Solar Panels Cost 2.7k-13k in Columbia Heights, MN | October, 2024

Solar Panels Cost $2.7k-$13k in Columbia Heights, MN | October, 2024

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How much do solar panels cost in Columbia Heights, MN in 2024?

In Columbia Heights, MN, the price per watt for solar panel installations is around $3.87 per watt in October, 2024.

Put another way, solar panels will cost you $3,870 per 1 kW (or 1000 watts) of generation capacity. After subtracting the 30% federal tax credit, a 5 kW panel install in Columbia Heights typically costs $13,545. Subject to your energy usage, you might require a larger system.

To the left,choose your area to see the average roof size and the average maximum capacity of residential solar for homes in your county. You can review the costs, payback period, and 20-year average savings for a 5 kW system installed in your county below.

Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.
Columbia Heights: $13,545US Average: $12,562
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Columbia Heights: 11 yearsUS Average: 7 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
Columbia Heights: $4,535US Average: $15,784

Solar Potential in Columbia Heights

Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in
Columbia Heights.

Roof size 697sq. ft.
Capacity 9.75kW DC
Electricity 10.9kkWh AC per yr.

Electricity Costs in Columbia Heights, MN & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing

With an average monthly usage of 594 kWh, Columbia Heights citizens see electric bills around $99.52 each month. This number also encompasses data from apartments and other smaller homes, which typically require lower energy requirements.

The electricity rate per kWh in Columbia Heights, MN for October 2024 is 16.76¢.

In Columbia Heights, average users need a system size of 5 kW or greater to fully account for all of their power demands. Currently, a 5 kW solar system will initially set you back around $19,350, but the 30% tax credit lowers the cost to $13,545.

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Average solar panel costs by system size in Columbia Heights

Displayed below and to the left, you can find a thorough pricing structure for various solar panel system sizes set up in Columbia Heights. When you select a bigger solar system, the cost is higher, but it also results in higher electricity savings and a more substantial income tax credit.

Using the solar panel cost calculator situated down and to the right, you can view a detailed cost and benefit analysis based on an average electric bill of $99.52 in Columbia Heights. Modify the $99.52 to your usual electricity bill payment for results that are tailored to you.

System Size 1kW
Roof Size Min. space required
72 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $246 a year
Est. Price
$2,709
Savings from a 1kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 1,449 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $21
  • Full payback in 2 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.8 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 37 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 1,984 mi less a year
System Size 2kW
Roof Size Min. space required
143 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $493 a year
Est. Price
$5,418
Savings from a 2kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 2,897 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $41
  • Full payback in 5 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.6 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 74 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 3,969 mi less a year
System Size 3kW
Roof Size Min. space required
215 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $739 a year
Est. Price
$8,127
Savings from a 3kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 4,346 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $62
  • Full payback in 7 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.41 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 110 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 5,953 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $985 a year
Est. Price
$10,836
Savings from a 4kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 5,795 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $82
  • Full payback in 9 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.21 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 147 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 7,938 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,231 a year
Est. Price
$13,545
Savings from a 5kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 7,244 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $100
  • Full payback in 11 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.91 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 179 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 9,669 mi less a year

Columbia Heights Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024

Eligible rural small businesses and farms might have their solar or wind turbine installation costs covered by the REAP Grant, ranging from 80% to 100%. Wondering if you fit this category? Check your eligibility with our REAP Grant eligibility tool.

The federal government offers a 30% tax credit for residential solar systems, which makes solar appealing and sensible for a wide range of homeowners. There are also a range of state and local programs aimed at enhancing solar energy use.

Several utilities and government bodies in Minnesota currently offer 12 solar rebates and incentives.

Owatanna Public Utilities - Solar Rebate Program

Value:Up to $500

Commercial and residential customers of OPU, the municipal power utility for the city of Owatonna, may be entitled to rebates on solar PV systems and water heaters. Rebates add to existing federal tax incentives. New PV installations will yield a $500 rebate regardless of their rated capacity. Water heaters yield a rebate based on the area of the panels; the current rate is $15 per square foot. To qualify, systems should meet all city, state, and federal standards and be interconnected to the grid under a net metering contract. Interested customers should schedule an energy audit with an OPU participating solar contractor.

Minnesota Power - SolarSense Solar Rebate Program

Value:Up to $10,000

Minnesota Power customers may be entitled to rebates on new solar photovoltaic systems. To qualify, a system must meet all state and federal standards, be installed by a certified solar contractor, and be interconnected to the grid under a net metering contract. The incentive amount is determined through an NREL tool which considers the system's rated capacity and other design characteristics. Current rates are 56 cents/estimated kilowatt hour of production in the first year of the system's use. Minnesota Power must preapprove all incentives. Customers must therefore apply for the rebate before purchasing their system. Additional information is available from the website.

