Plug-in solar savings on Truckee Donner Public Utility District
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The short answer: on Truckee Donner Public Utility District's Residential, permanent residents rate of 19.76¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $156 a year and pays for itself in about 6.4 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on Truckee Donner Public Utility District
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $206 | 4.8 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $156 | 6.4 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $114 | 8.8 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
Truckee Donner PUD's 2026 residential rate for permanent residents: a flat $0.1976 per kWh (part-time residents pay $0.2247). The $32.62 monthly customer charge is 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 Truckee Donner Public Utility District
SB 868 covers local publicly owned utilities such as Truckee Donner Public Utility District, as well as investor-owned utilities. Truckee Donner Public Utility District 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 Truckee Donner Public Utility District?
- About $156 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at Truckee Donner Public Utility District's Residential, permanent residents rate of 19.76¢/kWh, paying back in about 6.4 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to Truckee Donner Public Utility District customers?
- Yes. The law covers both investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities. Truckee Donner Public Utility District may ask you to register a qualifying kit online, but can't charge fees related to it.