Solar panels cost about 12 cents a watt now — so why is my electric bill still high?

The factory price of a panel is only one slice of a home system. Inverters, racking, labor, permits, financing, sales costs, roof work, utility rules, and the installer’s margin can outweigh the modules, while fixed grid charges remain even after solar. Compare quotes by total installed dollars per watt, equipment, warranty, production estimate, financing APR, and local rate plan—not the commodity panel price alone.