Solar Panel Cost Guide in Oil City, PA (2024 Update)
- Oil City Solar Installation Cost: $17,704
- 25-Year Savings: $19,047
- Payback Period: 13.9 Years
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Average Cost of Solar Panels in Oil City
We go over average solar pricing in Oil City.
The national average cost of solar panels is $2.66 per watt, but in Oil City it’s 4 per watt.The average solar panel system size in Oil City is around 7.1 kilowatts, meaning a cost of about $17,704 for a solar installation, or $25,317 before the 0 federal solar tax credit is applied.
These figures are only estimates, and how much solar costs for you will most likely look different based on factors unique to your home and what company you choose to go with.Many homeowners find adopting solar power is a rewarding investment. The average homeowner in Oil City can save around $17,000 on their energy bills over 20 years.
You can click the button below to get connected with a pre-vetted solar company in Oil City for a quote for your home.
Solar savings over time in Oil City
| Year | Return on Investment |
|---|---|
| 1 years | $-16,227 |
| 3 years | $-13,272 |
| 5 years | $-10,317 |
| 7 years | $-7,362 |
| 9 years | $-4,407 |
| 11 years | $-1,452 |
| 13 years | $1,503 |
| 15 years | $4,458 |
| 17 years | $7,413 |
| 19 years | $10,367 |
| 21 years | $13,322 |
| 23 years | $16,277 |
| 25 years | $19,232 |
Top Solar Installers in Oil City
Installing solar panels by yourself can be a dangerous project, which is why getting a solar installation company is a good option for many homeowners. Because solar panels are exposed to rain, snow, hail and wind, depending on the climate, warranties and repairs from your solar company can help you get the most out of your investment in solar panels by reducing potential costs down the line.
If you're looking for a solar company in Oil City, we've organized a list of our top suggestions here:
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
See all of the solar companies in Oil City
Factors that Affect Solar Panel Costs in Oil City
There are several criteria that can influence your installation cost, such as the size of your system, the equipment you choose, your financing options and the specific company that installs your solar panels.
Solar Equipment
One of the most important factors to consider when it comes to the cost of adopting solar energy is the size of the solar system, which is measured in kilowatts (kW). The more energy your household uses, the larger your system will likely need to be. You can expect to spend about $3,550 per kilowatt in Oil City.The brand and type of equipment you choose for your solar system can raise or lower the price quite significantly. If you prefer a brand name like Tesla or SunPower, these often come at a higher price than other brands. Efficiency also matters. Whether you’re opting for high efficiency because you have limited roof space or just want maximum energy production, you will be looking at a higher equipment cost, but this can typically lead to greater savings over time. Plus, if you want extra equipment like an electric vehicle charger or solar batteries, this will also increase the cost.
Solar Financing Terms
If paying for a solar system in cash is out of reach, solar loans are an affordable choice because they cut back your upfront costs and let you pay for your system over five to seven years on average.However, the interest on solar loans also increases your all-in costs, so it’s important to keep that in mind as well. You can always bring down the total you pay in interest and in some cases even your APR by making a larger down payment.
Solar Panel Installation Company
The remaining significant cost factor you should keep in mind is the installer you choose. Given the growing popularity of clean energy solutions in Oil City, you’ll have lots of options to choose from, but each comes at different price points for labor and equipment.You may notice national solar installers that have lower prices due to their larger brand name and access to bulk equipment pricing, or you might see small, local installation companies offering deals or specials to compete with those larger companies.
Solar Panel Cost Data by System Size
| System size | Cost per system watt | Solar system cost | 25-Year savings | Payback period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $3.69 | $15,506 | $11,244 | 14.5 years |
| 8 kW | $3.62 | $20,278 | $15,389 | 14.2 years |
| 10 kW | $3.55 | $24,850 | $19,734 | 13.9 years |
| 12 kW | $3.48 | $29,224 | $24,277 | 13.7 years |
| 14 kW | $3.41 | $33,398 | $29,019 | 13.4 years |
| 16 kW | $3.34 | $37,374 | $33,959 | 13.1 years |
| 18 kW | $3.27 | $41,152 | $39,099 | 12.8 years |
| 20 kW | $3.19 | $44,730 | $44,437 | 12.5 years |
How to Save on Solar Panels
The company that does your system installation will affect the warranties and brands you have access to, and it will also have an impact on your total cost. Because choosing a company can be a challenge, we have some tips to help you, such as:
- Contract: Review the contract terms closely to make sure you understand the total cost, project timeline incentives and warranties.
- Reputation: Make sure your solar system installer has a good reputation by verifying it has certifications and licenses, checking its number of years in business and reading reviews by past customers and solar experts like the EcoWatch team.
- Solar Panel Brands: The brand of solar panel you’d like to get plays a role in which installer you should choose, since different companies have access to different panels.
- Installation Process: Homeowners should understand how exactly the installation process will go, as well as important factors like the project completion timeline.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch's Oil City, PA Solar Cost FAQs
What is the average cost of installing solar panels in Oil City?
This is a tough question to answer precisely, because the cost depends on a variety of factors. Broadly speaking, it costs about $17,750 for a 5-kW system and $35,500 for a 10-kW system after the ITC is applied. You can expect to pay more if you want extra solar equipment or higher quality panels, or if you have above-average energy consumption. On the flip side, you can spend less if you want a smaller solar panel system or less efficient solar panels.
What other factors should I consider apart from cost when buying solar panels?
The upfront cost is a key factor to consider, but whether it’s the most important for you depends on why you decided to go solar. In places where rooftop space is limited, efficiency can be more important than the cost. Other factors that are important to be mindful of are the quality and durability of your solar panels.
How much can I save on energy bills after switching to solar?
Solar panels can potentially eliminate your electricity bills depending on your location and the efficiency of your system. Even if it doesn’t get rid of them completely, you can save a lot of money on your bills, about $891.67 per year.
How often do you have to replace solar panels?
On average, solar panels can last about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but their efficiency decreases by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a larger level of energy production.
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.