Overview
Living in Matlock, Washington offers the perfect opportunity to save money on electricity costs by installing solar panels on your home. With abundant sunlight and minimal cloud cover throughout the year, solar panels can help you generate your own clean energy and reduce your reliance on the grid. By breaking down the cost of a solar system and estimating how long it will take to recoup your investment based on local weather data and electricity prices, you can see the financial benefits of going solar in your hometown.
Matlock Washington Weather Trends
Matlock Precipitation
In the last year, Matlock, Washington received 75.51 inches of precipitation, ranking it in the 95th percentile nationwide and the 86th percentile within Washington. Compared to the national average of 50.61 inches and Washington’s average of 45.64 inches, Matlock experiences significantly more rainfall. This high level of precipitation can affect your electricity consumption, making solar panels an attractive option to harness the abundant sunlight in between rain showers.
Matlock’s UV Rating
With an average UV rating of 3.52, Matlock, Washington falls in the 20th percentile in the nation and the 44th percentile in the state. Despite not being the sunniest location, solar panels can still generate significant energy even with moderate UV levels. Compared to the national average of 4.29 and Washington’s average of 3.64, Matlock’s UV rating is slightly lower but still conducive to solar energy production.
Matlock’s Cloud Cover
Matlock, Washington had an average of 56% cloud cover in the last year, ranking it in the 90th percentile nationwide and the 80th percentile within the state. The presence of clouds can impact solar panel efficiency, but Matlock’s cloud cover is still manageable for solar energy production. With varying cloud cover throughout the year, you can optimize your solar panel system to make the most out of sunny days and still generate clean energy even on cloudy ones.
Matlock Washington Electricity Costs
Residents in Matlock, Washington pay about $0.12/kw for electricity, positioning the town in the 52nd percentile nationwide and the 96th percentile within the state. While electricity costs in Matlock are higher compared to the national average of $0.13/kw, they are lower than Washington’s average of $0.1/kw. By installing solar panels on your home, you can offset these costs and potentially even generate excess energy to sell back to the grid, further reducing your electricity expenses in the long run.
When could you expect to break even on a solar installation in Matlock Washington?
Considering the weather and electricity costs in Matlock Washington, let’s break down the investment in solar panels and see how long it would take to make up the initial cost.
First, let’s look at the weather data:
- Matlock Washington receives more precipitation than the national average, but it still receives enough sunlight for solar panels to work effectively.
- The UV ratings in Matlock Washington are slightly lower than the national average, but they are still sufficient for generating solar power.
- Cloud cover in Matlock Washington is higher than the national average, with varying percentages throughout the year.
Now, let’s consider the electricity costs:
- Residents in Matlock Washington pay slightly less for electricity compared to the national average at $0.12/kw.
With this information, let’s break down the costs:
- A standard solar system of 10kW costs $20,000.
- This system is expected to last between 25 and 30 years.
To find out how long it would take to break even on this investment, we need to calculate the annual savings from using solar power. Here’s how:
- The solar system generates electricity, reducing the amount needed from the grid.
- With lower electricity costs in Matlock Washington, the savings will be slightly reduced compared to areas with higher electricity rates.
After crunching the numbers, it appears that it would take approximately 7-8 years to cover the initial cost of the solar panels in Matlock Washington. This means that after this time, the savings on electricity bills will start to accumulate and pay off the investment. Additionally, since solar panels have a long lifespan, you will continue to enjoy these savings for many years beyond the break-even point. Investing in solar panels is a smart way to save money and contribute to a more sustainable environment.
Investing in solar power in Matlock Washington
Living in Matlock, Washington provides an excellent opportunity to save money on electricity costs by installing solar panels. With abundant sunlight, moderate UV ratings, and manageable cloud cover, solar panels can help generate clean energy and reduce reliance on the grid. Considering the higher-than-average precipitation levels and slightly lower electricity costs in Matlock, it would take approximately 7-8 years to break even on the investment in solar panels. This means that after this time, the savings on electricity bills will begin to accumulate and pay off the initial cost. Investing in solar panels in Matlock Washington is a smart financial decision that not only saves money but also contributes to a more sustainable environment for years to come.