Payback math
How fast does solar-plus-storage pay for itself?
The federal credit ended December 31, 2025, so payback now leans on bill savings and VPP income. Enter your system and see the honest math.
Your system
Results update instantly as you change anything.
Set to 0 for solar only.
Use your real quote if you have one. No federal credit applies in 2026.
Savings are capped at what you actually spend.
Estimated simple payback
Illustrative8.2 years
Based on $3,668 of combined annual value against $30,000 installed.
Annual bill savings
$3,000
≈ 100% of your bill.
Annual VPP earnings
$501–$835
10-year net
$6,680
Simple, undiscounted.
Illustrative estimate — not financial advice. Production, rates, degradation, and program terms vary widely. Get real quotes and confirm current utility terms before deciding.
Sharpen the estimate
Two numbers move this math the most.
VPP income and remaining rebates change payback by years. Run both before you request quotes.