Solar Panel Installation in Phoenix, AZ

Solar panels in Phoenix

Solar Panel Installation in Phoenix, AZ

Costs, savings, APS and SRP plans, and installers

Explore Phoenix solar panel installation costs, electricity savings, APS and SRP solar plans, Arizona incentives, and local installation requirements. Calculate your potential savings and compare solar installers before requesting quotes.

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Phoenix solar at a glance

State$2.26 a wattSolar installation costAbout $13,560 for a 6 kW system, before incentives. Arizona-wide EnergySage average, updated Oct 16, 2026; we could not find a verified Phoenix-only price.

Estimate$800 to $1,720 a yearEstimated yearly savings, 6 kW systemModeled by us: 10,485 kWh a year, with 50% to all of it used at home at each utility’s 2024 average price (EIA) and the current export credit. Not a quote; your plan decides.

Phoenix1,748 kWhSolar production per kW per yearSouth roof, 20° tilt, ZIP 85004 (NREL PVWatts, October 20, 2026).1st sunniest

Utility16.45¢ | 13.46¢Average kWh price: APS | SRP2024 average for each whole utility (EIA-861), not your plan. Export credit: 5.554¢ at APS, 1.87¢ at SRP (tariffs, October 20, 2026).

StateUp to $1,000Arizona solar tax credit25% of cost, once per home (A.R.S. 43-1083). The federal credit ended for systems finished in 2026 (IRS, checked October 20, 2026).

EstimateAbout 7 to 16 yearsIllustrative payback, 6 kW systemOur arithmetic: $12,560 after the $1,000 credit, divided by the savings range at left, with no price growth. EnergySage’s own Arizona estimate is 12.94 years.

Solar panel installation in Phoenix, Arizona is worth pricing for most homes with a sunny roof, but the numbers above depend on your utility, your use and your plan. Jump to the installation costs, the savings calculator, the APS and SRP rules or the installer checklist.

Sources: NREL PVWatts, EIA, EnergySage, APS and SRP tariffs, Arizona statutes and the IRS. Checked October 20, 2026. Full list at the bottom of the page.

Solar panel installation cost in Phoenix, AZ

We could not find a verified price for Phoenix alone. Arizona-wide, EnergySage’s marketplace data (updated October 16, 2026) shows an average of $2.26 per watt installed, before incentives. Its average Arizona system is 13.42 kW (the larger systems Arizona homes tend to need) at about $30,329, with a range of $25,780 to $34,878, and it estimates a payback of 12.94 years for the average home. That payback is EnergySage’s own model, not a guarantee.

Our arithmetic from EnergySage’s Arizona average price, not Phoenix quotes. The Arizona credit is 25% of cost up to $1,000 and reduces your Arizona income tax; it is not taken off the invoice. The federal credit ended for systems finished in 2026. Output uses NREL PVWatts for ZIP 85004. Panel counts assume roughly 3 to 4 panels per kW.

Sources: EnergySage Arizona and EnergySage U.S.. See our guide to what solar panels cost.

What goes into a solar quote

• Equipment: panel brand and efficiency, inverter type (string, microinverters or optimizers) and any battery-ready hardware.
• Installation: labor, roof type (tile roofs need special mounts), roof repairs, a main panel upgrade, trenching or conduit runs.
• Soft costs: design, permits, utility application and inspection fees, and the installer’s overhead and margin.
• Size and price per watt: larger systems usually cost less per watt, so compare price per watt, not just the total.
• Financing: a loan or lease changes what you pay over time and sometimes the cash price itself (below).

Cash, loan, lease or PPA

Read more in our guide to buying versus leasing solar.

Why quotes differ

Two homes in Phoenix can get quotes thousands of dollars apart because of roof shape and material, shade, system size, equipment, the panel upgrade, and the installer’s own costs. A low price per watt is not automatically a better deal: check the equipment, warranty and who will service the system.

