Electricity rate reference
SolarCalcNow currently uses 21.73 cents/kWh for Pennsylvania.
$0.2173/kWh
21.73 ¢/kWh
EIA Table 5.6.A, June 2026 residential column; published August 26, 2026. Divide the published cents/kWh by 100. This preliminary statewide average is a fallback, not your utility tariff. Use your bill's energy-only rate; fixed charges remain payable.
A statewide residential average is a consistent early-planning input, not a reproduction of one utility bill. SolarCalcNow uses it to value electricity consumed directly from the solar system and to establish the annual energy-charge ceiling in the savings model. The calculation does not assume solar removes fixed charges, minimum bills, demand charges, taxes, or every time-of-use period. It also values exported production separately under the selected export assumption. This separation lets you test the effect of a different rate or export value without changing the system's physical production target.
Pennsylvania's statewide residential-rate context can support savings, but production, roof conditions, and utility rules vary across the state. The calculator uses one transparent state baseline so users can compare scenarios, not to imply that every service territory has the same tariff. A project-specific proposal should identify the serving utility and explain any rate or export value that differs from this source-linked average.
Seasonal usage and production can make one recent bill a poor sizing input. Average annual kWh, then test different offset and export assumptions before deciding that a larger system is better. Ask installers to separate gross equipment and installation cost from financing, batteries, roof work, and incentives, and confirm which bill charges remain after solar rather than applying the state rate to the entire bill without qualification.
These values come from the existing calculator engine. They multiply the annualized usage scenario by the source-linked state rate and do not include fixed charges, future rate increases, or a utility-specific tariff.
| Monthly usage | Annual usage | Modeled energy charge |
|---|---|---|
| 600 kWh | 7,200 kWh | $1,565 |
| 900 kWh | 10,800 kWh | $2,347 |
| 1,200 kWh | 14,400 kWh | $3,129 |
The calculator estimates bill savings from self-consumed solar at the selected residential rate. A higher rate can shorten payback, while a lower rate makes installed cost and export credit assumptions more important.
Utility plans, time-of-use pricing, net billing, fixed charges, and export credits can differ from a statewide average. Check your bill and utility tariff before treating a planning estimate as a quote.