Solar Panel Cost Guide in St. Marys, KS (2024 Update)
- St. Marys Solar Installation Cost: $18,241
- 25-Year Savings: $33,240
- Payback Period: 9.6 Years
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Average Cost of Solar Panels in St. Marys
We go over average solar pricing in St. Marys.
The national average cost of solar panels is $2.66 per watt, but in St. Marys it’s 3 per watt.The average solar panel system size in St. Marys is around 7.8 kilowatts, meaning a cost of about $18,241 for a solar installation, or $26,085 before the 0 federal solar tax credit is applied.
Keep in mind that the figures above are only estimates based on the average St. Marys homeowner. The cost of a solar system for your home may be different depending on factors unique to your situation, like your household energy use and solar contractor.With typical savings of about $23,000 on electricity bills over 20 years, many homeowners in St. Marys find installing solar panels has a decent ROI.
For a free quote from a local solar company that has been pre-vetted by the EcoWatch team, click the button below.
Solar savings over time in St. Marys
| Year | Return on Investment |
|---|---|
| 1 years | $-16,896 |
| 3 years | $-14,208 |
| 5 years | $-11,519 |
| 7 years | $-8,830 |
| 9 years | $-6,141 |
| 11 years | $-3,452 |
| 13 years | $-764 |
| 15 years | $1,925 |
| 17 years | $4,614 |
| 19 years | $7,303 |
| 21 years | $9,992 |
| 23 years | $12,681 |
| 25 years | $15,369 |
Top Solar Installers in St. Marys
When switching to solar energy, many homeowners opt to use a solar installation company since putting up a solar system yourself can be a challenging project. Companies can also have access to various kinds of the best solar panels and help you pick which one will be right for your home.
If you’d like to switch to solar energy but still aren’t sure which solar installer to go with, here are our suggestions for providers in St. Marys:
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
See all of the solar companies in St. Marys
Factors that Affect Solar Panel Costs in St. Marys
There are several factors that can influence your total installation cost, such as the size of your system, the equipment you choose, your financing options and the specific company that installs your solar panels.
Solar Equipment
System size, which is measured in kilowatts, is one of the largest factors that affects the overall cost of installing solar panels. For that reason, it’s crucial to accurately gauge the size of the solar energy system needed for your home by figuring out your typical energy use.There are a lot of different solar panel brands and the one you pick also changes the cost. Generally speaking, the brands that are more efficient tend to also cost more. Additionally, the type of equipment you’re looking to get can affect your total cost. If you just need panels, your system will be much less expensive than if you also need solar batteries or an electric vehicle charger.
Solar Financing Terms
For some homeowners, paying for a solar system out of pocket can be challenging. Solar loans are offered by most installers in St. Marys, which can lower, or in some cases eliminate, your upfront costs to make solar more affordable.Though solar loans make going solar more accessible for St. Marys homeowners, they can also raise the total you pay for your system due to interest. If you put down a larger down payment, though, you can avoid paying as much in interest.
Solar Panel Installation Company
The solar company you select will impact your total cost to adopt solar power. Different companies will charge different amounts for the equipment and labor.The size of the company sometimes plays the most significant role in your costs. Larger national companies, like SunPro and Sunrun, often have lower pricing because of greater resources and bulk pricing. Smaller local companies might be more costly, but they can sometimes have better customer service and more customization options, and the occasional sale or discount can bring their pricing down to compete with bigger names.
Solar Panel Cost Data by System Size
| System size | Cost per system watt | Solar system cost | 25-Year savings | Payback period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $3.47 | $14,589 | $21,852 | 10.0 years |
| 8 kW | $3.41 | $19,078 | $29,510 | 9.8 years |
| 10 kW | $3.34 | $23,380 | $37,355 | 9.6 years |
| 12 kW | $3.27 | $27,495 | $45,387 | 9.4 years |
| 14 kW | $3.21 | $31,423 | $53,606 | 9.2 years |
| 16 kW | $3.14 | $35,164 | $62,012 | 9.0 years |
| 18 kW | $3.07 | $38,717 | $70,605 | 8.9 years |
| 20 kW | $3.01 | $42,084 | $79,386 | 8.7 years |
How to Save on Solar Panels
The company that does your solar panel installation will affect the warranties and brands you have access to, and it will also have an impact on your total cost. Since selecting a company can be difficult, we have some tips to help you, such as:
- Solar Panel Brands: Different companies will offer various brands and kinds of panels. If you want a specific brand, make sure the solar panel installer you’re considering has it.
- Contract: When reading through your solar installer’s contract, ask for clarification about any terms you’re not sure of and make sure you understand what happens in scenarios like a system component breaking or if the company goes out of business.
- Warranty: Warranties that provide coverage for panel repairs and maintenance over a couple decades are the best you can get in the business, and offering that kind of warranty is one mark of a quality company.
- Reputation: The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a well-established certification organization for clean energy professionals. If your solar panel installer is NABCEP-certified, it most likely has a solid reputation and is qualified to get the job done well. Another way you can look into your installer’s reputation is by reading reviews.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's St. Marys, KS Solar Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to install solar panels in St. Marys?
The average cost of solar panels in St. Marys is about $16,700 for a 5-kW system and $33,400 for a 10-kW system before the ITC, but the actual cost will depend on certain factors like the kind of solar panels you want, what size system you need and how much energy you use.
Are solar panels free in St. Marys?
A solar panel system isn’t free in St. Marys, but there are some options that can make getting them more viable, such as leasing solar panels or getting a solar loan. There may also be local programs or incentives that can further reduce the cost.
Is making the switch to solar worth it?
Solar panels can be a fruitful investment for a majority of homeowners, but they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight and/or your electricity bills are already reasonably low, solar panels might not be for you.
How often do you have to replace solar panels?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they are completely unusable at that time. What this means is how much energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can replace them once you've had them for that long or you can continue to use them at a lower efficiency.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert's opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.