Most Glendale homes are served by APS, with SRP in parts of the east. Arizona uses net billing, not retail net metering: APS credits solar exports at about 6.171 cents per kWh and SRP at 3.45 cents, both well under the roughly 15.23 cents you pay to buy power. So Glendale solar pays best on the power you use yourself, and batteries help.
- Arizona residential power runs about 15.23 cents per kWh (EIA, May 2026), so a Glendale bill is offset at retail only for the power you use on-site.
- Glendale is split: mostly APS, with SRP pockets in the east. Confirm your serving utility on your bill before you compare quotes, because APS and SRP price solar very differently.
- APS credits exports at about 6.171 cents per kWh under its Resource Comparison Proxy (RCP) rider for the tranche running September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026 (APS Rate Rider RCP). APS has proposed lowering it to about 5.554 cents from September 2026; verify the current rate before you sign.
- SRP credits exports at a flat 3.45 cents per kWh on its solar export price plans and no longer offers traditional net metering; SRP solar plans are time-of-use and some are demand-based (SRP Solar Price Plans).
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 (IRS), so a 2026 cash or loan buyer in Glendale cannot claim it.
If you own a home in Glendale, this is how rooftop solar actually pays you back in 2026, told straight. Glendale sits in the West Valley of metro Phoenix and gets some of the best sun in the country, but two things drive the math here: which utility serves your address, and Arizona’s shift to net billing. APS and SRP both credit the power you export at a fraction of the retail rate, so the value of Glendale solar now comes mostly from the power you use in your own home, especially your summer cooling load. This page covers your exact utility, the local permit, what a Glendale roof produces, and how to tell if it is a good fit.
Using NREL PVWatts and the current EIA rate, MySolarFY estimates a typical 7 kW rooftop system in Glendale (ZIP 85301) produces about 12,281 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8), on an excellent local sun resource of about 6.53 kWh per square meter per day. That output is worth roughly $1,870 a year at Arizona’s 15.23 cents per kWh residential rate (EIA, May 2026), but you capture the full value only on the power you use on-site, since APS and SRP credit exports near 3.45 to 6.2 cents.
Glendale solar at a glance
Here is the short version of what drives your payback in Glendale in 2026. Every figure below is sourced, and the export-credit and tax-credit lines are the ones that changed.
| Detail | What to know (2026) |
|---|---|
| Serving utility | Mostly APS; SRP serves pockets of east Glendale. Check your bill to confirm. |
| Residential rate | About 15.23 cents per kWh statewide (EIA, May 2026) |
| Sun resource | Excellent; a 7 kW Glendale system (ZIP 85301) makes about 12,281 kWh a year (PVWatts) |
| Export program | Net billing, not retail net metering, for new customers on both utilities |
| APS export credit | About 6.171 cents per kWh (RCP rider, September 2025 through August 2026) |
| SRP export credit | Flat 3.45 cents per kWh on solar export price plans; some plans are demand-based |
| Local permit | City of Glendale Building Safety Department, a combined building and electrical permit |
| Federal credit | Section 25D ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 |
| Sources | APS RCP, SRP, DSIRE |
Which utility serves your Glendale home, APS or SRP?
This is the first thing to nail down, because it changes your solar math. Most of Glendale is APS territory, but SRP serves pockets of the eastern part of the city, so two neighbors on different sides of Glendale can be on different utilities with very different solar rules. The fastest way to confirm is to look at your own electric bill; it names your utility. Do not assume from your address alone. Once you know your utility, you can read the details on our APS solar guide or our SRP solar guide, and see how Arizona treats exports on our Arizona net billing guide.
The big change: net billing replaced net metering
Arizona no longer offers full retail net metering, and this is the most important thing to understand about Glendale solar in 2026. Under net billing, the power you export to the grid is credited well below the retail price you pay to buy it back. On APS, new residential solar customers go on the Resource Comparison Proxy (RCP) rider, which credits exports at about 6.171 cents per kWh for the tranche running September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026 (APS Rate Rider RCP). APS has proposed dropping that to about 5.554 cents from September 2026, subject to Arizona Corporation Commission approval, so verify the current export rate before you sign. On SRP, new solar customers no longer get traditional net metering at all; they go on a solar export price plan that credits exports at a flat 3.45 cents per kWh (SRP Time-of-Use Export). For the mechanics of how export credits work, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
What this means in plain terms: compared with the roughly 15.23 cents you pay to buy power, an exported kWh is worth only about a fifth to two-fifths as much in Glendale. So the value of your system comes mostly from the power you consume on-site. Sizing to your own usage and shifting big loads, like laundry, pool pumps, EV charging, and pre-cooling the house, into daylight hours protects far more of your savings than oversizing for export ever could. To see how offsetting your own usage lowers the bill, read how solar lowers your electricity bill.
SRP versus APS: why the plan type matters in Glendale
If you are on SRP, watch for demand charges. Several SRP solar price plans bill part of your cost on your single highest hour of demand each month, not just the total energy you use. That rewards spreading out your big appliances and can make a battery more valuable, because storage shaves those demand peaks. APS residential solar customers are generally on time-of-use energy rates without a classic demand charge on the standard RCP path, though APS also offers demand-style plans. The takeaway for Glendale: get a written estimate built around your actual utility and rate plan, since an SRP demand plan and an APS time-of-use plan reward very different habits. Compare the two on our APS and SRP guides.
