Plug-in solar savings on Alameda Municipal Power
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The short answer: on Alameda Municipal Power's D-1 rate of 26.75¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $212 a year and pays for itself in about 4.7 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on Alameda Municipal Power
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $279 | 3.6 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $212 | 4.7 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $154 | 6.5 years |
Power you send back to the grid is valued at $0, so a kit sized to what you use during the day saves the most. Run your own numbers, including how savings add up over the years.
Where this rate comes from
Our sum of Alameda Municipal Power's D-1 schedule, effective July 1, 2026: distribution, public purpose ($0.00652), generation and the state surcharge ($0.0003). That is $0.13964 for baseline use and $0.26753 above it, all year. We use the upper tier. The energy adjustment charge is currently $0; the 7.5% utility users tax is excluded.[source]
Discounts
CARE and FERA are CPUC programs for investor-owned utilities, so they don't apply here. City, district and co-op utilities run their own discount programs, which we haven't verified.
SB 868 and Alameda Municipal Power
SB 868 covers local publicly owned utilities such as Alameda Municipal Power, as well as investor-owned utilities. Alameda Municipal Power may ask you to register a qualifying kit through a simple online form, but can't charge fees related to it.[source] Read SB 868 explained and run through the checks before you buy.
Estimates only. Not electrical, legal or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
- How much could a plug-in solar kit save on Alameda Municipal Power?
- About $212 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at Alameda Municipal Power's D-1 rate of 26.75¢/kWh, paying back in about 4.7 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to Alameda Municipal Power customers?
- Yes. The law covers both investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities. Alameda Municipal Power may ask you to register a qualifying kit online, but can't charge fees related to it.