How this Mesa estimate works
- Annual production = system size × 1,765 kWh/kW planning yield.
- Retail-value ceiling = annual production × current Arizona residential electricity price.
- The value-capture control lets you haircut that ceiling for self-consumption/export economics.
- Simple payback = entered net installed cost ÷ modeled annual electricity value.
Source boundaries
1,765 kWh/kW-year planning benchmark based on CalcuRiver's Arizona representative-city PVWatts planning value; planning input, not a site-specific roof forecast. Roof orientation, shading, equipment, weather year and utility export compensation can materially change the result.
Solar estimates by electric utility
Utility service can vary by address. Use the utility-specific page only if that provider serves your property.
What is localized in Mesa
State/regional solar fallback. Production and installed cost currently match the Arizona benchmark. The city-specific value is the verified electric-utility context; use the city × utility pages for export-compensation differences. No city-yield advantage is claimed.
Data basis: State production/cost fallback + 1 verified utility context · production source: PVWatts-based state planning benchmark · electricity benchmark: EIA 2026-07 · federal residential credit modeled: 0%.
Mesa solar methodology
Production precision: state/regional benchmark disclosed for Mesa; no unverified city-specific production uplift is applied.
Production basis
1,765 kWh/kW-year planning benchmark. This page explicitly uses the state/regional fallback rather than claiming site-specific city precision.
Installed-cost basis
2.27 $/W planning benchmark for this city/region; not an installer quote.
Electricity benchmark
15.38¢/kWh Arizona residential benchmark for 2026-07.
Utility boundary
The city page does not assume one electric utility. Use an available city × utility page when the service territory is verified.
- PVWatts-based state planning benchmark · production benchmark
- State/regional installed-cost benchmark · Sep 2026 · cost benchmark
- EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A · 2026-07 · state residential rate
Methodology: Solar utility model · CalcuRiver methodology.
Related Mesa and Arizona calculators
Why this solar estimate changes
Solar value is driven by local production, installed cost, the retail value of electricity you avoid buying, and the compensation you receive for exported energy. CalcuRiver does not assume export credits equal the retail rate unless that utility program is explicitly verified.
Core logic: self-used solar offsets retail purchases; exported solar is valued only under a verified export-compensation rule.
Methodology & source policy