What homeowners told us when they asked for a solar quote
Trevor GuildayFounderTrevor Guilday is the founder of EcoGen America and leads its data and analytics team. Working in home improvement and residential solar since 2016...Learn more, Checked by Dean Mahmoud
Dean MahmoudChief Executive OfficerDean checked the grouped figures and the method against EcoGen's own form and calculator records.Learn more (data and method) Homeowners ask EcoGen to compare solar quotes or run our savings calculator. We counted what they told us: their power bill, their roof, their timing and their credit. Here is what 16,891+ quote requests and 1,777 calculator users show, state by state.
of calculator users typed a power bill above their state’s average for all homes.
n = 1,777 · Jun 2022–Jun 2025 · vs EIA 2024of homeowners who asked us for an estimate since January 2025 said their bill is over $200 a month.
n = 1,389 · Jan 2025–Oct 2026 · lower boundsaid their roof has no shade. Only 6% said a lot of shade.
n = 16,891 · Jul 2023–Oct 2026estimated their credit score below 630 (19.5%). In New Jersey it was 9%; in Texas 23%.
n = 15,990 · Jul 2023–Jun 2025Who is in this data. Homeowners who filled in an EcoGen quote form or our solar calculator. They are people already interested in solar, not a random sample of US homes. All answers are self-reported. We did not check anyone’s roof, bill or credit file.
What is not in it. Prices people were quoted, systems they bought or what they saved. We do not hold that data. We show no names, addresses or ZIP codes, and no group smaller than 30 people.
Since 2025, most people who ask us for an estimate pay over $200 a month
Our estimate form asks for your monthly power bill on a slider. Here is what 1,389 homeowners chose from January 2025 to October 2026, in the 15 states with at least 30 answers.
- Bill over $200 a month
- Left the slider at its start ($151–200), so unknown
- Bill of $200 or less
Every state shown has an average bill under $200 (EIA, 2024), so a bill over $200 is above that state’s average. States with fewer than 30 answers since January 2025 are left out, including Connecticut (28).
Show as a table
State | Over $200 (at least) | Left at start | $200 or less | State average (EIA 2024) | Answers (n) | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All states | 56.4% | 33.4% | 10.2% | – | 1,389 | Jan 2025–Oct 2026 |
Georgia | 77.4% | 22.6% | -0.0% | $151.25 | 31 | Jan 2025–Sep 2026 |
Florida | 69.0% | 25.0% | 6.0% | $156.09 | 84 | Mar 2025–Oct 2026 |
Maryland | 65.7% | 28.6% | 5.7% | $165.87 | 35 | Jan 2025–Oct 2026 |
Michigan | 64.7% | 26.5% | 8.8% | $119.31 | 34 | Jun 2025–Sep 2026 |
Texas | 64.2% | 31.3% | 4.5% | $163.72 | 67 | Jan 2025–Sep 2026 |
New Jersey | 63.3% | 27.8% | 8.9% | $128.13 | 79 | Jun 2025–Oct 2026 |
Massachusetts | 60.6% | 30.3% | 9.1% | $167.20 | 33 | Jul 2025–Oct 2026 |
New York | 60.5% | 30.2% | 9.3% | $139.53 | 43 | Jan 2025–Oct 2026 |
Ohio | 59.0% | 33.3% | 7.7% | $135.16 | 39 | Jan 2025–Sep 2026 |
Puerto Rico | 55.9% | 31.4% | 12.7% | – | 102 | Aug 2025–Oct 2026 |
Virginia | 55.6% | 41.7% | 2.7% | $148.77 | 36 | Jul 2025–Oct 2026 |
Illinois | 51.0% | 34.7% | 14.3% | $109.99 | 49 | Jul 2025–Sep 2026 |
California | 50.7% | 42.0% | 7.3% | $160.86 | 69 | Mar 2025–Oct 2026 |
Pennsylvania | 50.4% | 35.5% | 14.1% | $145.17 | 121 | Mar 2025–Sep 2026 |
Tennessee | 46.9% | 31.2% | 21.9% | $143.32 | 32 | Jan 2025–Sep 2026 |
People who check solar have bigger power bills than average
Our older savings calculator (2022 to mid-2025) let people type their exact bill. We compared the median answer in each state with the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) average bill for all homes in that state in 2024.
