How Much Can Solar Power Save You Monthly?

If you live in Nigeria, you don’t need anyone to explain power problems to you. You already know it. You’ve felt it. You’ve lived it. One moment there is light, the next moment everywhere is dark. This is why Solar Power is currently in vogue in Nigeria. However people keep asking one important question: How Much Can Solar Power Save You Monthly?

Earlier, many Nigerians depend on generators. And generators are not cheap. Fuel is expensive. Maintenance is stressful. The noise is annoying. And the smoke is not healthy.

That is why many people are now asking a simple question.

How Much Can Solar Power Save You Monthly?

We want to answer that question honestly. By the end of this post, you will clearly understand how solar power can affect your monthly spending, whether it is worth it for you, and what kind of savings you should expect.

Understanding Where Your Money Goes Every Month For Power

Before we talk about savings, we need to first understand how Nigerians currently spend money on power. Many people don’t even realize how much they spend because the money goes out little by little.

Let us break it down.

Electricity Bills

If you live in an area where there is prepaid meter, you buy units regularly. Some people buy once a week. Some buy twice a month. For example, a small household might spend around 10,000 to 15,000 naira monthly on electricity units.

A bigger home with fridge, freezer, pumping machine, pressing iron, TV, fans, and sometimes AC can spend 20,000 to 35,000 naira monthly. If you don’t have a prepaid meter and you are on estimated billing, the story can be worse. Some people get bills of 25,000 to 50,000 naira even when light is not steady.

Generator Fuel

Now let us talk about generator fuel. This is where most money goes. If you use a small generator and you run it for maybe 4 to 6 hours daily, you might buy fuel every two or three days. Let us say fuel is 700 naira per liter.

If you buy 3 liters every two days, that is about 2,100 naira.

In one week, that is about 7,000 naira.

In one month, that is around 28,000 naira.

Some people spend even more. Especially those using bigger generators or running them for longer hours.

Generator Maintenance

This is another silent expense many people forget.

Oil change.
Spark plug.
Carburetor cleaning.
Minor repairs.
Major repairs.

If you calculate everything, some people spend 5,000 to 10,000 naira monthly just maintaining their generator. Sometimes more.

So when you add everything together, electricity bills, generator fuel, and generator maintenance, you might be spending between 30,000 and 70,000 naira monthly just to have light.

Some households spend even more.

Now let us compare this with solar power.

Solar Power

Solar power is simply using energy from the sun to power your home. Solar panels collect sunlight. The sunlight is converted into electricity. The electricity is stored in batteries. You use the stored electricity to power your appliances.

That is all.

There is no need for fuel, no noise, smoke and no sudden blackout. Once the system is properly installed, the sun does most of the work. The big cost comes at the beginning. After that, the monthly cost is very small.

This is where the savings come in.

Cost Of Solar Power In Nigeria

 

Let us be honest. Solar power is not cheap to install. That is the main reason many people are scared. But what many people fail to do is long term thinking. Solar power is not like fuel that finishes and you buy again. It is more like buying land. You pay once and enjoy for many years.

Here are the main things you pay for when installing solar.

• Solar panels
• Inverter
• Batteries
• Charge controller
• Wires and installation

Depending on the size of the system, the cost can range from 500,000 naira to over 5 million naira.

A small system for basic needs like lights, TV, fan, phone charging, and maybe a small fridge might cost around 800,000 to 1.5 million naira.

A medium system for a full house with fridge, freezer, pumping machine, TV, fans, and occasional AC might cost around 2 million to 3.5 million naira.

A big system for full comfort including ACs, washing machine, microwave, and more can cost above 4 million naira.

This is a lot of money. No doubt.

But now let us focus on monthly savings.

Monthly Expenses After Installing Solar Power

Once solar power is installed, your monthly expenses reduce drastically.

Here is what you may still spend money on monthly.

• Small electricity bill if you still use NEPA as backup
• Very small maintenance cost
• Possible battery replacement after some years

For most people, monthly electricity bills drop by 60 to 90 percent.

Some people stop buying electricity units completely.

Some people stop using generator completely.

That is where the real savings start.

