Solar panels in Clovis, CA
Roofs in Clovis get about 1,907 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 89% 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 Clovis → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Clovis solar system costs
A 17-panel system (6.8 kW) is about right for an average Clovis home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,022 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 5,187 | $6,384 | $1,267 | 5 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,781 | $9,576 | $1,429 | 6.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 10,374 | $12,768 | $1,591 | 8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 12,968 | $15,960 | $1,753 | 9.1 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 16,858 | $20,748 | $1,995 | 10.4 yrs |
How we worked this out for Clovis
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from Clovis rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,907 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
648 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 648 kWh per panel |
17 panels |
| 3 | System size 17 panels × 400W |
6.80 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 6.80 kW × 1,907 hrs × 0.85 |
11,022 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 6,800 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$13,566 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 31.2¢ + 7,242 kWh exported × 6.2¢ |
$1,631/yr |
| 7 | Payback $13,566 ÷ $1,631 per year |
8.3 years |
Step 6 is where most calculators quietly overstate things. Only 34% of what a system this size produces in Clovis is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,242 kWh is exported and credited at 20% of retail under net billing. Valuing every kWh at the full 31.2¢ retail rate — which many calculators do — would show a payback of 3.9 years instead of the 8.3 we show. That 4.4-year difference is the single biggest reason our figures look worse than other sites' for Clovis.
Assumptions: 400W panels, 15% system losses (inverter, wiring, heat, soiling), $2.85/W installed, 10,800 kWh typical annual household use, 31.2¢/kWh electricity. Change any of those and every figure above moves — which is exactly why a single national "solar costs X" number is misleading.
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 Clovis gets 1,907 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Clovis — 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 Clovis reaches about 1,942 hours, roughly 2% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,907 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,942 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 | 12 |
| Google imagery from | 2024 |
When Clovis actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 35% of Clovis's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 15% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 93 | |
| Feb | 121 | |
| Mar | 156 | |
| Apr | 192 | |
| May | 216 | |
| Jun | 225 | |
| Jul | 220 | |
| Aug | 201 | |
| Sep | 169 | |
| Oct | 131 | |
| Nov | 99 | |
| Dec | 85 |
Clovis produces about 2.6× 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 Clovis's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Clovis compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | Clovis | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,907 hrs | 83rd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 2% | 730th most |
| Median roof size | 380 m² | 36th largest |
| Electricity rate | 31.2¢ | 63rd highest |
| Payback | 8.3 yrs | 137th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 429 kg/MWh | 714th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Clovis:
- Unusually open roofs. Only 2% of available sunlight is lost to obstruction in Clovis — better than all but 58 of the 788 cities measured. Most roofs here get close to their theoretical maximum.
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 112 panels — roughly 6× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in Clovis.
- Large roofs. At a median of 380 m², Clovis has the 36th-largest typical roof footprint we've measured.
- The case here is financial, not environmental. Clovis'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.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Clovis's 1,907 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key West, FL | 1,919 | 15.3¢ | 8.2 yrs |
| Reno, NV | 1,926 | 15.3¢ | 8.1 yrs |
| Sparks, NV | 1,927 | 15.3¢ | 8.1 yrs |
| Abilene, TX | 1,885 | 15.1¢ | 8.3 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of California → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Clovis solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Clovis?
About 17 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Clovis roofs get 1,907 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 648 kWh annually. A typical Clovis roof fits about 112 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Clovis?
At 31.2¢/kWh and 1,907 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.3 years and returns roughly $27,216 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 Clovis?
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.