This initia list of solar cost-benefit studies has been compiled by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) with additional studies compiled by IndianaDG.

Many states have commissioned specific cost-benefit studies on the value of solar and renewable energy. This page includes links to various studies across the country, as well as solar meta-studies examining these.

Solar Meta-studies

• Rooftop Solar: Net Metering is a Net Benefit - Brookings, 2016
• Shining Rewards: The Value of Rooftop Solar Power for Consumers and Society - Environment America & Frontier Group, 2015
• A Regulator's Guidebook: Calculating the Benefits and Costs of Distributed Solar Generation - IREC, 2013  authors Jason B. Keyes, Partner, Keyes, Fox & Wiedman, LLP and Karl R. Rábago, Principal, Rábago Energy LLC.
• A Review of Solar PV Benefit & Cost Studies - RMI, 2013 

State Solar Cost-Benefit Analyses

Arizona

• The Benefits and Costs of Solar Distributed Generation for Arizona Public Service - 2016
• The Benefits and Costs of Distributed Generation for Arizona Public Service - 2013 
• 2013 Updated Solar PV Value Report - 2013 
• Distributed Renewable Energy Operating Impacts and Valuation Study - 2009

Arkansas

Attachment A-1. Crossborder Study__Benefits and Costs of Net Metering Solar DG on the EAI System (1)

California

• California Net Energy Metering Ratepayer Impacts Evaluation - 2013
• Evaluating the Benefits and Costs of Net Energy Metering in California - 2013
• Technical Potetential for Local Distributed Photovoltaics in California, Preliminary Assessment - 2012
• California Solar Initiative Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation - 2011
• Quantifying the Benefits of Solar Power for California - 2005
• The Impact of Rate Design and Net Metering on the Bill Savings from Distributed PV for Residential Customers in California - 2010

Colorado

• Costs and Benefits of Distributed Solar Generation on the Public Service Company of Colorado System - 2013

Florida

• An Assessment of Renewable Electric Generating Technologies for Florida - Florida, 2003

Georgia

• Testimony before the Georgia Public Service Commission re: Georgia Power Company's Application for its 2013 Integrated Resource Plan

Hawaii

• Evaluation of Hawaii's Renewable Energy Policy and Procurement - 2014

Massachussetts

• Value of Distributed Generation-Solar PV in MA - 2015

Maine

• Maine Distributed Solar Valuation Study - 2015

Michigan 

• Rooftop Solar Systems Provide Economic Benefits to Michigan’s Electric Grid
• IEI Report on Michigan Net Metering_371a41_664a0e0b41f24b5388603d6354a32829_2017

Mississippi

• Net Metering in Mississippi: Costs, Benefits, and Policy Considerations - 2014

North Carolina

• The Benefits and Costs of Solar Generation for Electric Ratepayers in North Carolina - 2013

Nevada

• Nevada Net Energy Metering Impacts Evaluation - 2014

New Jersey & Pennsylvania

• The Value of Distributed Solar Electric Generation to New Jersey and Pennsylvania - 2012

New York

• New York Solar Study: An Analysis of the Benefits and Costs of Increasing Generation From Photovoltaic Devices in New York - 2012
• Energy and Capacity Valuation of Photovoltaic Power Generation in New York - 2008

Texas

• 2014 Value of Solar Executive Summary - 2014
• The Value of Distributed Solar Electric Generation to San Antonio - 2013
• The Value of Distributed Photovoltaics to Austin Energy and the City of Austin - 2006

Utah

• Value of Solar in Utah - 2014

Vermont

• Evaluation of Net Metering in Vermont Conducted Pursuant to Act 99 of 2014 - 2014

Other Studies on Value of Solar

• Changes in the Economic Value of Variable Generation at High Penetration Levels: A Pilot Case Study of California - 2012
• Designing Austin Energy's Solar Tariff Using a Distributed PV Calculator - 2012
• Watch: Minnesota’s Value of Solar Webinar by John Farrell, Institute for Self Reliance (ILSR) Compares and contracts Value of Solar (VOS), Net Metering and Feed-in Tariffs (FITs)
• MN-Value-of-Solar-from-ILSR