Let Us Use Real Examples To Explain Monthly Savings

Example One. Small Household

This is a small household with two or three people.

They use:
Lights
TV
Fans
Phone charging
Small fridge

Before solar:
Electricity units. 12,000 naira monthly
Generator fuel. 18,000 naira monthly
Generator maintenance. 5,000 naira monthly

Total monthly power spending. 35,000 naira

After installing small solar system:
Electricity units. 3,000 naira or zero
Generator fuel. Zero
Generator maintenance. Zero

Total monthly power spending. 3,000 naira

Monthly savings. About 32,000 naira

That means in one year, this household saves about 384,000 naira.

Example Two. Medium Household

This is a family house with fridge, freezer, pumping machine, TV, fans, and sometimes AC.

Before solar:
Electricity bill. 20,000 naira
Generator fuel. 30,000 naira
Generator maintenance. 8,000 naira

Total monthly power spending. 58,000 naira

After installing medium solar system:
Electricity bill. 5,000 naira
Generator fuel. Almost zero
Generator maintenance. Zero

Total monthly spending. 5,000 naira

Monthly savings. About 53,000 naira

That is about 636,000 naira saved in one year.

Example Three. Business Owner

This could be a salon, barbing shop, POS center, or small office.

Before solar:
Electricity bill. 15,000 naira
Generator fuel. 40,000 naira
Generator maintenance. 10,000 naira

Total monthly spending. 65,000 naira

After solar:
Electricity bill. 3,000 naira
Generator fuel. Zero
Generator maintenance. Zero

Total monthly spending. 3,000 naira

Monthly savings. About 62,000 naira

That is about 744,000 naira saved yearly.

Some businesses save even more.

 

Read Also: Complete Solar Power System Price in Nigeria (2026 Breakdown)

 

How Long Before Solar Power Pays For Itself

This is a very important question. Solar power is not about saving money in one month. It is about saving money over time.

Let us say you install a solar system for 1.5 million naira.

And you save 50,000 naira every month.

In one year, you save 600,000 naira.

In two years, you save 1.2 million naira.

In three years, you save 1.8 million naira.

By the third year, your solar system has already paid for itself. Everything you save after that is pure gain.

And remember, good solar panels can last 20 to 25 years.

Inverters can last many years if properly used.

Batteries may need replacement after 4 to 7 years depending on type and usage.

But even with battery replacement, you are still saving money in the long run.

Is Solar Power Worth It For Everyone

Solar power is very good, but it is not magic.

It works best for people who:
Spend a lot on fuel
Have frequent power outages
Use many appliances daily
Plan to stay in their house for many years

If you live in a rented house and you plan to move soon, you may need to think well.

If you barely use light and only need power once in a while, solar may not give you big savings.

But for most Nigerian households, solar power makes sense.

How To Maximize Your Monthly Savings With Solar

If you want to save as much as possible, follow these simple tips.

• Use energy saving bulbs
• Turn off appliances when not in use
• Avoid overloading the inverter
• Choose quality batteries
• Clean your solar panels regularly

Also, size your system properly. Don’t buy a small system for big needs. It will fail and waste money.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Can Solar Save Me Monthly In Nigeria?

Most Nigerians save between 30,000 and 70,000 naira monthly depending on usage.

Can Solar Completely Replace Generator?

Yes, for many homes it can. Some people still keep generator as backup.

Does Solar Work During Rainy Season?

Yes, but power generation may reduce slightly. Batteries help cover this.

How Long Does Solar Last?

Panels can last over 20 years. Inverters and batteries last many years with good care.

Is Solar Better Than Generator?

In the long run, yes. It is cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable.

Read Also: Best Solar Inverter for Home in Nigeria (2026 Buyer’s Guide)

 

Conclusion

Solar power is not just about having light. It is about saving money month after month. If you are spending heavily on fuel, generator repairs, and high electricity bills, solar power can reduce that stress. The savings may not feel big in one month. But when you look at one year, two years, and five years, the difference is very clear. Solar power is an investment. And for many Nigerians, it is one of the smartest investments they can make today. If you think long term and install it the right way, solar power can save you more money than you ever imagined.