Value of Solar Tariff

Value:Varies

Net metering in Minnesota is set to be replaced by a Value of Solar (VOST) tariff program standardized by the Department of Commerce. No utility has implemented such a program as of 2021, though Xcel Energy is exploring retail-rate tariffs in a similar vein to VOST. VOST operates as an "inflow-outflow" program. Customers are technically billed for all electricity they generate, including excess generation (EG) sent to the grid. Rather than paying for all generated energy, however, they will only owe the cost of their "nettable energy" in that cycle. Nettable energy is equal to total power generated at the standard billed cost minus EG at a different "credit rate." As with net metering, should generation exceed consumption, the remaining credits will be applied to subsequent cycles. VOST contracts last for 20 years; credit rates are fixed for the length of the contract. "Virtual VOST" provisions exist to compensate microgrid subscribers in proportion.

Farm Opportunities Loan Program

Value:Varies

New sustainable farm equipment may be eligible for special financing through Minnesota's Farm Opportunity Loan Program. The program is administered by the state Rural Finance Authority in conjunction with various funding partners. Loans can cover up to 80% of purchase and installation costs. The RFA assumes responsibility for servicing 45% of the principal up to $45,000. Interest on the RFA portion is 3%; the remaining 55% will accrue interest at the current market rate. Additional information is available from the RFA website.

Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) Tariff

Value:Varies

Utilities in Minnesota are required to participate in Community-Based Energy Development tariff programs (C-BED) to support the construction and onboarding of new renewable energy facilities, including solar and wind farms. C-BED contracts last for 20 years. During the term, the state will pay utilities at a fixed rate for the energy they produce. The underlying goal is for utilities to more easily recoup the costs for their renewable facilities. Additional information is available from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission website.

Value-Added Stock Loan Participation Program

Value:Varies

The Minnesota Rural Finance Authority (RFA) operates a stock financing program to aid farmers in purchasing shares of nearby wind farms or biomass energy facilities. Loans are offered by private banking partners, though the RFA sets loan terms and low interest rates for up to 45% of the principal. Qualifying applicants must not be worth more than $450,000. Additional information is available from the RFA website.

Fix-Up Loan

Value:Varies

Minnesota homeowners making energy efficiency or accessibility improvements may be eligible for special loans from the state Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). "Fix-Up Loans" have a maximum of $15,000 in principal at market-rate interest. Applicants have direct access to MHFA lending partners and can negotiate loan terms. They may also use the contractors and builders of their choice. Lending partners differ between the 11-county Twin Cities area and the rest of the state. Additional information is available from the MHFA website.

Rural Minnesota Energy Board PACE Program

Value:Varies

The St. Paul Port Authority operates a PACE program in Duluth, Mankato, and certain Twin Cities suburbs and exurbs. Property owners will have access to an open market of local lenders offering competitive loans and terms for energy efficiency improvements. Effectively, funding comes from the government; repayment will therefore take the form of a tax lien senior to the property's mortgage. Residential structures are not eligible for PACE loans due to regulatory concerns from the FHFA. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are prohibited from acquiring a mortgage with an active PACE lien. Additional information is available from the Port Authority website.

Minnesota PACE Program (MinnPACE)

Value:Varies

The St. Paul Port Authority operates a PACE program in Duluth, Mankato, and certain Twin Cities suburbs and exurbs. Property owners will have access to an open market of local lenders offering competitive loans and terms for energy efficiency improvements. Effectively, funding comes from the government; repayment will therefore take the form of a tax lien senior to the property's mortgage. Residential structures are not eligible for PACE loans due to regulatory concerns from the FHFA. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are prohibited from acquiring a mortgage with an active PACE lien. Additional information is available from the Port Authority website.

Interconnection Standards

Value:Varies

Distributed generation and interconnection practices are standardized by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Standards were last updated in 2019 and continue to be amended regularly. Unlike states which use tiers and levels to organize energy systems, Minnesota uses permit processes as benchmarks. Systems at a qualifying capacity level may be eligible for a "Fast Track" permit review. All systems must follow recognized standards such as those set by IEEE or UL. Customers may be required by their utility to carry liability insurance coverage or install additional safety features.

Renewable Development Fund (RDF)

Value:Varies

Xcel Energy has administered a Renewable Development Fund since 1999. The fund's annual budget amounts to $9 million, the result of a state-set rate per nuclear waste reservoir at the Prairie Island, Minnesota plant. Additional funding comes from a surcharge on Xcel customer bills in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Funding supports incentive programs and other initiatives to adopt renewable energy. The University of Minnesota's Institute for the Environment also taps into the fund for its own research. Additional information is available from the Xcel website.

