Mesa, AZ Solar Installation: 2026 Costs, Incentives & Savings

Solar Power in Mesa

With over 300 sunny days each year, Mesa is one of the best places in the country to power your home with solar energy. Arizona ranks 3rd for residential solar installations in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why so many local homeowners are making the switch.

If you’re curious about going solar in Mesa, you’re in the right place. This guide walks you through what to expect, and you can learn more in our overview of home solar panels.

ARIZONA by the Numbers

3rd Most residential solar in the United States
295 Households have installed solar panels
6.5 Avg peak sun hours per day
~$63k Mesa average savings over 25 years

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Mesa, AZ?

See real solar costs for Mesa, built from our actual local installations. This calculator uses firsthand data from homes across Mesa and nearby areas like Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, and Apache Junction. Enter a few details to get a clear, honest estimate for your own home.

Lease Cash Purchase

Small Home Up to 2,000 sq ft

Medium Home 2,000-3,000 sq ft

Large Home Over 3,000 sq ft

System Size

This system size is designed to offset approximately 100% of the average electricity usage for a home of this size in Arizona.

Recommended System
8.20 kW
Your Monthly Payment

Estimated monthly cost with LightReach
$105/mo

As low as
$105/mo

Cost Breakdown

Your estimated investment
System Cost
$23,405
Price per Watt
$2.85
State Incentives
-$1,000
Final Cost
$22,405

Savings

Monthly Savings
Average utility bill reduction
$143
Payback Period
Break-even point
11.0 years
25-Year Savings
$62,756

Palmetto Reviews

I called Palmetto to get my part started, with the information about how things worked, information my local power company wanted and once everything was ready, to schedule the work on my home. Every time I called I had a very pleasant experience. I am hard of hearing and everyone I talked to slowed down and spoke so I had no problem hearing them! They were all informative, helpful, and very kind. I am so pleased that I had the opportunity to work with Palmetto and I highly recommend them to everyone.

Lynda Mchugh
Mesa, Arizona

Palmetto installers were amazing. They kept us informed along the way and at the end, walked us through the installation showing us the wiring and placement of each panel. They ensured that the inspection was completed without a glitch. They were amazing!!!!

Maria Martinez
Tempe, Arizona

Hey, we just got our solar project installed and the guys were professional and considerate of our pets when they needed to potty. Thank you Palmetto for a great job.

Joseph Painter
San Tan Valley, Arizona

Key Takeaways

• Mesa gets over 300 sunny days a year with 6.5 peak sun hours daily, making it one of the best places in the country for home solar.
• Arizona offers strong solar incentives, including a 25% state tax credit (up to $1,000), a property tax exemption, and a sales tax exemption on your system.
• A typical Mesa home can save around $63,000 over 25 years, or go solar with no upfront cost through a LightReach lease starting at $105 a month.

Mesa Electricity Prices

Understanding what you pay for electricity in Mesa can help you make smarter, more informed decisions about your home’s energy future.

Arizona electricity rates have climbed steadily, rising from 12.5 cents per kWh in 2021 to 14.9 cents per kWh in 2024. That’s a consistent upward trend, even though Arizona stays below the national average.

Solar offers Mesa homeowners a way to generate their own power instead of buying it all from the grid. As utility rates continue to rise, producing electricity at home can help stabilize what you spend each month.

Over time, solar can offer more predictable energy costs. While grid prices tend to increase year after year, a solar system lets you lock in a portion of your energy production for decades to come.

Price of Energy: Arizona vs National Average

Mesa Area Utility Providers

If you live in Mesa, your electricity likely comes from APS or SRP. In 2023, APS charged about 15.3¢ per kWh, while SRP was lower at 12.5¢ per kWh.

Both rates fall near Arizona’s 2023 state average of 14.0¢ per kWh and below the national average of 16.0¢. Mesa’s plentiful sunshine and shared power infrastructure help keep local costs somewhat lower than many other states.

Still, utility rates can rise over time. Installing solar panels in Mesa lets you generate your own power, giving you more control over your energy costs and less worry about future rate changes.

Mesa Utilities Electricity Rates

Arizona Solar Incentives

Several solar incentives in Arizona can help Mesa homeowners offset the cost of installing solar and battery storage.

Arizona offers a state income tax credit, a property tax exemption, and a sales tax exemption. Mesa homeowners served by APS may also earn battery rewards, while net billing credits excess energy sent to the grid.

Mesa Solar Irradiance

Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.

Mesa enjoys abundant sunshine year-round, with clear desert skies and long summer days boosting solar production. Even during monsoon season, Mesa’s high solar potential makes it excellent for reliable energy generation.

Solar Production in Mesa by Month

System Size: 5 kW, 7 kW, 10 kW
Daylight Hours
Energy Production (kWh/day)

What Can Your Solar System Power?

Summer Production (July)

49.3 kWh/day
In July, your 10 kW system could power:

• 3.3 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
• or Run central AC for 16 hours AND power all other appliances
• or Fully charge 4.9 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles

Winter Production (December)

37.9 kWh/day
In December, your 10 kW system could power:

• 2.5 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
• or Keep your home heating system running for 18 hours
• or Fully charge 3.8 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles

Annual Production

17,551 kWh/year
Over a year, your 10 kW system could:

• Offset 12 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
• or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 211 trees

Solar Panel Systems in Mesa

In Mesa, most homes are served by Arizona Public Service (APS) or Salt River Project (SRP), and both qualify for a solar lease through Palmetto’s LightReach program. A lease means you pay a fixed monthly amount instead of a large upfront cost.

With a lease, Palmetto owns the system and handles all maintenance, monitoring, and repairs. Unlike paying cash, you skip the big investment and never worry about upkeep yourself. Your savings begin as soon as your panels turn on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mesa, AZ have net metering? Mesa, AZ no longer offers traditional net metering. Instead, local utilities like Arizona Public Service (APS) and Salt River Project (SRP) use net billing, which credits the excess solar energy you send to the grid at a lower export rate than the retail price you pay for power.

Do solar panels increase your home value in Mesa, AZ? Yes, in many cases owned or purchased solar panel systems can increase your Mesa home’s value. A Zillow study found that homes with solar panels sold for approximately 4.1% more than comparable homes without them.

How much does it cost to go solar in Mesa, AZ? In Mesa, you can go solar with no upfront cost through a LightReach lease, paying a low fixed monthly amount starting around $105 per month. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, so your savings begin as soon as the panels turn on.

How much electricity can a solar system produce in Mesa, AZ? In Mesa’s sunny desert climate, a typical 10 kW home solar system can produce roughly 17,500 kWh per year. Smaller systems generate less, with a 5 kW system producing around 8,800 kWh and a 7 kW system near 12,300 kWh annually.

What solar incentives are available in Mesa, AZ? Mesa homeowners can take advantage of several Arizona solar incentives. These include a state income tax credit worth 25% of your system’s cost (up to $1,000), a property tax exemption on the added home value, and a sales tax exemption on solar equipment.