- Savings = energy you use from the kit × your electricity price. Sun and price matter equally.
- An 800 W kit on a balcony railing saves roughly $70-100 a year in cheap-power states and $120-210 in expensive ones; tilted panels earn 40-85% more.
- Hawaii and California top the list, followed by Massachusetts and New York; Utah and the Pacific Northwest trail.
- Mounting and self-consumption can swing results by 40% or more.
Nationwide averages hide huge differences. Here is a state-by-state estimate for a typical setup.
In this article
Assumptions
- 800 W kit, vertical on a south-facing railing. Output from our PVGIS satellite-data runs for a representative city in each state (our 30-city data), reduced by 15% for light shade.
- 75% self-consumption, no credit for exports.
- Approximate 2026 residential electricity prices (they vary by utility and plan).
Estimated savings by state
| State | Est. kWh/yr | Price ($/kWh) | Est. savings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (Honolulu) | ~530 | ~0.53 | ~$210 |
| California (average of 4 cities) | ~690 | ~0.35 | ~$180 |
| Massachusetts (Boston) | ~640 | ~0.30 | ~$140 |
| New York (NYC) | ~620 | ~0.29 | ~$135 |
| New Hampshire / Maine / Vermont | ~580-640 | ~0.24-0.30 | ~$105-140 |
| New Jersey (Newark) | ~630 | ~0.25 | ~$120 |
| Connecticut (Hartford) | ~620 | ~0.24 | ~$115 |
| Maryland (Baltimore) | ~630 | ~0.22 | ~$105 |
| Colorado (Denver) | ~750 | ~0.17 | ~$95 |
| Virginia (Richmond) | ~640 | ~0.17 | ~$85 |
| Utah (Salt Lake City) | ~680 | ~0.13 | ~$70 |
Hawaii shows why mounting matters. The tropical sun is so high that a vertical panel misses much of it: the same kit tilted or flat in Honolulu would save about $430-440 a year with the same shade and self-use.
Our estimates from PVGIS satellite-data runs and EIA’s June 2026 average residential prices, rounded; not a quote. Tilted panels and higher self-consumption give larger figures. Prices vary by month, utility and plan, and your bill, rate plan and placement decide the real number.
How to beat these numbers
- Tilt the panels. A 30° tilt in a yard or on a flat roof adds 40-85% over vertical in most US cities, and more than doubles output in Hawaii.
- Use more of what you make. Run appliances at midday. See self-consumption.
- Avoid shade. Shade guide.
- Check your real price. Divide your total bill by kWh used; delivery charges often push the true price above the headline rate.
Your own estimate
Use the savings calculator with your region, mounting and price. For payback analysis, read is balcony solar worth it?
Worked example: turn the table into your number
- Find your specific yield (for example about 1,370 kWh/kW in Baltimore). Yield table.
- Multiply by your kit size in kW: 0.8 × 1,370 ≈ 1,100 kWh (ideal tilt).
- Apply mounting and shade: vertical in Baltimore 0.67, light shade 0.85 → about 625 kWh.
- Apply self-consumption: 75% → about 470 kWh used at home.
- Multiply by your real price: 470 × $0.22 ≈ $103 a year.
Savings outside the US
| Country | Typical 800 W output (vertical) | Price | Savings at 75% self-use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | ~580 kWh | ~€0.35 | ~€150 |
| UK (southern England) | ~580 kWh | ~£0.25 | ~£110 |
| Netherlands | ~550 kWh | ~€0.28 | ~€115 |
| Spain | ~890 kWh | ~€0.22 | ~€145 |
Rough estimates without shade. Local tariffs vary; see UK savings.
What savings don’t include
- Fixed charges such as standing or customer charges stay the same.
- Replacement costs: a microinverter may need replacing after its warranty period.
- Your time for installation and paperwork.
- Price changes: higher future electricity prices increase savings; lower prices reduce them.
Frequently asked questions
Why do other sites quote much higher savings?
They often assume tilted panels, no shade and near-100% self-consumption. Those conditions exist, but many balconies don’t match them.
Will savings rise over time?
If electricity prices rise, yes. Panel output declines slowly (about 0.3-0.5% a year), which partly offsets that.
Does my bill show the savings?
Your bill shows fewer kWh bought. Compare the same month year over year, since weather and habits change consumption.
Sources
- Electricity rates by state (EIA data, June 2026), Choose Energy.
- Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: average price of electricity by state, U.S. Energy Information Administration.
- PVWatts Calculator, National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL).
- Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS), European Commission, Joint Research Centre.
- Changes to energy price cap between 1 October and 31 December 2026, Ofgem.
- BDEW-Strompreisanalyse, BDEW.
- Photovoltaic degradation rates: an analytical review (Jordan and Kurtz), NREL / National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Sources checked in September 2026. Laws, prices and product details change; if you spot something out of date, tell us.