Solar panels in Moses Lake, WA
Roofs in Moses Lake get about 1,526 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 54% 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 Moses Lake → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Moses Lake solar system costs
A 21-panel system (8.4 kW) is about right for an average Moses Lake home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,896 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,151 | $6,384 | $469 | 13.6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,226 | $9,576 | $704 | 13.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,301 | $12,768 | $938 | 13.6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,377 | $15,960 | $1,173 | 13.6 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,490 | $20,748 | $1,296 | 16 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 Moses Lake gets 1,526 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Moses Lake — 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 Moses Lake reaches about 1,619 hours, roughly 6% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,526 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,619 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Washington avg) | 11.3¢/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 | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 10 |
| Google imagery from | 2014 |
When Moses Lake actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 39% of Moses Lake's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 11% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | |
| Feb | 81 | |
| Mar | 119 | |
| Apr | 162 | |
| May | 194 | |
| Jun | 208 | |
| Jul | 201 | |
| Aug | 174 | |
| Sep | 134 | |
| Oct | 92 | |
| Nov | 60 | |
| Dec | 47 |
That is a severe seasonal swing — Moses Lake produces roughly 4.4× as much in Jun as in Dec. A system sized to cover your annual usage will overproduce badly in summer and fall well short in winter, so how your utility credits exported power matters more here than in most places.
The annual total is measured from Google's rooftop imagery. Its split across months is calculated from solar geometry at Moses Lake's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Moses Lake compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Moses Lake | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,526 hrs | 362nd |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 6% | 301st most |
| Median roof size | 140 m² | 553rd largest |
| Electricity rate | 11.3¢ | 627th highest |
| Payback | 13.7 yrs | 580th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 696 kg/MWh | 280th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Moses Lake:
- Sunnier than the rest of Washington. Moses Lake roofs get 22% more usable sunlight than the typical Washington city we've measured — statewide averages will understate what you can expect here.
- Cheap electricity is the headwind. Washington power costs about 11.3¢/kWh. Low rates are good news generally, but they lengthen solar payback — there is simply less bill to displace.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Moses Lake dates from 2014. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Moses Lake's 1,526 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville, TN | 1,527 | 12.1¢ | 12.8 yrs |
| Alexandria, VA | 1,527 | 14.2¢ | 10.9 yrs |
| Appleton, WI | 1,527 | 17.3¢ | 8.9 yrs |
| Monroe, LA | 1,527 | 12.1¢ | 12.8 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Washington → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Moses Lake solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Moses Lake?
About 21 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Moses Lake roofs get 1,526 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 519 kWh annually. A typical Moses Lake roof fits about 48 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Moses Lake?
At 11.3¢/kWh and 1,526 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 13.7 years and returns roughly $13,820 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 Moses Lake?
A 8.4 kW system costs about $23,940 before incentives and $16,758 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 Washington 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.