- State average bill, all homes (EIA 2024)
- Median bill typed into our calculator
Only states with at least 30 calculator users are shown. Connecticut, New Jersey and Florida are our focus states with enough data; New York, Massachusetts and California have fewer than 30 typed bills.
Show as a table
State | Calculator median | State average (EIA 2024) | Difference | Users above state average | Users (n) | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mississippi | $258 | $154.83 | +66% | 94% | 34 | May 2023–Feb 2025 |
Connecticut | $250 | $199.66 | +25% | 74% | 88 | Jul 2022–Jun 2025 |
Florida | $250 | $156.09 | +60% | 81% | 57 | Jun 2022–Mar 2025 |
Maine | $250 | $133.60 | +87% | 86% | 35 | Jan 2023–Mar 2025 |
Maryland | $225 | $165.87 | +36% | 76% | 55 | Jul 2022–Jan 2025 |
Texas | $222 | $163.72 | +36% | 81% | 70 | Sep 2022–Jun 2025 |
Missouri | $215 | $129.18 | +66% | 82% | 49 | May 2023–Oct 2024 |
Kentucky | $215 | $133.81 | +61% | 92% | 38 | Aug 2022–Jun 2025 |
New Jersey | $207 | $128.13 | +62% | 81% | 247 | Jun 2022–Sep 2024 |
Pennsylvania | $200 | $145.17 | +38% | 80% | 476 | Jun 2022–Jun 2025 |
Indiana | $200 | $133.06 | +50% | 89% | 45 | May 2023–Jan 2025 |
Ohio | $200 | $135.16 | +48% | 77% | 30 | Nov 2022–Jan 2025 |
Delaware | $175 | $150.87 | +16% | 57% | 75 | Jun 2022–Jan 2024 |
North Carolina | $172 | $143.50 | +20% | 65% | 66 | Jun 2022–Mar 2025 |
Oregon | $145 | $129.62 | +12% | 60% | 30 | Jun 2022–Feb 2025 |
Most roofs in our requests have no shade, but it varies by state
We asked: “How much shade covers your roof?” Shade reduces how much power panels make, so installers check it first.
- No shade
- A little shade
- A lot of shade
Self-reported roof shade. Valid quote requests only (duplicates and failed checks removed).
Show as a table
State | No shade | A little shade | A lot of shade | Requests (n) | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All states | 60.1% | 34.5% | 5.5% | 16,891 | Jul 2023–Oct 2026 |
Connecticut | 54.5% | 37.3% | 8.2% | 402 | Jul 2023–Aug 2026 |
New Jersey | 58.0% | 37.0% | 5.0% | 543 | Jul 2023–Oct 2026 |
New York | 63.2% | 31.3% | 5.5% | 1,131 | Jul 2023–Oct 2026 |
Massachusetts | 53.1% | 38.6% | 8.2% | 207 | Jul 2023–Oct 2026 |
Florida | 63.6% | 30.9% | 5.5% | 870 | Jul 2023–Oct 2026 |
Pennsylvania | 61.6% | 33.5% | 4.9% | 1,145 | Jul 2023–Sep 2026 |
Texas | 62.1% | 32.8% | 5.1% | 916 | Jul 2023–Sep 2026 |
California | 62.9% | 31.8% | 5.3% | 617 | Jul 2023–Oct 2026 |
Puerto Rico | 80.0% | 15.8% | 4.2% | 265 | Jul 2023–Oct 2026 |
Half want solar “right away”
We asked when they would like their system installed. This question ran on our forms from November 2023 to June 2025.
- Right away
- Within 6 months
- Future planning
Of the states shown, Puerto Rico requests were the most urgent and Pennsylvania had the most people still planning.
