Solar panels in Chico, CA
Roofs in Chico get about 1,807 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 81% 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 Chico → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Chico solar system costs
A 18-panel system (7.2 kW) is about right for an average Chico home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,059 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,915 | $6,384 | $1,250 | 5.1 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,373 | $9,576 | $1,404 | 6.8 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,830 | $12,768 | $1,557 | 8.2 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 12,288 | $15,960 | $1,710 | 9.3 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 15,974 | $20,748 | $1,940 | 10.7 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 Chico gets 1,807 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Chico — 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 Chico reaches about 1,846 hours, roughly 2% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,807 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,846 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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | 20% of retail |
| Rooftops sampled here | 10 |
| Google imagery from | 2024 |
When Chico actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Chico's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 82 | |
| Feb | 110 | |
| Mar | 146 | |
| Apr | 184 | |
| May | 211 | |
| Jun | 222 | |
| Jul | 216 | |
| Aug | 194 | |
| Sep | 160 | |
| Oct | 120 | |
| Nov | 88 | |
| Dec | 74 |
Chico produces about 3.0× 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 Chico's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Chico compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Chico | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,807 hrs | 130th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 2% | 613th most |
| Median roof size | 301 m² | 118th largest |
| Electricity rate | 31.2¢ | 68th highest |
| Payback | 8.8 yrs | 218th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 429 kg/MWh | 604th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Chico:
- Unusually open roofs. Only 2% of available sunlight is lost to obstruction in Chico — better than all but 60 of the 673 cities measured. Most roofs here get close to their theoretical maximum.
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 85 panels — roughly 4× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Chico.
- The case here is financial, not environmental. Chico's grid is already clean at 429 kg CO₂ per MWh, so the carbon saving from solar is modest. Judge this one on payback.
- Dimmer than the rest of California. Chico roofs get 6% less usable sunlight than the typical California city we've measured — statewide averages will overstate what you can expect here.
- 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.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Chico's 1,807 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 1,807 | 15.3¢ | 8.6 yrs |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 1,808 | 14.8¢ | 8.9 yrs |
| Largo, FL | 1,806 | 15.3¢ | 8.6 yrs |
| Naples, FL | 1,805 | 15.3¢ | 8.6 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of California → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Chico solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Chico?
About 18 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Chico roofs get 1,807 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 614 kWh annually. A typical Chico roof fits about 85 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Chico?
At 31.2¢/kWh and 1,807 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.8 years and returns roughly $26,475 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 Chico?
A 7.2 kW system costs about $20,520 before incentives and $14,364 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.