Residents in Seattle, WA who request quotes on the EnergySage Marketplace spend an average of $206 monthly on electricity. That adds up to $2,472 per year. A different way to look at it is that a typical Seattle, WA resident uses 1,434 kWh of electricity per month and 17,208 kWh over the year.
(For what it’s worth: Seattle, WA residents shopping for solar on EnergySage may use more electricity than a typical household.)
The easiest way to compare electricity costs across regions is to look at the electricity rate. In the U.S., residential rates generally range from 11 ¢/kWh all the way up to 34 ¢/kWh.
As of February 2026, the cost of electricity in Seattle, WA is 14 ¢/kilowatt-hour (kWh)—roughly 27% lower than the national average cost. That number is based on real-world electric bills shared with EnergySage over the past 12 months. You can compare that number to the most recent average state electric price reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The Washington electricity market is regulated, which means you can’t choose which company supplies your electricity. Instead, the state determines your electric utility company based on where you live. The main utility company in Seattle is Seattle City Light. It’s a municipal utility, which means it's owned by residents of Seattle and operated by the local government.
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When you pay your electric bill, you’re not only covering the costs to produce that electricity, but also the costs of running and maintaining the electrical grid, as well as public benefit funds that promote things like renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Electric bill costs are rolled into fixed (monthly customer charges) and variable charges (¢/kWh that you use).
Fixed charges, like the flat fee for having a meter, generally remain the same monthly unless your utility makes a policy update.
Your variable charges will change every month and depend on your electricity rate and how much electricity you use.
Your electric bill's variable charges will include a supply (or generation) charge and a transmission and distribution (or delivery) charge. The supply charge covers the cost of electricity generation, while the transmission and distribution charges cover the cost of delivering it to your home.
Utility customers in Seattle pay a flat rate for every kWh of electricity. That rate can change every few months, but it doesn’t change depending on the time of day or during times of peak electricity demand. However, Seattle City Light offers an optional time-of-use (TOU) rate plan. It doesn't include demand charges.
How clean is the electricity in Washington?
While it's hard to pin down a precise estimate, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 66% of the electricity on Washington's utility grid comes from renewable sources, as of July 2025. This is significantly more than the average state in the U.S., which is only about 20% of renewable sources. But, if you go solar in Washington, you'll still contribute to the state’s 100% clean energy goals.
Energy suppliers, like Puget Sound, offer programs to match your electricity usage with renewable energy by purchasing from independent resources. While you may pay a fee to participate, it's a great way to lower your carbon impact and encourage more renewable power without installing solar panels. It just won't save you any money in most cases. (Though occasionally it could if it’s through a municipal group-buy program).
As long as you have a suitable roof, one of the surest ways to save on energy is to go solar—ideally with a vetted contractor offering a competitive price.
Solar panels will reduce or even eliminate your electric bills in the short term and protect you against rising electricity costs in the long run, too. The amount you save depends on how much you spend on electricity now and how much of your electric bill you can offset with solar energy.
Solar panels are a big investment, but Seattle, WA homeowners who install them can often lower their electric bill costs.
Does Seattle offer net metering?
On sunny days, solar panels often generate more electricity than your home needs. You can receive credits from your utility company for sending the extra energy to the grid through net metering. During the winter or at night, when the sun shines less, you can use these credits to offset the cost of electricity.
Seattle City Light offers a net metering program, which provides credits at the retail rate (what you pay for electricity).
In Seattle, your net metering credits reset on March 31st each year. If you don’t use your credits before then, you lose them. However, by this time of year, you’ll probably have used all your credits, so don't worry about it too much.
How much can you save with solar?
Like most of the country, electricity rates in Washington are rapidly increasing. Between rising electric bills and valuable net metering programs, your savings stack up quickly if you go solar in Seattle, WA.
Just take a look at how much you'll spend on electricity over time based on your current bill. It’s easy to see how going solar can pay off quickly.
Electricity cost over time in Washington
Current monthly electric bill | 10-year electricity cost | 20-year electricity cost | 30-year electricity cost |
|---|---|---|---|
$50 | $7,000 | $17,000 | $30,000 |
$100 | $14,000 | $33,000 | $60,000 |
$150 | $21,000 | $50,000 | $90,000 |
$200 | $28,000 | $66,000 | $120,000 |
$250 | $35,000 | $83,000 | $150,000 |
Assuming a 3% annual increase based on inflation and average annual electric rate increases in Washington.
Let's assume you pay $206 for electricity monthly (the Seattle, WA average) and that electricity prices increase by 3% annually. Let's also assume you buy your solar panel system upfront and that it costs you $33,000 before any available incentives.
In the first year with solar, you'll avoid spending $2,500 on electric bills. Over five years, you'll avoid $13,200; by 10 years, you'll have avoided $28,800. Solar panels are usually covered under warranty for 25 years—by then, you'll have avoided spending $93,900 on electric bills in Seattle, WA.
Your solar savings depend on you
How much your utility company charges for electricity is a big indicator of how much you'll save with solar. But your exact solar savings depend on your unique situation—including your energy usage, roof layout, system size, and how you pay for your system.
Here are some reasons your savings could be below average:
You don’t use much electricity, or your roof is small or has a less-than-ideal layout. You might have a relatively long payback period, so you'll save a little less over time.
You don't install enough solar panels to 100% offset your energy use. You’ll pay less up front but save less in the long run.
You finance your solar panel system with a loan or sign a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) instead of paying up front. These types of arrangements can make a lot of sense for keeping your capital flexible and will allow you to start saving sooner. But they will cut into your long-term savings.
Choosing a high-quality solar installer is the key to getting a top-notch solar panel system that will help you save on electric bills.
We pre-screen all solar companies on EnergySage to ensure they get the job done right. Here are the highest-rated EnergySage installers in Seattle, WA:
Elite InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.026 Reviews
Elite InstallerScreened & Verified4.9 /5.032 Reviews
Elite InstallerScreened & Verified4.5 /5.0525 Reviews
Advanced InstallerScreened & Verified5.0 /5.01 Review
Advanced InstallerScreened & Verified4.9 /5.044 Reviews
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