Redditors shared shocking, real-world knowledge about residence photo voltaic

Are you questioning what sort of outcomes you’d get when you added a house photo voltaic system to your roof? Owners are sharing their outcomes on-line — and the real-world knowledge would possibly shock you!

In a latest put up to r/Photo voltaica Reddit person going by DontBuyBitcoin shared a screenshot indicating that their newly-installed ~11.5 kW system produced over 1,700 kWh of electrical energy in October. “Fairly stunned by the manufacturing of the system I bought,” writes DontBuyBitcoin. “11.48KW. I cant wait to see what JUNE-AUGUST (2026) going to appear to be ? I want SolarEdge will make their app higher wanting with extra performance”

Dwelling photo voltaic power chart

Different Redditors have been fast to share within the enthusiasm. “Congratulations!!! Nice numbers,” wrote LegalNet4337. “We bought 1.6 MWh with a 14.45 kW system. East and West going through panels in SoCal.”

That 1,700 kWh is nothing to sneeze at. Based mostly on the present nationwide common electrical energy worth of about $0.17/kWh (in AUG2025), DontBuyBitcoin’s admittedly large-ish system interprets to ~$290 of potential financial savings. In the next fee state like Illinois, with a projected 2026 kWh fee that’s nearer to $0.18/kWh, that’s ~$306/mo.

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We count on retail electrical energy costs to residential clients will common 17 cents per kilowatthour (kWh) nationwide in 2025, a 4% improve over 2024, after which rise to roughly 18 cents/kWh in 2026. This rise continues a development during which residential electrical energy costs have elevated at a median annual fee of 5% annually for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in retail electrical energy costs this yr comes as the price of pure gasoline to the electrical energy sector was up greater than 40% in 1H25 in contrast with a yr earlier, with related year-over-year will increase forecast for the rest of 2025. The common value of pure gasoline for energy technology in our forecast will increase one other 17% in 2026.

US ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (EIA)

These are large numbers, however 11-15 kW rooftop photo voltaic techniques are large. Considerably greater, in reality, than the US common, ~6.6 kW in 2024 – however you don’t need to have an enormous system so as to put up large numbers. Superior climate situations and excellent PV panel placement can even get the job completed, as one other Redditor discovered.

“The final 2 days we’ve got had good climate right here in South Florida and I’ve been in a position to recover from 30 kWh from a 5 kW system with a 3.8 kW inverter. That is the best I’ve seen since getting PTO in September,” wrote Redditor dlewis23who shared one other SolarEdge graph. “I’m tremendous proud of seeing over 30 kWh in a single day.”

30 kW/day from residence photo voltaic

Taken altogether, these real-world snapshots show that whether or not it’s a modest 5 kW array or a beefy 10+ kW setup, householders out in the true world are seeing significant, measurable variations from their residence photo voltaic installations. And, with retail electrical energy costs projected to maintain on rising by the last decade, each kilowatt counts.

Electrek’s Take

After we ran our “Why did you select to go photo voltaic?” survey again in September, solely 32.6% of respondents selected, “Decreasing my month-to-month utility payments” as their main motivation to go photo voltaic. That consequence proved, in my thoughts, that Electrek readers are simply higher individuals than most, and appear to be keen to spend somewhat extra to do one thing constructive for his or her setting and their neighborhood.

That mentioned, wasn’t it no much less a thinker than Albert Einstein who mentioned, “Compound curiosity is probably the most highly effective drive within the universe” (Google it.)? And, with a 5% fee hike compounding yearly from now till the AI and knowledge middle bubbles burst, the influence power charges could have on all our pocketbooks could also be sufficient to place “Decreasing my month-to-month utility payments” again on high.

If and when that occurs: be sensibleget a number of quotes, and perceive the distinction between shopping for and leasing your PV system (particularly when you plan on promoting your private home within the foreseeable future).

SOURCES: Reddit, EIA; featured picture by way of Tesla.

For those who’re contemplating going photo voltaic, it’s at all times a good suggestion to get quotes from a couple of installers. To be sure to discover a trusted, dependable photo voltaic installer close to you that gives aggressive pricing, try EnergySagea free service that makes it simple so that you can go photo voltaic. It has a whole lot of pre-vetted photo voltaic installers competing for your small business, guaranteeing you get high-quality options and save 20-30% in comparison with going it alone. Plus, it’s free to make use of, and also you gained’t get gross sales calls till you choose an installer and share your telephone quantity with them.

Your personalised photo voltaic quotes are simple to check on-line and also you’ll get entry to unbiased Vitality Advisors that can assist you each step of the best way. Get began right here.