Plug-in solar savings on Pasadena Water and Power
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The short answer: on Pasadena Water and Power's R-1 rate of 28.39¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $225 a year and pays for itself in about 4.4 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on Pasadena Water and Power
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $296 | 3.4 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $225 | 4.4 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $164 | 6.1 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 Pasadena's winter rate card, effective October 1, 2026: distribution by tier plus transmission ($0.01609), energy ($0.09380), public benefit ($0.00685) and state surcharge ($0.0003). That is $0.15874 for the first 350 kWh, $0.28386 for the next 400 and $0.41731 above that. We use the middle tier. Summer rates differ and aren't included yet; percentage taxes are excluded.[source]
Discounts
CARE and FERA are CPUC programs for investor-owned utilities, so they don't apply here. City and district utilities run their own discount programs, which we haven't verified.
SB 868 and Pasadena Water and Power
SB 868 covers local publicly owned utilities such as Pasadena Water and Power, as well as investor-owned utilities. Pasadena Water and 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 Pasadena Water and Power?
- About $225 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at Pasadena Water and Power's R-1 rate of 28.39¢/kWh, paying back in about 4.4 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to Pasadena Water and Power customers?
- Yes. The law covers both investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities. Pasadena Water and Power may ask you to register a qualifying kit online, but can't charge fees related to it.