Data page · Northeast region
Solar Panel Cost in New York (2026)
A typical New York rooftop system costs around $3.1/W cash, installed, before incentives — with most quotes landing between $2.85/W and $3.4/W. The federal residential tax credit is $0 for 2026 installations (it ended 12/31/2025).
Market estimate · compiled 2026-08 · sources: marketplace reports, NREL, EIA, state programs — see methodology.
The federal residential solar tax credit (30% §25D) ended December 31, 2025.
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, systems placed in service on or after January 1, 2026 do not qualify for the residential credit. Systems installed and operational by December 31, 2025 can still be claimed at 30% on the 2025 return. Commercial and third-party-owned (lease/PPA) projects may qualify under §48E — see the federal incentives page.
Status verified 2026-08-21. Confirm your circumstances with a qualified tax professional.
Typical cash price / watt
$3.10
range $2.85–$3.40 $/W
10 kW system (gross)
$31,000
$28,500–$34,000 · before incentives
Avg electricity rate
29.93¢/kWh
EIA May 2026 · avg use 571 kWh/mo
Export / net-metering
net billing
Value-stack net metering varies by utility; retail NEM for many small systems, with caps a…
Cost by system size
Gross installed cash price, before incentives. Net cost in 2026 = gross − $0 federal − any verified state/local incentive (see below).
Solar resource & economics
- Production factor (est.)
- 1492 kWh/kW/yr
- 10 kW annual production (est.)
- 12,831 kWh
- Year-1 savings for 10 kW at avg rate, 35% self-use
- $3,216
- Simple payback (net cost ÷ Yr-1 savings, rough)
- ≈ 16 yrs
These are rough planning numbers. Model your exact scenario in the price calculator — assumptions are visible and adjustable.
Export policy detail
Value-stack net metering varies by utility; retail NEM for many small systems, with caps and transition rules.
Why it matters: if exports are credited at the retail rate (1:1 net metering), every kWh counts the same. Under net billing or avoided-cost export, storing daytime power (battery) or shifting use matters far more. Your utility’s tariff — not the state average — decides this. Utility records
Incentives in New York (status-aware)
NY-Sun (MW Block) incentive
CurrentDeclining $/W block incentive (varies by region)
Value depends on remaining block — confirm current block value with your installer or NYSERDA.
Source: NYSERDA NY-Sun program · Last checked 2026-08-21
Retail Energy Storage Incentive
CurrentPer-kWh installed storage incentive (declining)
Confirm availability and current $/kWh with NYSERDA before budgeting.
Source: NYSERDA · Last checked 2026-08-21
Property tax exemption for solar
CurrentExempt from local property tax (RPTL §487)
Some towns opt out — confirm locally.
Source: New York State RPTL 487 · Last checked 2026-08-21
Sales tax exemption for solar equipment
CurrentExempt from state sales tax
Confirmed current.
Source: New York State Department of Taxation and Finance · Last checked 2026-08-21
Tax exemptions: Property tax — current: Exempt from local property tax (RPTL §487; opt-out towns exist). Sales tax — current: Solar equipment exempt from sales tax.
Federal residential credit (§25D): expired 12/31/2025 — $0 for 2026 installations. Commercial/third-party-owned projects: see federal incentives.
Local considerations
- High rates + NY-Sun incentive = strong economics for eligible systems.
- NY-Sun block values decline as capacity fills — confirm current block.
- Rooftop suitability varies widely (urban rentals vs suburban homes).
Battery note: batteries add roughly $1,000–$2,000/kWh installed and rarely pay for themselves on energy savings alone. In New York, storage value depends on your export policy (net billing), TOU rates and outage risk — model it in the battery calculator.
Nearby states
Next steps
Every estimate on this page is a planning range — only a site inspection and real quote give an exact price.
Data sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly (rates, May 2026) · NREL (solar resource) · marketplace cost reports & state programs (cost estimates, 2026) · incentive records last checked 2026-08-21. Full detail in methodology.