Solar panels in St. George, UT
Roofs in St. George get about 1,986 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 96% 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 St. George → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical St. George solar system costs
A 16-panel system (6.4 kW) is about right for an average St. George home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,804 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 5,402 | $6,384 | $605 | 10.6 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 8,103 | $9,576 | $908 | 10.6 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 10,804 | $12,768 | $1,210 | 10.6 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 13,505 | $15,960 | $1,285 | 12.4 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 17,556 | $20,748 | $1,399 | 14.8 yrs |
How we worked this out for St. George
Every number on this page comes from these seven steps. Nothing is a national average — the sunlight figure is measured from St. George rooftops.
| # | Step | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | What one panel makes here 400W ÷ 1000 × 1,986 sun hrs × 0.85 system losses |
675 kWh/yr |
| 2 | Panels needed to cover typical usage 10,800 kWh ÷ 675 kWh per panel |
16 panels |
| 3 | System size 16 panels × 400W |
6.40 kW |
| 4 | Annual production 6.40 kW × 1,986 hrs × 0.85 |
10,804 kWh/yr |
| 5 | Installed cost 6,400 W × $2.85 per watt, then −30% federal credit |
$12,768 |
| 6 | Annual saving 3,780 kWh used as generated × 11.2¢ + 7,024 kWh exported × 11.2¢ |
$1,210/yr |
| 7 | Payback $12,768 ÷ $1,210 per year |
10.6 years |
Step 6 matters more than it looks. Only 35% of what a system this size produces in St. George is used the moment it is generated; the other 7,024 kWh is exported and credited one-for-one under net metering. Because exports here are credited at or near retail, that split changes the payback very little — 10.6 years against the 10.6 we show. In places where exports pay a fraction of retail the same split moves payback by years, which is why we model it explicitly rather than assuming.
Assumptions: 400W panels, 15% system losses (inverter, wiring, heat, soiling), $2.85/W installed, 10,800 kWh typical annual household use, 11.2¢/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 St. George gets 1,986 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across St. George — 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 St. George reaches about 2,046 hours, roughly 3% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,986 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 2,046 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Utah avg) | 11.2¢/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 | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 8 |
| Google imagery from | 2021 |
When St. George actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 35% of St. George's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 14% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 96 | |
| Feb | 125 | |
| Mar | 162 | |
| Apr | 200 | |
| May | 225 | |
| Jun | 235 | |
| Jul | 230 | |
| Aug | 209 | |
| Sep | 176 | |
| Oct | 136 | |
| Nov | 103 | |
| Dec | 88 |
St. George produces about 2.7× 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 St. George's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How St. George compares to the other 788 cities
| Measure | St. George | Rank of 788 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,986 hrs | 31st |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 3% | 638th most |
| Median roof size | 444 m² | 17th largest |
| Electricity rate | 11.2¢ | 751st highest |
| Payback | 10.6 yrs | 382nd fastest |
| Grid carbon | 696 kg/MWh | 225th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about St. George:
- Plenty of roof to work with. Typical roofs here fit around 143 panels — roughly 8× what an average home needs. Roof size will not be what limits your system in St. George.
- Large roofs. At a median of 444 m², St. George has the 17th-largest typical roof footprint we've measured.
- Sunnier than the rest of Utah. St. George roofs get 16% more usable sunlight than the typical Utah city we've measured — statewide averages will understate what you can expect here.
- Cheap electricity is the headwind. Utah power costs about 11.2¢/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 St. George dates from 2021. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to St. George's 1,986 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim, CA | 1,984 | 31.2¢ | 8.2 yrs |
| Buckeye, AZ | 1,984 | 15.2¢ | 8.1 yrs |
| Carson City, NV | 1,981 | 15.3¢ | 8.1 yrs |
| Riverside, CA | 1,980 | 31.2¢ | 8.2 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of Utah → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
St. George solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in St. George?
About 16 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. St. George roofs get 1,986 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 675 kWh annually. A typical St. George roof fits about 143 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in St. George?
At 11.2¢/kWh and 1,986 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 10.6 years and returns roughly $17,475 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 St. George?
A 6.4 kW system costs about $18,240 before incentives and $12,768 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 Utah 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.