Plug-in solar savings on Riverside Public Utilities
Last updated
The short answer: on Riverside Public Utilities's Schedule D rate of 21.34¢/kWh,[source] the example kit (800 W, $1,000) saves about $169 a year and pays for itself in about 5.9 years, assuming typical placement and that you use most of its power at home.
What the example kit saves on Riverside Public Utilities
| Where the panels go | Saves a year | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: south-facing, tilted, no shade | $223 | 4.5 years |
| Typical: well-placed | $169 | 5.9 years |
| Shaded or vertical balcony | $123 | 8.1 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
Riverside's Schedule D energy charges for 2026: Tier 1 $0.1364, Tier 2 $0.2134, Tier 3 $0.2462 (the tier limits are higher in summer). We use Tier 2. Excludes the Public Benefits Charge, a percentage of your bill we haven't verified, and taxes. Riverside's Network Access Charge depends on your daily average use, so a kit could lower it too (not counted).[source]
Discounts
CARE and FERA are CPUC programs for investor-owned utilities, so they don't apply here. City and district utilities run their own discount programs, which we haven't verified.
SB 868 and Riverside Public Utilities
SB 868 covers local publicly owned utilities such as Riverside Public Utilities, as well as investor-owned utilities. Riverside Public Utilities 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 Riverside Public Utilities?
- About $169 a year for an example 800 W kit with typical placement, at Riverside Public Utilities's Schedule D rate of 21.34¢/kWh, paying back in about 5.9 years. Your result depends on your usage and where the panels go.
- Does SB 868 apply to Riverside Public Utilities customers?
- Yes. The law covers both investor-owned and local publicly owned electric utilities. Riverside Public Utilities may ask you to register a qualifying kit online, but can't charge fees related to it.