Plug-in solar savings on Banning Electric Utility
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The short answer: on Banning Electric Utility's RS-1 rate of 23.66¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $187 a year and pays for itself in about 5.3 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on Banning Electric Utility
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $247 | 4.0 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $187 | 5.3 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $136 | 7.3 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
Banning's residential rate (RS-1) is a flat $0.2366 per kWh from November 1, 2026 (up from $0.1878). The $43 monthly basic charge and the percentage public benefits charge are excluded. This utility also adds a quarterly per-kWh power cost adjustment that can raise or lower the price; its current value isn't published, so it isn't included and your bill may differ.[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 Banning Electric Utility
SB 868 covers local publicly owned utilities such as Banning Electric Utility, as well as investor-owned utilities. Banning Electric Utility 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 Banning Electric Utility?
- About $187 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at Banning Electric Utility's RS-1 rate of 23.66¢/kWh, paying back in about 5.3 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to Banning Electric Utility customers?
- Yes. The law covers both investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities. Banning Electric Utility may ask you to register a qualifying kit online, but can't charge fees related to it.