Solar payback in San Jose, CA

Electricity rates near San Jose

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

How much sun San Jose gets

Estimated output of 1 kW of rooftop solar, month by month, from NREL PVWatts weather data: about 1,524 kWh per year. Real output depends on your roof, shading and equipment.

Homes in San Jose

Homes (housing units)

345,066

Lived in by their owner

55.8% of occupied homes

Detached single-family houses

51.3% of homes

Median year built

1976

Median value of owner-occupied homes

$1,233,200

Rooftop solar is usually the homeowner's decision, and it is simplest on a house with a roof of its own. In San Jose, 55.8% of occupied homes are lived in by their owner and 51.3% of all homes are detached single-family houses. Condos, townhomes and apartments usually need approval from the building or association first.

Half of San Jose's homes were built before 1976. 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 San Jose city, read on 2026-11-01. See the Census table. Estimates have a margin of error.

Example payback in San Jose

These use illustrative example bills, not averages for San Jose. 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.