one place (free, no obligation).
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Sources
- U.S. EIA — electricity rates by state, eia.gov/electricity/monthly
- NREL PVWatts v8 — solar production by location, pvwatts.nrel.gov
- DSIRE — state incentives and net metering, dsireusa.org
- See how every figure on this page is calculated — PVFig methodology.
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