Value per kW, our estimate: used at home, one kW makes about $287 a year at APS’s 2024 average price and $235 at SRP’s. The same power sent to the grid is worth only about $97 on APS and $33 on SRP. That gap is why Phoenix homes size panels to their own use, shift use to the daytime, or add a battery.

Phoenix solar savings calculator

Pick Simple for a quick estimate from your ZIP code, utility and monthly bill, or Advanced to set the system size, roof, price and assumptions yourself. We pull the sun data for your ZIP code from NREL PVWatts and estimate production, savings, payback and long-term results. Defaults use Arizona’s average installed price ($2.26 a watt) and the Arizona tax credit (up to $1,000); there is no federal credit for systems finished in 2026.

Estimate your Phoenix solar savings

Free, no sign-up. Uses NREL sun data for your ZIP code.

SimpleAdvanced

Your electric utilityAPS, average priceAPS TOU-E, midday powerSRP, average priceSRP E-28, midday powerNot sureZIP codeAverage monthly electric bill ($)

Your power use

Enter your use asMonthly bill ($)Monthly kWhMonthly kWhUsed when “Monthly kWh” is chosen. Arizona average about 1,130 a month.Fixed monthly charge ($)APS about $13.90; SRP $20 to $40.Price you offset (¢ per kWh)Export credit (¢ per kWh)

Your roof and system

System size (kW)Suggest a size from my useRoof directionSouthSoutheastSouthwestEastWestNorthRoof pitchLow slope (10°)Typical (20°)Medium (27°)Steep (34°)ShadeNone or very littleSomeA lot

Cost and assumptions

Installed price ($ per watt)Arizona average (EnergySage, Oct 2026).Incentives ($)Arizona credit, up to $1,000. Federal credit ended.Share of solar you use at home (%)About 50% without a battery; 80%+ with one.Price growth (% a year)An assumption, not a forecast.Panel loss (% a year)Years to countAnalysis period.

Simple mode assumes: a south-facing 20° roof with little shade, a system sized to cover about 90% of your use, Arizona’s average installed price, the $1,000 Arizona credit, half of your solar used at home, 2.5% yearly price growth and 0.5% yearly panel loss over 25 years. Switch to Advanced to change any of these.

Calculate my savings

We use the price and export credit shown for each utility view, NREL PVWatts for production, and your own assumptions. Estimates are not guarantees. Time-of-use pricing, demand charges and export credits can change your result; see the APS and SRP section below.

Want a second look at your roof first? Try our solar potential calculator, then compare with the general solar savings calculator and the guide to how many panels you need.

Are solar panels worth it in Phoenix?

Often yes, but it depends on how you use power and which plan you are on. Phoenix is one of the sunniest big cities in the country, so panels make a lot of energy. The question is what that energy is worth, and that depends on whether you use it at home or send it to the grid.

Why solar can pay off here

• Sunshine: a south roof makes about 1,748 kWh a year per kW (NREL PVWatts), and Phoenix ranks 1st sunniest of the 51 largest state cities (NASA POWER).
• High cooling use: air conditioning is 36% of Arizona household electricity, against 19% for the U.S., and Arizona homes use about 13,603 kWh a year (EIA RECS 2020, statewide). Much of that load runs in the sunny afternoon.
• Power you use at home saves the most: it avoids buying at the retail price, about 16.45¢ on average at APS and 13.46¢ at SRP (EIA, 2024).
• Arizona tax credit: up to $1,000 off your Arizona income tax.

Where it can disappoint

• Low export credits: only 5.554¢ per exported kWh at APS and 1.87¢ at SRP, far below what they charge. Oversizing a system does not pay.
• No federal credit: the 25D credit ended for systems finished in 2026, so payback is longer than it was.
• Plan details: time-of-use prices, demand charges and fixed fees (including a grid access charge on APS solar plans) can shrink savings. Ask your installer to model your plan.
• Roof and shade: east or west roofs make about 14% less; heavy shade and an old roof change the math.
• Low bills: if your bill is small, there is less to offset.

