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Solar panels in Pomona, CA

Roofs in Pomona get about 1,910 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 88% 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.

1,910Sun hours / yr
17Panels typical
$13,566Cost after credit
8.3 yrPayback
Solar is reasonable in Pomona, not spectacular. A 8.3-year payback still beats most savings accounts over the panel's 25-year life, but it is not the slam dunk you'll see advertised.
California no longer pays full price for exported power. Under net billing, power you send to the grid earns about 20% of what you pay to buy it back, rather than the one-for-one credit older net metering gave. Because a system without a battery exports most of what it makes, this lengthens payback substantially — and it is why our figures here are lower than calculators still assuming one-for-one credit. A battery raises the share you use yourself and shortens payback, at the cost of adding $8,000–15,000 to the system.

Check your specific roof in Pomona → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.

What a typical Pomona solar system costs

A 17-panel system (6.8 kW) is about right for an average Pomona home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,040 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.

Estimated economics by system size in Pomona, at 31.2¢/kWh after the 30% federal tax credit
SystemSizekWh/yr Net costSaves/yrPayback
8 panels3.2 kW 5,195$6,384 $1,268 5 yrs
12 panels4.8 kW 7,793$9,576 $1,430 6.7 yrs
16 panels6.4 kW 10,390$12,768 $1,592 8 yrs
20 panels8 kW 12,988$15,960 $1,754 9.1 yrs
26 panels10.4 kW 16,884$20,748 $1,997 10.4 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 Pomona gets 1,910 sun hours

That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Pomona — 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 Pomona reaches about 2,010 hours, roughly 5% better than typical.

The numbers behind this page

Typical usable sunlight1,910 hrs/yr
Unshaded roof2,010 hrs/yr
Electricity rate (California avg)31.2¢/kWh
Installed cost assumed$2.85/W
Panel size assumed400 W
Federal tax credit30%
Typical household usage10,800 kWh/yr
Power used as generated34%
Paid for exported power20% of retail
Rooftops sampled here16
Google imagery from2024

Nearby cities

See all of California → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.

Pomona solar questions

How many solar panels do I need in Pomona?

About 17 panels for an average home. Pomona roofs get 1,910 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 649 kWh annually.

Is solar worth it in Pomona?

At 31.2¢/kWh and 1,910 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.3 years and returns roughly $27,243 over 25 years. That is a solid return.

How much do solar panels cost in Pomona?

A 6.8 kW system costs about $19,380 before incentives and $13,566 after the 30% federal tax credit. Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.

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.