Plug-in solar savings on Surprise Valley Electrification
Last updated
The short answer: on Surprise Valley Electrification's Schedule D rate of 11.35¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $90 a year and pays for itself in about 11.1 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on Surprise Valley Electrification
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $118 | 8.4 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $90 | 11.1 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $65 | 15.3 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
Surprise Valley's residential rate (Schedule D), effective April 1, 2026: $0.1135 for every kWh. The monthly basic charge ($1 per kVA, at least $24) 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 Surprise Valley Electrification
SB 868 names investor-owned and local publicly owned utilities. Surprise Valley Electrification is an electric cooperative, which the law doesn't name, so check with Surprise Valley Electrification before you install a kit.[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 Surprise Valley Electrification?
- About $90 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at Surprise Valley Electrification's Schedule D rate of 11.35¢/kWh, paying back in about 11.1 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to Surprise Valley Electrification customers?
- It isn't clear. The law names investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities; Surprise Valley Electrification is an electric cooperative, which it doesn't name. Check with Surprise Valley Electrification before you install a kit.