Use the calculator to test your own numbers, then compare written quotes. Our illustrative payback for a 6 kW system is about 7 to 16 years; EnergySage estimates 12.94 years for the average Arizona home.

Phoenix sun, weather and solar power

How much sun Phoenix gets, every month and every day of the year.

Solar panels turn sunlight into power, so the sun is the fuel. Phoenix is one of the sunniest big cities in the country (1st of the 51 largest cities of each state, by NASA data). Here is what that looks like in numbers and charts.

5.85Peak sun hours a dayAverage sunshine energy, kWh per square meter per day (NASA POWER)1st sunniest of the 51 largest state cities

69%Of the clear-sky maximumSunshine that reaches the ground after clouds and haze (NASA POWER clearness index)

8.50Sunniest month: JunekWh per square meter per day

3.08Least sunny month: DecemberStill more than many U.S. cities get in summer

14 h 22 minLongest day, Jun 22Sunrise 5:19 a.m., sunset 7:41 p.m. (our calculation)

9 h 56 minShortest day, Dec 22Sunrise 7:29 a.m., sunset 5:25 p.m. (our calculation)

4,445 hoursDaylight in a yearSunrise to sunset, added up over 365 days (our calculation)

What 1 kW of panels makes each month

kWh per month on a south-facing roof, Phoenix ZIP 85004 (NREL PVWatts). Summer is highest, spring and early summer peak.

J

F

M

A

179

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

105

D

Roof at 20° tilt (typical)Tilted to 33° (about Phoenix's latitude)

Sunshine by month

Average sunshine energy that reaches the ground each day, kWh per square meter (NASA POWER, 20+ years).

Actual, with cloudsClear-sky maximum

How long the sun is up, every day of the year

Hours between sunrise and sunset, by day. Arizona does not observe daylight saving time (except the Navajo Nation), so Phoenix stays on Mountain Standard Time all year.

Which way your roof faces matters

kWh a year from 1 kW of panels, by direction and tilt (NREL PVWatts).

South, 20° (typical roof)1,748

South, 33° (about Phoenix's latitude)1,779

South, 10° (low slope)1,671

Southeast, 20°1,680

Southwest, 20°1,674

East, 20°1,507

West, 20°1,500

Flat1,548

North, 20° (not recommended)1,209

Month by month

Sunrise, sunset and daylight on the 15th of each month (our calculation from latitude and longitude, to within about a minute), with sunshine and panel output.

Month	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Sunshine, kWh/m²/day	1 kW of panels, kWh
January	7:32 a.m.	5:42 p.m.	10 h 10 min	3.43	118
February	7:13 a.m.	6:12 p.m.	10 h 58 min	4.43	122
March	6:40 a.m.	6:35 p.m.	11 h 55 min	5.89	154
April	5:59 a.m.	6:58 p.m.	12 h 59 min	7.28	170
May	5:28 a.m.	7:20 p.m.	13 h 52 min	8.17	179
June	5:18 a.m.	7:39 p.m.	14 h 21 min	8.50	173
July	5:29 a.m.	7:39 p.m.	14 h 11 min	7.49	160
August	5:50 a.m.	7:16 p.m.	13 h 26 min	6.91	153
September	6:11 a.m.	6:36 p.m.	12 h 26 min	6.16	147
October	6:32 a.m.	5:56 p.m.	11 h 24 min	5.01	141
November	6:59 a.m.	5:27 p.m.	10 h 28 min	3.78	125
December	7:25 a.m.	5:22 p.m.	9 h 57 min	3.08	105

Sources: sunshine, NASA POWER climatology for Phoenix (NASA POWER climatology (satellite and model data, 20+ years), read 2026-10-21); panel output, NREL PVWatts v8, ZIP 85004, 14% system losses; sunrise, sunset and day length, our calculation with the NOAA solar equations, Mountain Standard Time all year. Checked October 20, 2026.

