Solar payback in Oakland, CA

Electricity rates near Oakland

We use Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) as the likely utility for Oakland. Check your bill to confirm yours. Other utilities in the state are listed for comparison.

How much sun Oakland gets

Estimated output of 1 kW of rooftop solar, month by month, from NREL PVWatts weather data: about 1,466 kWh per year. Real output depends on your roof, shading and equipment.

Homes in Oakland

Homes (housing units)

191,713

Lived in by their owner

42.3% of occupied homes

Detached single-family houses

41.5% of homes

Median year built

1953

Median value of owner-occupied homes

$929,900

Rooftop solar is usually the homeowner's decision, and it is simplest on a house with a roof of its own. In Oakland, 42.3% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner and 41.5% of all homes are detached single-family houses. Condos, townhomes and apartments usually need approval from the building or association first.

Half of Oakland's homes were built before 1953. Panels last decades, so if your roof is near the end of its life, ask installers whether to replace it before they install.

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Oakland city, read on 2026-11-01. See the Census table. Estimates have a margin of error.

Example payback in Oakland

These use illustrative example bills, not averages for Oakland. They show a solar-only system (no battery, some shading) at the likely utility's rates, with no federal tax credit. Your own numbers will differ; use the calculator for yours.