Solar panels in Bishop, CA
Roofs in Bishop get about 1,973 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 94% 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 Bishop → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Bishop solar system costs
A 17-panel system (6.8 kW) is about right for an average Bishop home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,404 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 5,367 | $6,384 | $1,278 | 5 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 8,050 | $9,576 | $1,446 | 6.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 10,733 | $12,768 | $1,613 | 7.9 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 13,416 | $15,960 | $1,781 | 9 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 17,441 | $20,748 | $2,032 | 10.2 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 Bishop gets 1,973 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Bishop — 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 Bishop reaches about 2,077 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,973 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 2,077 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (California avg) | 31.2¢/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 | 33% |
| Paid for exported power | 20% of retail |
| Rooftops sampled here | 14 |
| Google imagery from | 2019 |
When Bishop actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 35% of Bishop's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 14% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 95 | |
| Feb | 124 | |
| Mar | 161 | |
| Apr | 199 | |
| May | 225 | |
| Jun | 235 | |
| Jul | 229 | |
| Aug | 208 | |
| Sep | 174 | |
| Oct | 135 | |
| Nov | 102 | |
| Dec | 87 |
Bishop produces about 2.7× 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 Bishop's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Bishop compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Bishop | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,973 hrs | 39th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 5% | 356th most |
| Median roof size | 96 m² | 641st largest |
| Electricity rate | 31.2¢ | 70th highest |
| Payback | 8.2 yrs | 114th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 429 kg/MWh | 606th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Bishop:
- Small roofs. The median Bishop roof is 96 m², smaller than 95% of cities measured — worth checking your own footprint before assuming a standard system fits.
- The case here is financial, not environmental. Bishop's grid is already clean at 429 kg CO₂ per MWh, so the carbon saving from solar is modest. Judge this one on payback.
- Expensive electricity works in your favour. At 31.2¢/kWh, California is among the priciest places to buy power — which is exactly what makes generating your own pay back faster.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Bishop dates from 2019. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Bishop's 1,973 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | 1,977 | 14.8¢ | 8.4 yrs |
| Durango, CO | 1,978 | 14.8¢ | 8.4 yrs |
| Moab, UT | 1,967 | 11.2¢ | 11.1 yrs |
| Rio Rancho, NM | 1,965 | 14.8¢ | 8.4 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of California → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Bishop solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Bishop?
About 17 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Bishop roofs get 1,973 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 671 kWh annually. A typical Bishop roof fits about 31 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Bishop?
At 31.2¢/kWh and 1,973 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.2 years and returns roughly $27,811 over a 25-year panel life. That is a solid return, and it improves further if electricity prices rise. Exports earn only 20% of retail, so using power as you generate it matters.
How much do solar panels cost in Bishop?
A 6.8 kW system costs about $19,380 before incentives and $13,566 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 California 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.