Solar calculator for Vermont
Panels, system size, cost and payback for Vermont, from your own power bill.
The average Vermont home uses 574 kWh a month and pays 21.9 cents per kWh, which puts Vermont at above-average electricity prices, which helps solar savings. Winter heating shapes the bill in Vermont, and winter is when panels make the least, so a bill that looks big in January does not map cleanly to a bigger array. A south-facing fixed array there makes about 1,222 kWh per installed kW a year, and the worst winter month still gets 1.91 peak sun hours a day. Drop in your own bill below and the numbers on this page are replaced by yours.
A worked example for Vermont
Take the average home: 574 kWh a month, which is 6,888 kWh a year, at 21.9 cents per kWh (EIA, 2024 residential averages, as of 2026-11). Sized to cover all of that use, the tool returns 5.6 kWdc and 14 panels, needing about 294 square feet of roof. The installed estimate is $14,035 (national median, EnergySage H2 2025), yearly savings are about $1,508, and simple payback is 9.3 years, with no incentive applied.
Sun and yield in Vermont
We use 1,222 kWh per installed kW per year for Vermont, from NREL PVWatts v8 for the state's largest city at a 20 degree south-facing tilt (via TheGreenWatt, as of 2026-11). The darkest month averages 1.91 peak sun hours a day, which matters if you plan to go off-grid or size a battery. A different roof angle or heavy shade changes this, so treat it as a starting point.
Incentives
The 30% federal tax credit ended for homeowner purchases after December 31, 2025, so none is applied here. See the tax credit guide. Look up Vermont and your own utility for net metering terms and any local programs before relying on a payback number.
Planning estimate. Permits, interconnection approval and a licensed electrician are required for grid-tied systems.
Questions
How many solar panels does a Vermont home need?
The average Vermont home uses 6,888 kWh a year (EIA 2024). At about 1,222 kWh per installed kW, covering all of it takes 5.6 kWdc, or 14 panels. Your own bill will move that up or down.
How much does solar cost in Vermont?
For the average-home example the installed estimate is $14,035 at the national median of $2.49 per watt (EnergySage, H2 2025, as of 2026-11). We have no sourced Vermont price multiplier, so local quotes will differ.
Is there a federal solar tax credit in Vermont?
The 30% federal tax credit ended for homeowner purchases after December 31, 2025. Check your state, utility and local programs separately.
Where does the Vermont sun figure come from?
1,222 kWh per kW per year and 1.91 winter peak sun hours come from NREL PVWatts v8 runs for Vermont's largest city, compiled by TheGreenWatt (as of 2026-11). Real yield varies across the state.
Is my bill uploaded?
No. Your bill is read in your browser and never uploaded.