Solar panels in Susanville, CA
Roofs in Susanville get about 1,912 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.
Check your specific roof in Susanville → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Susanville solar system costs
A 17-panel system (6.8 kW) is about right for an average Susanville home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,051 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 5,201 | $6,384 | $1,268 | 5 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 7,801 | $9,576 | $1,430 | 6.7 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 10,401 | $12,768 | $1,593 | 8 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 13,002 | $15,960 | $1,755 | 9.1 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 16,902 | $20,748 | $1,998 | 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 Susanville gets 1,912 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Susanville — 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 Susanville reaches about 1,945 hours, roughly 2% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,912 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,945 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (California avg) | 31.2¢/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 | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | 20% of retail |
| Rooftops sampled here | 4 |
| Google imagery from | 2020 |
When Susanville actually produces
Annual totals hide the thing that catches people out: 36% of Susanville's yearly sunlight arrives in May–July, and just 13% across November–January.
| Month | Sun hrs | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 85 | |
| Feb | 115 | |
| Mar | 154 | |
| Apr | 196 | |
| May | 225 | |
| Jun | 237 | |
| Jul | 230 | |
| Aug | 207 | |
| Sep | 169 | |
| Oct | 126 | |
| Nov | 92 | |
| Dec | 77 |
Susanville 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 Susanville's latitude, not separately measured, so treat the monthly figures as the shape of a typical year rather than a forecast.
How Susanville compares to the other 673 cities
| Measure | Susanville | Rank of 673 |
|---|---|---|
| Usable sunlight | 1,912 hrs | 81st |
| Sunlight lost to shade | 2% | 632nd most |
| Median roof size | 196 m² | 370th largest |
| Electricity rate | 31.2¢ | 73rd highest |
| Payback | 8.3 yrs | 146th fastest |
| Grid carbon | 429 kg/MWh | 608th dirtiest |
What actually stands out about Susanville:
- Unusually open roofs. Only 2% of available sunlight is lost to obstruction in Susanville — better than all but 41 of the 673 cities measured. Most roofs here get close to their theoretical maximum.
- The case here is financial, not environmental. Susanville's grid is already clean at 429 kg CO₂ per MWh, so the carbon saving from solar is modest. Judge this one on payback.
- Expensive electricity works in your favour. At 31.2¢/kWh, California is among the priciest places to buy power — which is exactly what makes generating your own pay back faster.
- Older imagery. Google's aerial capture of Susanville dates from 2020. Tree growth and new construction since then are not reflected.
Cities with almost the same sunlight
These are the closest matches to Susanville's 1,912 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key West, FL | 1,919 | 15.3¢ | 8.2 yrs |
| Reno, NV | 1,926 | 15.3¢ | 8.1 yrs |
| Sparks, NV | 1,927 | 15.3¢ | 8.1 yrs |
| Phoenix, AZ | 1,932 | 15.2¢ | 8.2 yrs |
Nearby cities
See all of California → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Susanville solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Susanville?
About 17 panels for an average home using 10,800 kWh a year. Susanville roofs get 1,912 usable sun hours, so each 400W panel produces roughly 650 kWh annually. A typical Susanville roof fits about 63 panels, so roof space is unlikely to be your limit.
Is solar worth it in Susanville?
At 31.2¢/kWh and 1,912 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 8.3 years and returns roughly $27,261 over a 25-year panel life. That is a solid return, and it improves further if electricity prices rise. Exports earn only 20% of retail, so using power as you generate it matters.
How much do solar panels cost in Susanville?
A 6.8 kW system costs about $19,380 before incentives and $13,566 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 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.