Compare solar installers in Phoenix

Searching for solar installers in Phoenix turns up hundreds of names. We do not rank or rate companies, and we do not list contractors we have not checked. Use this checklist on every bid:

Solar companies in Phoenix: how the options differ

SolutionEnergy does not install solar. We are lining up independent, licensed installers in the Phoenix area. Send a request and we will reply ourselves; nothing is shared with an installer unless you choose one, and we cannot promise how many companies will respond. Read how it works.

APS and SRP solar rates and programs in Phoenix

Two utilities serve Phoenix, and their solar rules are very different. Maricopa County says homes in the county get power from SRP or APS depending on location. We found no official street-by-street split, so use your bill or ask either utility. A small area of downtown Mesa is served by the City of Mesa. Pick yours. Remember: the average price you see in headlines is a whole-utility average (EIA, 2024); what you actually pay depends on your plan, your hours of use and, on some plans, your highest demand.

The main plans for homes with solar

Verified in APS and SRP tariffs and ratebooks on October 20, 2026. APS rates may change when its pending rate case is decided; SRP prices shown are the May-October 2026 billing cycles. Always check your own bill and plan.

How the plan changes your solar savings

• Import price by hour: on TOU-E, midday power costs about 12.345¢ and the 4 to 7 p.m. peak about 34.396¢ in summer, so solar used at midday saves less per kWh than the average price suggests, and a battery that shifts solar into the evening peak is worth more.
• Export credit: 5.554¢ (APS) and 1.87¢ (SRP) per exported kWh is far below the price you pay to import, so use as much solar as you can at home.
• Demand charges: on R-3, E-15, E-27 and E-16 you pay for your highest on-peak demand. Solar does not always reduce it (a cloud or a late-afternoon spike can set it), and a battery can.
• Fixed fees: APS adds a grid access charge per kW of solar on its time-of-use plans; SRP plans add a monthly service charge.

Solar with a battery on these plans

Because exports earn so little and evening prices are high, a battery can increase savings on APS TOU-E and SRP E-28, and can lower demand charges on demand plans. Whether it pays back depends on its cost (see the battery storage section below) and your plan.

Both utilities pay far less for exports than they charge. Net metering, which credits each exported kWh at the full retail price, ended for new Arizona solar customers (see our Arizona energy guide and the net metering explainer).

Arizona solar incentives and tax credits for Phoenix homeowners

Checked October 20, 2026 against the IRS, Arizona statutes, the City of Phoenix and the utilities. A tax credit is not an instant discount. It reduces the income tax you owe when you file; the installer's invoice is not lowered by it.

• Federal credit: the 25D residential credit, which also covered batteries of 3 kWh or more, is not allowed for expenditures after December 31, 2025; a system finished in 2026 gets nothing. Commercial credits for businesses were not researched for this home page.
• Arizona credit: 25% of the cost, up to $1,000 per home in total, once per tax year; unused credit carries forward up to five years (A.R.S. 43-1083). It applies to the person who pays for the system; ask a tax professional about a leased or PPA system.
• Batteries: we found no Arizona state battery incentive. APS and SRP run battery programs that pay owners who join (see the battery section).
• Deadlines: amounts and rules change, and the APS export-credit lock applies to customers who apply by a utility deadline (see the APS section). Check dates before you sign.

Talk to a tax professional about your own situation. We are not tax advisors.

Solar panels, equipment and Phoenix roofs

Three choices shape performance. Panels: residential panels are about 21% efficient on average (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2024 installs); higher efficiency matters mostly when roof space is tight. Compare the temperature coefficient, since heat is a Phoenix fact of life. Inverters: 87% of U.S. home systems now use microinverters or optimizers (LBNL), which cost a few thousand dollars more than a single string inverter but help on shaded or multi-direction roofs (EnergySage). Warranties: the best panel brands offer 25-year warranties (EnergySage); also ask who honors the workmanship warranty if the installer closes.