Xcel Energy - Solar*Rewards Program

Value:Varies

Solar*Rewards is the formal name for Xcel Energy's net metering and distributed generation tariff incentive programs nationwide. Under Minnesota law, renewable energy customers hold ownership of renewable energy credits (RECs) they generate. With a Solar*Rewards contract, the customer agrees to sell all RECs to the utility for a fixed amount of time and have a bidirectional meter installed on their system to track energy sent back to the grid. In exchange, the utility will provide fair compensation for both excess generation and credits accrued. To qualify for incentives, a new PV system must pass an engineering audit and not exceed 20 kW of DC capacity. Leased systems do not qualify for Solar*Rewards contracts. Additional information is available from the Xcel website.

Are solar panels worth it in Minnesota?

When you intend to live in your home beyond the payback period of your solar system, solar panels are an clear choice in Columbia Heights. A 5 kW solar system in Columbia Heights, MN might save you an average of $10,339.8 over 20 years, with the break even point usually being 11 years.

The cost of not having solar panels in Columbia Heights, MN

Beyond missing out on the savings, the absence of solar panels or another backup energy source leads to full dependence on your electric utility for your power needs. Recent news coverage has revealed that total dependence on your utility company isn't always the most favorable scenario.

On average, customers in Columbia Heights have experienced 0.95 utility outages per year in recent times. The average duration of each outage is 114.46 minutes. During severe events like vandalism, overloaded power grids or wildfires, these times can grow significantly longer.

A solar panel system could reduce the inconvenience of future outages, even if it lacks a backup battery.

Power Outages

Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Anoka County.

Learn more

Customers Out:

0

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What impacts the cost of solar panels in Columbia Heights, MN?

Your Energy Needs - Even if the initial expense is higher, the price per watt drops with larger solar panel systems. Many consumers realize it's a good idea to set up a solar system that can generate enough power to offset their electric bill, because it helps them save more money.

Make & Model - Solar panels come in a range of makes and models. Because the installer might have specific brand preferences, it's essential to select a recommended installer. The selection of superior models can greatly enhance the long-term experience for buyers.

Solar Panel Type - For numerous good reasons, monocrystalline panels are now the standard in the industry. Even with a higher cost, this technology generate more energy. The majority of installers choose panels made using this material.

Your Property - Each property and home is one of a kind. Sloped land, trees, or other barriers can increase the difficulty of installing solar panels. These days, solar installers frequently utilize satellite images to evaluate your home and incorporate these considerations into the first cost estimate.

Labor Rates - The wages employees are paid from their employers are different, and these expenses are transferred to the consumers. It is frequent for companies that provide higher wages to receive better reviews for their work and customer service.

Permitting & Interconnection - Installation costs will be influenced by varying local permitting and utility interconnection fees, depending on the region. Reliable local installers will incorporate these figures into your first estimates to eliminate any surprises.

See what solar panels cost in other MN cities

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Who are the best solar installers in Columbia Heights?

Academy Energy Group

Newburgh, IN(812) 518-2150

Services

  • Auditing of energy requirements for independent energy generation.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Monitoring of independent energy generation.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Solar Farm

St. Paul, MN(651) 271-8410

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.

Dividend Finance

San Francisco, CA(415) 805-7000

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

Sundial Energy

St. Louis Park, MN(612) 439-9591

Services

  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

SunPower Corporation

San Jose, CA(800) 786-7693

Services

  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Monitoring of independent energy generation.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.

Harvest Solar

Jackson, MI(888) 907-6527

Services

  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Sunnova Energy

Houston, TX(866) 786-6682

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

GRNE Solar

Palatine, IL(312) 859-3417

Services

  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Entegrity

Little Rock, AR(800) 700-1414

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Ideal Energy

Fairfield, IA(800) 634-4454

Services

  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

LightEdison

Denver, CO(888) 966-6377

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.

Empire Solar Group

Salt Lake City, UT(800) 467-4562

Services

  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Columbia Heights, MN Solar Panel Cost FAQs

  • The typical cost per watt for solar panels in Columbia Heights, MN as of October, 2024 is $3.87/W. A 5 kW solar panel system will cost you around $13,545 in Columbia Heights, MN after the federal tax credit is applied.

  • Right now, Minnesota has 12 rebates and incentives available through a variety of utility companies and government entities. Additionally, the vast majority qualify for the 30% federal tax credit.

  • Although paying in cash provides the most savings, several financing options for solar panels now exist that are cost-effective. Initial quotes from installers will frequently detail information about available financing options.

  • Yes, homeowners in Columbia Heights, MN generally see a payback time of 11 years for 5 kW solar panel systems, with electricity savings averaging $10,339.8 over a 20-year period.
Ginalyn Gelera
Last Reviewed By: Ginalyn Gelera
Published: 2024-10-01