Which states are best for balcony solar?
Whether plug-in solar pays off depends far more on where you live than on the panel. We ran the same 800 W balcony kit through each state's own electricity price and sunshine, and put the state's law status beside the result. Data as of October 8, 2026.
The short answer
- Where a law is already in effect, Connecticut has the shortest payback: about 10.4 years on a south-facing railing (6.9 years with an angled bracket), at 28.6¢/kWh.
- Across all 51 jurisdictions, California comes out best on economics alone (7.5 years). Law status there: Signed, not yet effective (starts January 1, 2027).
- Electricity price matters more than sunshine. Average residential prices differ by about 3.8× between the cheapest state (Wyoming, 11.2¢/kWh) and the priciest (Hawaii, 42.7¢); annual sunshine differs by about 2.2×. Arizona has the most sun (5.6 kWh/m²/day) but a payback of 16.4 years at 13.9¢, while Hawaii pays back in 9.8 years.
States with a plug-in solar law
Sorted by payback on a south-facing railing. Yield and savings use each state's own sunshine and average residential price.
Payback for an 800 W kit in states with a plug-in solar law, shortest first
| State | Law status | Power price (¢/kWh) | Sun (kWh/m²/day) | Railing, south: kWh/yr | Saved per year | Payback, years (range) | Payback with angled bracket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California † | Signed, not yet effective starts January 1, 2027 | 31.4 | 5.4 | 854 | $161 | 7.5 (6.0–12.4) | 4.5 (30°) |
| Connecticut | Law in effect | 28.6 | 3.8 | 669 | $115 | 10.4 (8.4–17.4) | 6.9 (35°) |
| Maine | Law in effect | 27.9 | 3.5 | 651 | $109 | 11.0 (8.8–18.4) | 7.6 (35°) |
| New Hampshire | Signed, not yet effective starts January 1, 2027 | 28.1 | 3.6 | 646 | $109 | 11.0 (8.8–18.4) | 7.4 (35°) |
| Vermont † | Law in effect | 22.4 | 3.5 | 605 | $81 | 14.8 (11.8–24.6) | 9.8 (35°) |
| New York | Passed, awaiting governor | 22.6 | 3.6 | 599 | $81 | 14.8 (11.8–24.6) | 9.5 (35°) |
| Colorado † | Law in effect | 14.8 | 4.8 | 860 | $76 | 15.7 (12.6–26.2) | 10.3 (35°) |
| New Jersey | Signed, not yet effective starts March 1, 2027 | 18.4 | 3.9 | 659 | $73 | 16.5 (13.2–27.5) | 10.6 (35°) |
| Virginia † | Signed, not yet effective starts January 1, 2027 | 16.4 | 4.2 | 690 | $68 | 17.7 (14.1–29.5) | 11.2 (30°) |
| Maryland † | Law in effect | 16.8 | 4.0 | 667 | $67 | 17.9 (14.3–29.8) | 11.3 (35°) |
| Utah | Law in effect | 11.6 | 4.9 | 843 | $59 | 20.4 (16.4–34.1) | 13.1 (35°) |
† Some details for this state are marked "needs verification" in our data (see the state page). The economics use the state average price and are not affected, but check the law's details before you buy.
No law yet: the best of the rest
The 6 best paybacks among states with no plug-in solar law in effect.
Same calculation, but you may not be allowed to plug in. Without a plug-in solar law, connecting a panel to an outlet usually falls under your utility's normal interconnection rules. Check the state page for where any bill stands, and ask your utility before you buy.
The 6 shortest paybacks among states without a plug-in solar law
| State | Law status | Power price (¢/kWh) | Sun (kWh/m²/day) | Railing, south: kWh/yr | Saved per year | Payback, years (range) | Payback with angled bracket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Bill pending | 33.0 | 3.8 | 671 | $133 | 9.0 (7.2–15.0) | 6.0 (35°) |
| Hawaii ‡ | Bill stalled | 42.7 | 4.8 | 476 | $122 | 9.8 (7.9–16.4) | 4.2 (10°) |
| Rhode Island | Bill stalled | 29.8 | 3.9 | 671 | $120 | 10.0 (8.0–16.7) | 6.6 (35°) |
| Alaska ‡ | Bill stalled | 23.8 | 2.6 | 576 | $82 | 14.6 (11.7–24.3) | 11.2 (45°) |
| New Mexico | Bill stalled | 14.2 | 5.5 | 881 | $75 | 16.0 (12.8–26.6) | 9.7 (30°) |
| Arizona | Bill stalled | 13.9 | 5.6 | 878 | $73 | 16.4 (13.1–27.3) | 9.8 (30°) |
‡ Sunshine data for this state is an approximation (outside our solar-data grid), so its numbers are rougher.
Orientation changes the answer in every state
The tables assume the panel hangs on a south-facing railing (vertical). Two things move that number, and both vary by state because the sun's height does:
- Tilt it. An adjustable bracket at the best angle for the state (shown in brackets in the last column) produces a median of 58% more energy than a vertical panel.
- Face matters. On an east- or west-facing railing the median state produces 85% of the south-facing figure, which lengthens payback accordingly.
A phone placed against your own railing measures your real direction and tilt; the Sunperch app does this in about a minute and recalculates for your spot.
What we calculated, and what is state-specific
From each state: average residential electricity price, monthly sunshine, latitude and longitude (which set the sun's path and the best tilt), the state's power cap on the device, and the law's status and date.
The same for every state, because it does not depend on the state: a 800 W kit, a hardware price of $1.50 per watt, and 60% of the energy used at home. Hardware prices and household use vary a lot, so the payback column shows a range for hardware price ($1.20–$2.50 per watt). Household use matters even more: for Connecticut on a railing, using 85% of the output at home gives 7.4 years, and 45% gives 13.9 years.
Not included: sales tax, rebates or incentives, time-of-use rates, shading, and your utility's actual tariff. Savings count only the energy you use at home. We assume you are not paid for power the kit sends back to the grid; ask your utility whether it credits it.
This is an estimate for planning, not financial or legal advice. Check the bill text and your utility, landlord or HOA before buying.