Solar Panel Cost Guide in St. Martinville, LA (2024 Update)
- St. Martinville Solar Installation Cost: $26,762
- 25-Year Savings: $26,550
- Payback Period: 15.0 Years
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Average Cost of Solar Panels in St. Martinville
Find out what the average cost of solar panel installation is in St. Martinville.
The national average cost of solar panels is $2.66 per watt, but in St. Martinville it’s 4 per watt.The average solar panel system size in St. Martinville is around 10.1 kilowatts, meaning a cost of about $26,762 for a solar installation, or $38,270 before the 0 federal solar tax credit is applied.
Bear in mind that the figures above are only estimates based on the average energy use of St. Martinville homeowners. The cost of a solar system for your home may be different depending on factors unique to your situation, like your household energy use and solar contractor.Many homeowners find going solar is a sound investment. The average homeowner in St. Martinville can save about $17,000 on their power bills over 20 years.
To receive a free quote from a vetted solar installer in St. Martinville, you can click the button below.
Solar savings over time in St. Martinville
| Year | Return on Investment |
|---|---|
| 1 years | $-25,185 |
| 3 years | $-22,029 |
| 5 years | $-18,874 |
| 7 years | $-15,719 |
| 9 years | $-12,564 |
| 11 years | $-9,409 |
| 13 years | $-6,253 |
| 15 years | $-3,098 |
| 17 years | $57 |
| 19 years | $3,212 |
| 21 years | $6,368 |
| 23 years | $9,523 |
| 25 years | $12,678 |
Top Solar Installers in St. Martinville
Although you can install solar panels on your own, it requires extra time and knowledge. For that reason, almost all homeowners choose a solar panel installer. Solar installers offer key benefits that can help you get the most out of your investment, like warranties, monitoring and free repairs.
If you’d like to go solar but still aren’t certain which solar panel installer to go with, here are our suggestions for providers near you:
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
See all of the solar companies in St. Martinville
Factors that Affect Solar Panel Costs in St. Martinville
Although the average cost of a solar system in St. Martinville is $26,762, your actual cost may differ. There are many factors that can have a sizable impact on the cost of a residential solar panel installation. Below are some of the more crucial things to keep in mind.
Solar Equipment
Solar system size, which is measured in kilowatts, is one of the largest factors that determines the overall cost of going solar. Because of that, it’s a priority to accurately assess the size of the solar energy system needed for your home by figuring out your average energy use.There are many different solar panel brands and the one you pick also affects the cost. Typically, the brands that have better efficiency tend to also cost more. Plus, the type of equipment you choose can affect your total cost. If you only need panels, your system will be much less expensive than if you also need solar batteries or an electric vehicle charger.
Solar Financing Terms
Solar panels can save you money on energy bills over many years, but they can also be a significant investment. That’s why many St. Martinville homeowners decide to finance their solar panel systems to make going solar more affordable.Even though solar loans make switching to solar energy more accessible for St. Martinville homeowners, they can also add to the total you pay for your system due to interest. If you make a larger down payment, though, you can avoid paying as much in interest.
Solar Panel Installation Company
The solar installer you select will influence your total cost to adopt solar energy. Different companies will bill different amounts for the equipment and labor.You may come across national solar installers that have lower prices because of their larger brand name and access to bulk pricing, or you might see small, local installation companies offering deals or specials to compete with those major players.
Solar Panel Cost Data by System Size
| System size | Cost per system watt | Solar system cost | 25-Year savings | Payback period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $3.95 | $16,598 | $10,029 | 15.6 years |
| 8 kW | $3.88 | $21,706 | $13,797 | 15.3 years |
| 10 kW | $3.80 | $26,600 | $17,778 | 15.0 years |
| 12 kW | $3.72 | $31,282 | $21,972 | 14.7 years |
| 14 kW | $3.65 | $35,750 | $26,379 | 14.4 years |
| 16 kW | $3.57 | $40,006 | $30,999 | 14.1 years |
| 18 kW | $3.50 | $44,050 | $35,831 | 13.8 years |
| 20 kW | $3.42 | $47,880 | $40,877 | 13.5 years |
How to Save on Solar Panels
The solar panel company you go with will impact not only your overall costs, but also the kinds of solar panel brands, warranties, and other equipment you have access to. When choosing a solar company, there are a few important things you should consider, including:
- Installation Process: Get detailed information from your solar installer about the installation process and what to expect, including when the site survey will be completed and what the project timeline is.
- Warranty: If you care about the durability of your solar panels, checking if your company offers a 25-year, all-inclusive warranty can give you some peace of mind.
- Contract: Although reading through a contract can be tedious, it’s important to do it carefully so you can make sure you understand what services your solar company will provide and how part repairs and replacements will be handled.
- Reputation: The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a respected certification organization for sustainable energy professionals. If your solar panel installer is NABCEP-certified, it likely has a good reputation and is qualified to do the job well. Another way you can check your installer’s reputation is by reading reviews.
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's St. Martinville, LA Solar Cost FAQs
What is the average cost of installing solar panels in St. Martinville?
The average cost of solar panels in St. Martinville is about $19,000 for a 5-kW system and $38,000 for a 10-kW system before the ITC, but the real cost will depend on things like the kind of solar panels you want, what size system you need and how much energy you use.
Are solar panels free in St. Martinville?
You can’t get solar panels for free in St. Martinville. However, you may still be able to install them on a lower budget. You can lease solar panels for a low upfront cost or, if you’d rather own your solar panels, you can finance them with a solar loan.
Do solar panels increase the value of your home?
Solar panels can increase the value of your home considerably as long as you buy or finance your panels and don’t go for a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA). According to research done by Zillow, the average home value increases by about 4.1% with a solar installation."
How often do you have to replace solar panels?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they are completely unusable at that time. What this means is how much energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can opt to replace them after having them for that long or you can continue to use them at a lower efficiency.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert's opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.