🇲🇽 Solar Calculator Mexico

Enter your monthly CFE bill and city — get solar system size, panel count, cost in MXN, DAC escape savings, net metering credits, and payback period.

Your electricity situation

Monthly CFE bill?

$MXN

City?

CFE tariff?

System size?

kWp

CFE net metering?

Mexico solar system results

8 × 550W panels (4.0 kWp system)

Monthly consumption667 kWh/mo

Annual solar production5,840 kWh/yr

Load coverage73%

Annual electricity savings$5,256 MXN/yr

Est. system cost$80,000 MXN

100% ISR deduction (businesses)$24,000 MXN saved

Payback period15.2 yrs

25-year net savings$51,400 MXN

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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your monthly CFE bill and tariff

The most important input is your current CFE tariff. If your bill shows "DAC" (Doméstica de Alto Consumo), you are paying a penalty rate of roughly $5.50/kWh — about 6 times the standard basic domestic rate. Solar eliminates DAC status by reducing your consumption below the DAC threshold, delivering massive savings beyond just the electricity offset.

Select your city for peak sun hours

Mexico enjoys some of the world's best solar resources. Hermosillo (6.0 PSH) and Monterrey (5.5 PSH) are among the sunniest locations. Even Mexico City at 5.0 PSH has more solar potential than most of Europe. Peak sun hours directly determine how many panels are needed to cover your load.

Choose your system size and enable net metering

CFE's net metering program (medición neta) allows you to export excess solar production back to the grid at your tariff rate. Apply directly through CFE — residential approval typically takes 30-60 days. For businesses, the 100% ISR tax deduction in the year of purchase makes solar extremely attractive from a tax planning perspective.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill (MXN) ÷ CFE Tariff Rate (MXN/kWh) Annual Production = System kWp × PSH × 365 × 0.80 (system efficiency) Coverage % = Annual Production ÷ Annual Consumption × 100 Net Metering Credits = Excess kWh × Tariff Rate System Cost = kWp × 1,000W × $20/Wp (MXN mid-range estimate) ISR Deduction = System Cost × 30% (business tax rate) Payback = System Cost ÷ Annual Savings (incl. DAC escape savings) 25-yr Savings = Annual Savings × 25 − System Cost

The cost estimate uses $20/Wp MXN, representing the midpoint of the $18-22/Wp range for quality installed systems in Mexico. Panels include mono-PERC or TOPCon modules, string inverter, mounting hardware, and installation. Prices vary significantly between installers — always get 3 quotes.

Example

The Ramírez family — DAC escape in Guadalajara

The Ramírez family pays $4,000 MXN/month on CFE DAC tariff. Their consumption is roughly 727 kWh/month. They install a 6 kWp system with 11 × 550W panels.

Monthly bill$4,000 MXN (DAC tariff)

CityGuadalajara (5.3 PSH)

System6 kWp, 11 × 550W panels

Net meteringYes

Result

Annual production~9,288 kWh/yr

Load coverage~107% (slight surplus)

Annual savings (DAC rate)~$51,000 MXN/yr

DAC → basic escape savings~$37,500 MXN/yr

System cost$120,000 MXN

Payback~1.3 years

25-yr net savings~$2.2M MXN

For DAC users, solar is one of the best financial decisions available. The combination of high DAC rates and eliminating penalty tariff status permanently creates extraordinary payback periods — often under 2 years. The Ramírez family would recover their entire investment before their second annual anniversary of the installation.

FAQ

What is CFE DAC tariff and how does solar help? ▼

DAC (Doméstica de Alto Consumo) is a penalty tariff CFE applies when your bimonthly consumption exceeds approximately 500 kWh (250 kWh/month). Once on DAC, you pay ~$5.50/kWh versus ~$0.90/kWh on the basic tariff — a 6x premium. Solar panels immediately reduce your grid consumption below the DAC threshold, causing CFE to reclassify you back to the basic tariff at your next bimonthly reading. This "DAC escape" often saves more than the electricity offset itself. Most DAC households recover solar investment in under 2 years.

How does CFE net metering work in Mexico? ▼

CFE's net metering (medición neta) program allows residential and commercial solar customers to export excess electricity to the grid and receive bill credits at their tariff rate. To enroll: your installer submits interconnection documents to CFE, a bi-directional meter is installed (CFE's cost), and approval typically comes within 30-90 days. Credits accumulate monthly and roll over — unused annual surplus is reimbursed at CFE's avoided cost rate (lower). Best strategy: size the system to cover ~95-100% of your annual consumption to maximize credits without generating excess that's compensated at the lower avoided-cost rate.

What is the 100% ISR tax deduction for solar in Mexico? ▼

Under Article 34 of Mexico's Income Tax Law (ISR), businesses can deduct 100% of solar equipment investment in the year of purchase — compared to the standard depreciation schedule of 5-10% per year. For a business paying 30% ISR, a $500,000 MXN solar system generates an immediate $150,000 MXN tax saving, reducing the effective net cost to $350,000 MXN. Combined with the electricity savings, this makes commercial solar ROI exceptionally strong. Consult your accountant — the deduction applies to "machinery and equipment for generating energy from renewable sources."

How much does solar cost in Mexico in 2026? ▼

Installed residential solar in Mexico costs approximately $18-22/Wp (MXN), meaning a 5 kWp system runs $90,000-110,000 MXN all-in. This includes panels, string inverter, racking, wiring, permits, and CFE interconnection paperwork. Prices vary by state (installation labor is cheaper in some regions) and system quality. Premium systems with microinverters or hybrid inverters with battery support cost 30-50% more. Always verify installer certification and warranty terms — the inverter warranty (typically 5-10 years) matters more than panel warranty (25 years is standard).

Which Mexican cities have the best solar resources? ▼

Mexico has outstanding solar resources nationwide. The best locations are in the north and northwest: Hermosillo (6.0 PSH), Chihuahua (6.1 PSH), and Mexicali (6.2 PSH) rank among the world's top solar sites. Monterrey (5.5 PSH) and Guadalajara (5.3 PSH) are excellent. Even Mexico City (5.0 PSH), at high altitude with reliable dry-season sun, outperforms most of Europe. The "solar belt" running from Sonora through Zacatecas to Tamaulipas is prime territory. No location in Mexico is poor for solar — the worst areas still exceed US national averages.

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