What’s the Cost of Solar in North Dakota?

Cost of Grid Power

North Dakotan electricity prices average $0.12/kWh, down from last year and below the national average of $0.14/kWh.

Cost of a Solar Install

The average cost of a 5.5kW (equivalent to saving approximately 100 trees a year) solar power system starts around $12,000 in North Dakota. That system would pay for itself through energy savings within 5.5-7 years. System life can span well over 25 years, and savings will improve with inflation.

Flickertail State Solar Installs

There are not many rooftop solar power systems in the state of North Dakota, and there is just one utility-scale solar power plant. The state does offer net metering on photovoltaic systems up to 100kW in size, with utilities required to write a homeowner a check if they net generate electrical power. However, that compensation will not be at the retail rate.

Your solar power system can still pay for itself in 7 years - even if you don't save even more money by making the installation a DIY project. Despite its high latitude North Dakota is ranked 13th in the nation for annual sunlight hours. The University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University are both famous for building solar race cars.

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What Incentives are Available in North Dakota?

Data from DSIRE. For more info visit: https://www.dsireusa.org/

Name	Implementing Sector	Program Type	Administrator	DSIRE ID
Solar Easements	State	Solar/Wind Access Policy		1
Net Metering	State	Net Metering		285
Biodiesel Production Equipment Tax Credits	State	Corporate Tax Credit		969
State Facility Energy Improvement Program	State	Grant Program	North Dakota Department of Commerce	1228
Renewable and Recycled Energy Objective	State	Renewables Portfolio Standard		2697
Wind Easements	State	Solar/Wind Access Policy		3981
Cavalier Rural Electric Coop - Bright Energy Solutions	Other	Energy Analysis	Cavalier Rural Electric Coop	18613
Otter Tail Power Company - Rate Analysis and Research Assistance	Utility	Energy Analysis	Otter Tail Power Company	21585
Otter Tail Power Company - PowerProfiler	Utility	Energy Analysis	Otter Tail Power Company	21586
Missouri River Energy Services - Bright Energy Solutions	Other	Energy Analysis	Missouri River Energy Services	21695
Xcel Energy - Energy Design Assistance	Utility	Energy Analysis	Xcel Energy	21724
Xcel Energy - Online Energy Assessment	Utility	Energy Analysis	Xcel Energy	21725
Xcel Energy - Refrigeration Recommissioning	Utility	Energy Analysis	Xcel Energy	21736
Xcel Energy - Small Business Lighting	Utility	Energy Analysis		21739
Xcel Energy - Business Energy Advisor	Utility	Energy Analysis	Xcel Energy	21740
Xcel Energy - Business Solutions	Utility	Energy Analysis	Xcel Energy	21753
Xcel Energy - Energy At Risk Financial Analysis Tool	Utility	Energy Analysis	Xcel Energy	21759
Xcel Energy - Energy Management Systems	Utility	Energy Analysis	Xcel Energy	21765
Seventhwave (formerly Energy Center of Wisconsin) - Energy Consulting	Non-Profit	Energy Analysis	Seventhwave (formerly Energy Center of Wisconsin)	21833
Seventhwave (formerly Energy Center of Wisconsin) - Back of the Envelope Calculator	Non-Profit	Energy Analysis	Seventhwave (formerly Energy Center of Wisconsin)	21834
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance - Midwest Industrial Initiative	Non-Profit	Energy Analysis	Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance	21843
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance - Building Operator Certification	Non-Profit	Training and Information	Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance	21844
Constellation - Integrated Energy Strategies for Your Business	Utility	Other	Constellation	21957
Otter Tail Power Company - Energy Control	Utility	Other	Otter Tail Power Company	21958

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Resources

• North Dakota Department of Commerce
• North Dakota Studies