Solar planning tools

Grid vs Solar Cost Calculator: Long-Term Spending

Compare total spending over 5, 10 or more years, including your remaining grid bill.

All calculators/Savings & returns/Grid vs solar cost comparison

Your inputs

Editable example values

Your estimate

Live calculation
Grid-only total
3,773,367.76 currency units
Solar + grid total
2,422,199.78 currency units
Net savings
1,351,167.98 currency units
Planning estimates, not equipment approval. Review the assumptions below before choosing a system.

No location or tariff is detected automatically. All results use the values you enter.

What is this tool used for?

Use this comparison to estimate total spending if you continue with grid electricity versus installing solar and still paying a remaining grid bill.

How to use this calculator

Enter the current bill, expected bill after solar, installation cost, maintenance, comparison years, tariff growth and degradation assumptions. Add replacement expenses where relevant and keep all amounts in one currency.

Understanding your results

Compare cumulative costs over the same period. The solar option includes its upfront investment and ongoing bills, so savings are not the same as eliminating the electricity bill. Financing and the time value of money are not modelled.

How this is calculated

Grid-only cost grows with the tariff assumption. Avoided grid cost starts at (current bill − remaining bill) × 12 and is adjusted for tariff growth and solar degradation. Solar option includes upfront cost, remaining bills, fixed annual maintenance and replacement.

Understand the modelling approach →

Before you use the result

All monetary inputs must use the same currency. Assumes the tariff escalation applies to the entire modelled bill; fixed charges and time-of-use rates may behave differently. No financing, discounting or export revenue is included separately.

Can the solar option cost more?

Yes. High upfront costs, low savings, maintenance or a short analysis period can make solar more expensive in this scenario.

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08

ROI & payback

Compare your upfront cost with projected savings over a chosen period.

10

Net metering savings

Model self-consumption, grid imports and export credits using your own rates.

Your estimate