Solar panels in Johnstown, PA
Roofs in Johnstown get about 1,294 hours of usable sunlight a year — less 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 Johnstown → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Johnstown solar system costs
A 25-panel system (10 kW) is about right for an average Johnstown home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,999 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,520 | $6,384 | $637 | 10 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,280 | $9,576 | $956 | 10 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,039 | $12,768 | $1,274 | 10 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 8,799 | $15,960 | $1,593 | 10 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 11,439 | $20,748 | $1,984 | 10.5 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 Johnstown gets 1,294 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Johnstown — 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 Johnstown reaches about 1,442 hours, roughly 11% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,294 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,442 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Pennsylvania avg) | 18.1¢/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 | 10 |
| Google imagery from | 2022 |
When Johnstown actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Johnstown's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | |
| Feb | 78 | |
| Mar | 105 | |
| Apr | 132 | |
| May | 152 | |
| Jun | 160 | |
| Jul | 156 | |
| Aug | 140 | |
| Sep | 114 | |
| Oct | 86 | |
| Nov | 62 | |
| Dec | 52 |
Johnstown produces about 3.1× 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 Johnstown's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Johnstown compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Johnstown | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,294 hrs | 632nd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 10% | 66th most |
| Median roof size | 128 m² | 586th largest |
| Electricity rate | 18.1¢ | 187th highest |
| Payback | 10.2 yrs | 354th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 654 kg/MWh | 335th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Johnstown:
- Shading is a real problem here. Johnstown loses 10% of its potential sunlight to trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings — the 66th-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 Pennsylvania. Johnstown roofs get 6% less usable sunlight than the typical Pennsylvania 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 Johnstown's 1,294 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | 1,296 | 24.3¢ | 7.6 yrs |
| Gatineau, QC | 1,291 | 7.9¢ | 33.3 yrs |
| International Falls, MN | 1,290 | 14.8¢ | 12.4 yrs |
| Flint, MI | 1,288 | 19.1¢ | 9.6 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Pennsylvania → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Johnstown solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Johnstown?
About 25 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Johnstown roofs get 1,294 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 440 kWh annually. A typical Johnstown roof fits about 45 panels, so check your usable roof area before assuming that many will fit.
Is solar worth it in Johnstown?
At 18.1¢/kWh and 1,294 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10.2 years and returns roughly $29,145 over a 25-year panel life. That is slower than average, so compare several quotes before committing. Exported power earns full retail credit here.
How much do solar panels cost in Johnstown?
A 10 kW system costs about $28,500 before incentives and $19,950 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 Pennsylvania 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.