Mounting and roof suitability

• Direction: in Phoenix, south is best (about 1,748 kWh per kW), southeast and southwest are within about 4%, and east or west roofs make about 14% less (table below). West-facing panels can match a late-afternoon peak plan better than their annual total suggests; ask your installer to model your plan.
• Pitch: a typical 20° roof is fine; flat roofs lose about 11% unless tilted.
• Shade: trees, chimneys and neighboring buildings matter most from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Microinverters or optimizers help on partly shaded roofs.
• Roof age and type: if the roof will need replacing in about 10 years, replace it first or ask the installer to detach and reset the panels. Tile roofs, common in the Phoenix area, need special mounts and careful handling.
• Electrical panel: older or full panels may need an upgrade. The City of Phoenix quick-review route accepts services up to 400 amps and no panel upgrades.
• Space: a rough guide is 3 to 4 panels per kW; see how many panels you need.

Output by roof direction and tilt

We ran NREL's PVWatts for a Phoenix ZIP code (85004) on October 20, 2026 (14% system losses, which already include heat). A south-facing roof at a typical 20° pitch makes about 1,748 kWh a year per kW of panels, roughly 10,485 kWh for a 6 kW system; Arizona homes average 13,603 kWh a year, against 10,566 for U.S. homes.

Source: NREL PVWatts v8 (developer.nlr.gov), run through the site's solar tool for ZIP 85004 (Phoenix), 1 kW fixed roof array, 14% system losses, 2026-10-20. One kW of fixed roof panels; your result depends on your exact roof, shade and equipment.

Do solar panels work in 110° heat?

Yes, but hot panels make a little less power. Panel output falls with cell temperature (NREL's model uses about 0.47% per °C for standard panels and 0.35% for premium ones), and Phoenix summers are hard on equipment: the normal July high is 106.5°F and the record is 122°F (June 26, 1990). PVWatts includes that heat loss in the numbers above. In practice, ask installers about each panel's temperature coefficient, mounting that lets air flow under the panels, and batteries and inverters rated for your garage or yard.

Maintenance and lifespan

Solar panels have no moving parts and need little care beyond occasional cleaning of dust and checking the system's monitoring. The best panel brands offer 25-year warranties (EnergySage), though inverters may need replacing sooner, so ask about the inverter warranty and who services the system. See our solar maintenance guide.

Phoenix solar installation process and permits

Installing solar in Phoenix usually means a licensed contractor designs a roof system, gets a permit from the City of Phoenix (or your own city if you live outside Phoenix), applies to APS or SRP for permission to connect, builds it, passes inspection and then waits for the utility's permission to operate. The panels are the easy part. The hard part is choosing a size and a rate plan that match how your household uses power.

1. Home energy assessment: collect your last 12 months of bills and use the calculator above to see what size makes sense.
2. Roof and site evaluation: the installer checks the roof, shade, electrical panel and space, and draws a plan.
3. System design and quotation: collect 3 or more written quotes from licensed contractors and compare them line by line (see the installer checklist).
4. Financing and contract review: sign a contract that lists equipment models, system size in kW-DC and kW-AC, price, warranty, permit and utility fees, and who handles each step.
5. Permits and utility applications: the installer applies to the City of Phoenix (or your city or county), often through SolarAPP+; the Phoenix Fire Department has its own permit for solar and batteries. The installer also applies to APS or SRP to connect (both use an online PowerClerk system), and you sign the interconnection agreement.
6. Equipment installation: the crew mounts the panels and inverter on your roof and connects the system.
7. Inspections and utility approval: the city inspects, then the utility inspects or approves.
8. Permission to operate and activation: do not switch the system on until the utility says so. APS gives you 180 days from its application approval to finish the install for the 10-year export rate lock to apply; SRP gives 6 months from application to complete the agreement and installation.

