Solar panels in Rochester, NY
Roofs in Rochester get about 1,365 hours of usable sunlight a year — less than 86% of the cities we've measured. Here's what that means in cost, savings and payback, using real rooftop data rather than a national average.
Check your specific roof in Rochester → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Rochester solar system costs
A 24-panel system (9.6 kW) is about right for an average Rochester home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 11,138 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 3,713 | $6,384 | $902 | 7.1 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 5,569 | $9,576 | $1,353 | 7.1 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 7,426 | $12,768 | $1,804 | 7.1 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 9,282 | $15,960 | $2,256 | 7.1 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 12,067 | $20,748 | $2,701 | 7.7 yrs |
Notice that payback barely improves as systems get bigger, and eventually gets worse. That's because you can only save money on electricity you were going to buy anyway. Once a system covers your usage, extra panels mostly generate exports at a much lower rate.
Why Rochester gets 1,365 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Rochester — it already accounts for shading from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings, which is why it's lower than the raw "hours of daylight" figures you'll see elsewhere. An unusually open, unshaded roof in Rochester reaches about 1,491 hours, roughly 9% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,365 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,491 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (New York avg) | 24.3¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Federal tax credit | 30% |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 34% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 15 |
| Google imagery from | 2023 |
Nearby cities
See all of New York → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Rochester solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Rochester?
About 24 panels for an average home. Rochester roofs get 1,365 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 464 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Rochester?
At 24.3¢/kWh and 1,365 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 7.2 years and returns roughly $46,972 over 25 years. That is a solid return.
How much do solar panels cost in Rochester?
A 9.6 kW system costs about $27,360 before incentives and $19,152 after the 30% federal tax credit. Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average New York electricity rates. Not a quote and not financial advice. Your roof, usage, utility plan and local incentives will change these numbers — get real quotes before buying.