It's a rather common thread, I'm having a bit of trouble finding an authoritative source but let's look around: http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/solar.htm

It's a rather common thread, I'm having a bit of trouble finding an authoritative source but let's look around: http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/solar.html http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/solar.html >Incidentally, naked solar panels currently (2013) go for about $1 per watt ($1000 per kWp), installation costs are about $4 per watt, for a total installed cost of about $5 per watt, without batteries. http://newscenter.lbl.gov/news-releases/2012/11/27/the-installed-price-of-solar-photovoltaic-systems-in-the-u-s-continues-to-decline-at-a-rapid-pace/ http://newscenter.lbl.gov/news-releases/2012/11/27/the-insta... >average non-module costs for residential and commercial systems declined by roughly 30 percent from 1998 to 2011, but have not declined as rapidly as module prices in recent years. As a result, non-module costs now represent a sizable fraction of the installed price of PV systems >the median installed price of PV systems installed in 2011 was $6.10 per watt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel#Price http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel#Price >in 2012 it was estimated that the quantity cost per watt was about $0.60 http://www.wholesalesolar.com/bulk-solar-panels-by-the-pallet.html http://www.wholesalesolar.com/bulk-solar-panels-by-the-palle... >Price per watt: $0.84 So if anything, I might be lowballing it. I was thinking in terms of tripling wattage for the same amount of effort, (which makes sense for commercial PV) rather than thirding effort for the same wattage (which makes more sense at home), so your secondary point is valid. If at-home PV takes off, it might be a good time to be an electrician.