Plug-in solar savings on Redding Electric Utility
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The short answer: on Redding Electric Utility's E1 rate of 14.95¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $118 a year and pays for itself in about 8.4 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on Redding Electric Utility
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $156 | 6.4 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $118 | 8.4 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $86 | 11.6 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 Redding's flat residential rate (E1), effective January 1, 2025 and unchanged in 2026: energy charge ($0.1492) plus state surcharge ($0.0003), $0.1495 for every kWh. The $40 monthly fixed charge is excluded. A 2027 increase has been proposed. Redding's rate book also has a variable federal environmental surcharge and a power cost adjustment whose current values aren't published, so they aren'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 Redding Electric Utility
SB 868 covers local publicly owned utilities such as Redding Electric Utility, as well as investor-owned utilities. Redding 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 Redding Electric Utility?
- About $118 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at Redding Electric Utility's E1 rate of 14.95¢/kWh, paying back in about 8.4 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to Redding Electric Utility customers?
- Yes. The law covers both investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities. Redding Electric Utility may ask you to register a qualifying kit online, but can't charge fees related to it.