Solar panels in Augusta, ME
Roofs in Augusta get about 1,270 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 95% of the cities we've measured. Here's what that means in cost, savings and payback, using real rooftop data rather than a national average.
Check your specific roof in Augusta → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Augusta solar system costs
A 26-panel system (10.4 kW) is about right for an average Augusta home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,227 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,454 | $6,384 | $857 | 7.5 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,182 | $9,576 | $1,285 | 7.5 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 6,909 | $12,768 | $1,713 | 7.5 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 8,636 | $15,960 | $2,142 | 7.5 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 11,227 | $20,748 | $2,705 | 7.7 yrs |
Notice that payback barely improves as systems get bigger, and eventually gets worse. That's because you can only save money on electricity you were going to buy anyway. Once a system covers your usage, extra panels mostly generate exports at a much lower rate.
Why Augusta gets 1,270 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Augusta — it already accounts for shading from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings, which is why it's lower than the raw "hours of daylight" figures you'll see elsewhere. An unusually open, unshaded roof in Augusta reaches about 1,428 hours, roughly 12% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,270 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,428 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Maine avg) | 24.8¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Federal tax credit | 30% |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 11 |
| Google imagery from | 2024 |
When Augusta actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 38% of Augusta's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 12% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50 | |
| Feb | 72 | |
| Mar | 101 | |
| Apr | 133 | |
| May | 156 | |
| Jun | 166 | |
| Jul | 161 | |
| Aug | 141 | |
| Sep | 112 | |
| Oct | 80 | |
| Nov | 55 | |
| Dec | 44 |
Augusta produces about 3.8× as much in Jun as in Dec — a normal mid-latitude swing. Expect real winter shortfall and summer surplus rather than steady year-round output.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Augusta's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Augusta compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Augusta | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,270 hrs | 641st |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 11% | 47th most |
| Median roof size | 160 m² | 483rd largest |
| Electricity rate | 24.8¢ | 107th highest |
| Payback | 7.7 yrs | 69th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 445 kg/MWh | 534th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Augusta:
- Shading is a real problem here. Augusta loses 11% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 47th-worst of the 673 cities measured. Panel placement matters more here than in most places, and a roof survey is worth more than a phone quote.
- Dimmer than the rest of Maine. Augusta roofs get 8% less usable sunlight than the typical Maine city we've measured — statewide averages will overstate what you can expect here.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Augusta's 1,270 usable sun hours from other states and provinces. Same sunlight, different electricity prices — which is usually what decides whether solar is worth it.
| City | Sun hrs | Rate | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Albert, AB | 1,270 | 18.1¢ | 15 yrs |
| Brockton, MA | 1,269 | 30.1¢ | 6.3 yrs |
| White Plains, NY | 1,266 | 24.3¢ | 7.8 yrs |
| Richmond, BC | 1,274 | 12.4¢ | 21.3 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Maine → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Augusta solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Augusta?
About 26 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Augusta roofs get 1,270 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 432 kWh annually. A typical Augusta roof fits about 49 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Augusta?
At 24.8¢/kWh and 1,270 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 7.7 years and returns roughly $46,874 over a 25-year panel life. That is a solid return, and it improves further if electricity prices rise. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Augusta?
A 10.4 kW system costs about $29,640 before incentives and $20,748 after the 30% federal tax credit. That works out near $2.85 per watt installed. Roof pitch, shading, electrical panel upgrades and equipment choice move the price most, which is why quotes for the same house can differ by thousands.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Maine electricity rates. Not a quote and not financial advice. Your roof, usage, utility plan and local incentives will change these numbers — get real quotes before buying.