Ask your installer for its own timeline; permits and utility approval often take longer than the installation itself. Check current steps with the utilities: APS's published guide is dated October 2021 and SRP's checklist is stamped November 2022, so portals may have changed.

Permits and interconnection in Phoenix

• City of Phoenix (homes inside the city): the Planning and Development Department accepts SolarAPP+ approved designs for rooftop systems on single-family homes and duplexes installed by an Arizona-licensed contractor. Limits: no battery storage, service up to 400 amps single-phase, no panel upgrades, no ground or ballasted mounts, not in a historic district or FEMA flood hazard area. Call 602-262-7811 for inspections. PDD solar page.
• Fire permit: the Phoenix Fire Department needs a separate permit for solar and stationary batteries; its combined over-the-counter form (F800) covers residential solar of 3 to 15 kW AC and batteries of 3 to 27 kWh, and lists a $390 fee (the form is undated, so confirm). Fire Prevention: 602-262-6771. Fire form.
• Unincorporated Maricopa County: applications go through GoSolarApp.org and then the county Permit Center (602-506-3011); ground, ballasted and manufactured-home systems are not eligible. County solar permits.
• Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Glendale, Chandler and other cities: each issues its own permits; they are not covered here.
• Codes: Phoenix adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code and the 2024 International Building, Residential and Fire Codes with Phoenix amendments, effective August 1, 2025 (Ordinance G-7397). Phoenix codes.
• HOAs: Arizona law says an association shall not prohibit installing or using a solar energy device, but may set reasonable placement rules that do not prevent installation, impair function or add cost; a court must award fees to the party that substantially prevails (A.R.S. 33-1816, text).
• Utility interconnection: every system needs APS or SRP approval before it is switched on; see the utility tabs above.

Professional versus DIY solar installation

For a roof system connected to the grid in Phoenix, plan on a licensed professional. The City's quick-review route is open only to Arizona-licensed contractors, utilities require an approved interconnection, and mistakes can mean fire, roof or insurance trouble. DIY makes sense for small off-grid systems, cabins and portable power. There is no Arizona plug-in solar law as of October 2026 (see plug-in solar by state). Browse DIY solar kits, solar generators and is solar worth it for equipment buying guides.

Solar panels with battery storage in Phoenix

A battery matters more in Phoenix than in many places because exported power earns so little. A battery stores midday solar and releases it in the evening, when APS's TOU-E price is 32 to 34¢ from 4 to 7 p.m. and when SRP's E-28 plan charges more (summer on-peak 18.47¢ from 6 to 9 p.m.). It also keeps essentials running in an outage.

Sizing: a common starting point is enough storage to cover the evening peak and the loads you want to keep on in an outage; your installer should size it to your plan and use. Does it pay? Often a battery pays more through backup value and peak-price shifting than through a short financial payback, so test it against your plan. APS Storage Rewards ($110 per kW) and SRP Battery Partner ($55 per kW) pay owners who join, and Phoenix Fire Department permits apply over 3 kWh.

See our Phoenix home battery installation guide, plus solar plus battery, battery costs and battery installation.

Phoenix solar FAQs

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More Phoenix energy guides

• Phoenix, AZ energy guide
• Phoenix home battery installation
• Phoenix backup generator installation
• Phoenix home EV charger installation
• Phoenix metro area guide
• Arizona energy guide
• Solar installation guide
• What solar panels cost
• Net metering vs net billing
• Solar maintenance
• Home battery installation
• Generator installation
• EV charger installation

Sources and data checks

Every number on this page comes from the sources below. "Phoenix" figures are for Phoenix; utility figures cover a whole utility; statewide and U.S. figures are labeled. Not confirmed: a street-by-street APS/SRP split, a current APS or SRP upfront solar rebate, Arizona contractor license classes and fee amounts in the Fire and city fee schedules. We re-check this page; tell us if something is out of date.

General information, not financial, tax, legal or electrical advice. Estimates are ours and are not promises. Use a licensed electrician or installer for all wiring, and see our editorial policy.