Plug-in solar savings on Glendale Water & Power
Last updated
The short answer: on Glendale Water & Power's L-1-A rate of 35.38¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $280 a year and pays for itself in about 3.6 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on Glendale Water & Power
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $369 | 2.7 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $280 | 3.6 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $204 | 4.9 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
Our reading of Glendale's L-1-A residential rates, Phase 4 of Ordinance 6042, effective November 1, 2026: $0.2684 for the first 10 kWh a day in the low season (November to June) up to $0.4738 above 20 kWh a day in the high season (July to October); the adjustment charges are all $0. We use the middle tier (next 10 kWh a day), weighted 4 high-season and 8 low-season months. The daily customer charge is excluded.[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 Glendale Water & Power
SB 868 covers local publicly owned utilities such as Glendale Water & Power, as well as investor-owned utilities. Glendale Water & Power 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 Glendale Water & Power?
- About $280 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at Glendale Water & Power's L-1-A rate of 35.38¢/kWh, paying back in about 3.6 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to Glendale Water & Power customers?
- Yes. The law covers both investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities. Glendale Water & Power may ask you to register a qualifying kit online, but can't charge fees related to it.