Show as a table
State | Right away | Within 6 months | Future planning | Requests (n) | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All states | 50.1% | 32.6% | 17.3% | 13,684 | Nov 2023–Jun 2025 |
Connecticut | 51.9% | 34.9% | 13.1% | 289 | Nov 2023–Jun 2025 |
New Jersey | 53.9% | 31.7% | 14.3% | 419 | Nov 2023–Jun 2025 |
New York | 55.3% | 32.8% | 11.9% | 1,038 | Nov 2023–Jun 2025 |
Massachusetts | 49.1% | 32.7% | 18.2% | 159 | Nov 2023–Jun 2025 |
Florida | 50.2% | 37.1% | 12.7% | 727 | Nov 2023–Jun 2025 |
Pennsylvania | 44.6% | 33.2% | 22.2% | 785 | Nov 2023–Jun 2025 |
Texas | 53.5% | 32.2% | 14.3% | 701 | Nov 2023–Jun 2025 |
California | 56.4% | 34.0% | 9.6% | 523 | Nov 2023–Jun 2025 |
Puerto Rico | 62.2% | 31.1% | 6.8% | 74 | Nov 2023–May 2024 |
About 1 in 5 estimate their credit below 630
We asked people to estimate their credit score band. This question ran from July 2023 to June 2025.
- 750+
- 630–749
- Below 630
Self-estimated. Not a credit check.
Show as a table
State | 750+ | 630–749 | Below 630 | Requests (n) | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All states | 44.2% | 36.2% | 19.5% | 15,990 | Jul 2023–Jun 2025 |
Connecticut | 51.8% | 36.6% | 11.6% | 380 | Jul 2023–Jun 2025 |
New Jersey | 53.8% | 36.9% | 9.3% | 496 | Jul 2023–Jun 2025 |
New York | 52.4% | 35.7% | 11.9% | 1,101 | Jul 2023–Jun 2025 |
Massachusetts | 52.2% | 37.0% | 10.9% | 184 | Jul 2023–Jun 2025 |
Florida | 50.4% | 36.3% | 13.3% | 813 | Jul 2023–Jun 2025 |
Pennsylvania | 42.5% | 36.1% | 21.4% | 1,078 | Jul 2023–Jun 2025 |
Texas | 38.7% | 38.7% | 22.6% | 873 | Jul 2023–Jun 2025 |
California | 52.9% | 36.2% | 10.9% | 567 | Jul 2023–Jun 2025 |
Puerto Rico | 50.6% | 42.6% | 6.8% | 176 | Jul 2023–May 2024 |
Two more things we noticed
- Renters ask too. 6.1% of all solar requests came from people who rent their home (n = 31,503, Oct 2021–Oct 2026). Installers usually need the owner’s permission. Community solar can be an option for renters.
- Half of calculator users only wanted numbers. 51% of calculator users said yes to “Would you also like a personalized installation quote?” The rest wanted the estimate only (n = 1,315, Dec 2022–Jul 2025).
How we counted
- Sources: EcoGen’s quote forms and savings calculators on ecogenamerica.com, and our internal lead record. Our cost and payback numbers are built separately; see the EcoGen Solar Database. The state average bill is from EIA Table 5A, 2024 (released October 2025).
- Quote-request answers (shade, timing, credit): only requests that passed our lead checks (for example address, phone and duplicate checks) are counted. Running the same count on all submissions changes the shares by 1.2 points or less.
- Calculator bills: typed answers from five calculator versions, Jun 2022–Jun 2025. We removed business properties, renters, bills under $20 or over $1,500, and repeat runs (same state and bill within 2 hours). That removed 236 answers. We use the median because a few very high bills would pull an average up.
- Estimate-form bills since 2025: slider answers from our estimate forms (Jan 2025–Oct 2026), plus the few typed calculator answers from 2025. Duplicates, failed lead checks, renters and business properties are removed. The two slider versions use different price steps; $200 is the cut-off they share. Answers left at the slider’s start ($151–200) count as “not over $200”.
- Comparing with EIA: EIA’s figure is the 2024 average across all homes and all months, including fixed charges. Our answers are what people remembered or typed, from 2022 to 2025, and may reflect a high month. Treat the gap as a direction, not an exact number.
- Small groups: any state or answer group with fewer than 30 people is left out.
- Known bias: most calculator answers come from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In early 2025 many requests came from Google ads, so that period is overrepresented. Form wording changed slightly between versions.
- Download: all figures on this page (CSV). Found an error? Tell us and we will correct it.
How EcoGen makes money. When you ask for quotes, we share your request with solar installers in our network, and they pay us for it. This page uses only grouped answers. No installer paid to be on it.
Change log
- October 28, 2026: first published. Figures as in the CSV above.