Solar panels in Pierre, SD
Roofs in Pierre get about 1,572 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 53% 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 Pierre → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Pierre solar system costs
A 21-panel system (8.4 kW) is about right for an average Pierre home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,224 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,276 | $6,384 | $526 | 12.1 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,414 | $9,576 | $789 | 12.1 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 8,552 | $12,768 | $1,052 | 12.1 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 10,690 | $15,960 | $1,315 | 12.1 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 13,896 | $20,748 | $1,424 | 14.6 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 Pierre gets 1,572 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Pierre — 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 Pierre reaches about 1,645 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,572 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,645 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (South Dakota avg) | 12.3¢/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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 11 |
| Google imagery from | 2017 |
When Pierre actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 38% of Pierre's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 12% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | |
| Feb | 89 | |
| Mar | 125 | |
| Apr | 164 | |
| May | 193 | |
| Jun | 205 | |
| Jul | 199 | |
| Aug | 175 | |
| Sep | 139 | |
| Oct | 99 | |
| Nov | 68 | |
| Dec | 54 |
Pierre produces about 3.8× 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 Pierre's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Pierre compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Pierre | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,572 hrs | 315th |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 4% | 417th most |
| Median roof size | 155 m² | 503rd largest |
| Electricity rate | 12.3¢ | 554th highest |
| Payback | 12.5 yrs | 529th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 832 kg/MWh | 116th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Pierre:
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Pierre dates from 2017. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Pierre's 1,572 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign, IL | 1,572 | 16.3¢ | 9.4 yrs |
| Meridian, MS | 1,572 | 13.3¢ | 11.6 yrs |
| Athens, GA | 1,573 | 14.1¢ | 10.9 yrs |
| Topeka, KS | 1,573 | 14.1¢ | 10.9 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of South Dakota → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Pierre solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Pierre?
About 21 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Pierre roofs get 1,572 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 534 kWh annually. A typical Pierre roof fits about 44 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Pierre?
At 12.3¢/kWh and 1,572 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 12.5 years and returns roughly $16,778 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 Pierre?
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 South Dakota 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.