Why batteries matter more in Glendale now
A home battery lets you keep the power you would otherwise sell cheap. Because an exported kWh earns about 3.45 to 6.2 cents on APS or SRP while a kWh you use is worth about 15.23 cents, storing your midday surplus and using it in the evening captures roughly three to four times the value of exporting it. In Glendale, storage does double duty: it also carries your summer cooling load into the expensive evening peak, and on an SRP demand plan it can trim the monthly demand charge. A battery adds up-front cost and is not right for every home, so treat it as a payback question, not a default. For a framework on running those numbers, see our guide on whether solar panels are worth it.
Glendale permits and interconnection
For a home inside Glendale city limits, the City of Glendale issues the permit, not Maricopa County. Rooftop solar is handled by the City of Glendale Building Safety Department (Development Services) as a combined building and electrical permit, with a plan review of the structural and electrical design before work starts (City of Glendale Solar Electronic Plan Review). A licensed installer normally pulls this permit and handles the plan set for you. Separately, your utility, APS or SRP, runs the interconnection application and approves your system to connect and export, which is a different step from the city permit. A good local installer manages both the Glendale permit and the utility interconnection so you are not chasing paperwork.
Glendale and federal tax credits: what is gone in 2026
The 30% federal homeowner credit has ended, so do not count on it. The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so a Glendale homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS). Arizona still offers a modest state credit worth 25% of system cost up to $1,000 and a sales-tax exemption on solar equipment; confirm current terms with the Arizona Department of Revenue and see our Arizona solar incentives guide. One federal credit still exists but is not yours to claim: Section 48E is a commercial credit that the business owning a leased or PPA system claims, not the homeowner. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
How you pay changes what you get
How you finance solar decides who owns the system and who claims any remaining benefit. This is the part of a quote worth reading closely.
| How you pay | Up-front cost | Who owns it | Export credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | Full system price | You | Credited to you |
| Solar loan | Little or none, financed over time | You | Credited to you |
| Lease or PPA | $0-up-front where you qualify | A third-party company | You still see bill credits; the company keeps ownership and any commercial credit |
If you own the system (cash or loan), you keep the export credits and any bill savings. If you lease or sign a PPA, a third party owns the panels, you get a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost, and that company claims any commercial tax credit, not you. Neither path gives a 2026 Glendale homeowner the federal residential credit, since it ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free, and a lease or PPA is a long-term contract, so compare the total cost of each path before you decide.
How to choose a solar installer in Glendale
The West Valley has a deep, competitive installer market. Rather than chasing a “best” list, screen any company against objective criteria:
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- A valid Arizona ROC contractor license, plus proper electrical licensing for the City of Glendale permit.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Real Glendale experience and help with both the City of Glendale permit and your APS or SRP interconnection paperwork.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote you can compare. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation. For the statewide picture, see our Arizona solar guide and the solar incentives by state hub.
See what solar programs are available in your ZIP code
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Frequently asked questions
Who is my electric utility in Glendale, AZ? For most Glendale homes it is APS, but SRP serves pockets of the eastern part of the city, so the safest move is to check your electric bill, which names your utility. It matters because APS and SRP credit solar exports at different rates and use different rate plans, so your utility changes your solar payback.
Does Glendale still have net metering in 2026? No, not the old full-retail kind for new customers. Arizona uses net billing. New APS solar customers are credited for exports at about 6.171 cents per kWh under the RCP rider (September 2025 through August 2026), and new SRP customers get a flat 3.45 cents per kWh on a solar export price plan. Both are well below the roughly 15.23 cents you pay to buy power, so the value of solar comes mostly from using your own power.
What does a Glendale solar system produce? A typical 7 kW rooftop system in Glendale (ZIP 85301) produces about 12,281 kWh a year in our NREL PVWatts estimate, on an excellent local sun resource of about 6.53 kWh per square meter per day. Your real output depends on roof pitch, direction, and shade, so get a written production estimate for your specific roof.
Who issues the solar permit in Glendale? For homes inside Glendale city limits, the City of Glendale Building Safety Department issues a combined building and electrical permit and reviews the plans, not Maricopa County. Your utility, APS or SRP, separately runs the interconnection approval. A licensed installer normally handles both.
Is there still a solar tax credit in Arizona in 2026? The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so a 2026 cash or loan buyer cannot claim it. Arizona still offers a state income-tax credit worth 25% of system cost up to $1,000 and a sales-tax exemption on solar equipment; confirm current terms with the Arizona Department of Revenue before you decide.
Is solar worth it in Glendale now that exports pay less? It can be. Glendale’s very high sun means a system makes a lot of kilowatt-hours, and every kWh you use yourself offsets power at about 15.23 cents. The weak spot is exported power, credited near 3.45 to 6.2 cents, so payback depends on sizing to your own usage and, for many homes, adding a battery. Run your own numbers with a written production estimate before you commit.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked APS (Rate Rider RCP), SRP, EIA, NREL PVWatts, City of Glendale, DSIRE, and IRS sources as of August 2026. Export credits, incentives, rate plans, and net-billing rules change and are reset periodically by the Arizona Corporation Commission and SRP, so confirm current terms with each source before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, export credits, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
