Plug-in solar savings on Lodi Electric Utility
Last updated
The short answer: on Lodi Electric Utility's EA rate of 20.01¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $158 a year and pays for itself in about 6.3 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on Lodi Electric Utility
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $209 | 4.8 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $158 | 6.3 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $115 | 8.7 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 Lodi's residential rates (summary effective July 1, 2024, still current): energy charge by tier, the state energy tax ($0.0003) and the monthly Energy Cost Adjustment, averaged over October 2025 to September 2026 ($0.04165). That is about $0.18475 for the first 391-481 kWh, $0.20005 up to 782-962 kWh and $0.37855 above that. We use the middle tier. The adjustment changes monthly.[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 Lodi Electric Utility
SB 868 covers local publicly owned utilities such as Lodi Electric Utility, as well as investor-owned utilities. Lodi 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 Lodi Electric Utility?
- About $158 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at Lodi Electric Utility's EA rate of 20.01¢/kWh, paying back in about 6.3 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to Lodi Electric Utility customers?
- Yes. The law covers both investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities. Lodi Electric Utility may ask you to register a qualifying kit online, but can't charge fees related to it.