Solar in Pennsylvania: is it worth it in 2026?
Pennsylvania is a good state for solar: most homes that buy a system get their money back in about a decade. Three things decide that: electricity prices rank 15th of 51, its sun ranks 29th, and exported power earns full retail credit. Of the 51 states and DC, Pennsylvania has the 11th-fastest payback for a typical home.
The average home here pays about $162 a month for 839 kWh. A 6.5 kW system sized for that home would knock about $1,700 off the first year's bills, 88% of the total.
Checked November 12, 2026
What makes solar pay off in Pennsylvania
- Size the system to cover your yearly use. With full net metering, power you export is worth as much as power you use, so timing matters less than in most states.
- The price per watt decides it. At 19.3¢ per kWh, the price per watt matters as much as the sun. At $3.34 per watt, the high end of what companies quote, payback for a typical system here stretches to 13 years.
Payback by system size
An average Pennsylvania home uses about 10,068 kWh a year. Here's how systems sized to cover part or all of that work out, bought with cash at $2.57 per watt:
| Covers | Size | Price | Makes a year | Payback | 25-year savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47% | 3.5 kW | $8,995 | 4,746 kWh | 10 years | $17,658 |
| 74% | 5.5 kW | $14,135 | 7,458 kWh | 10 years | $29,248 |
| 101% | 7.5 kW | $19,275 | 10,170 kWh | 10 years | $40,815 |
| 128% | 9.5 kW | $24,415 | 12,882 kWh | 11 years | $42,581 |
The 3.5 kW system pays back fastest, but the 9.5 kW system saves the most over 25 years. Assumes exported power earns full credit, prices rise 2.5% a year and one inverter replacement.
How Pennsylvania credits power you send to the grid
Full credit (net metering)
Full retail net metering, though it's being chipped away: a 2026 settlement with PPL could lower credit values for its customers.
By utility
- PECO: Full retail net metering under Pennsylvania law: exported power offsets the power you buy, one for one.
- PPL Electric Utilities: Full retail net metering today, but a 2026 settlement with PPL could lower credit values for its customers.
Before you sign in Pennsylvania
Check the license. Look the company up with the Pennsylvania Attorney General (home improvement contractor registration), by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license number too.
Pennsylvania has no solar-specific sales law that we know of, so its general consumer protection law applies.
In every state, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule lets you cancel a contract signed at your home until midnight of the third business day.
How to choose a solar company · Contract checklist · Before you sign
Pennsylvania compared with its neighbors
| State | Electricity | kWh per kW | Typical payback | Exported power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 19.3¢ | 1,356 | 10 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| New York | 26.4¢ | 1,291 | 8 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| New Jersey | 22.5¢ | 1,305 | 9 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Delaware | 17.1¢ | 1,364 | 11 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Maryland | 19.5¢ | 1,392 | 9 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| West Virginia | 15.4¢ | 1,219 | 17 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Ohio | 16.9¢ | 1,296 | 13 years | Monthly netting |
Questions about solar in Pennsylvania
How long does solar take to pay for itself in Pennsylvania?
About 10 years for a typical 6.5 kW system bought with cash at the 2026 median price of $2.57 per watt, with no federal tax credit and one inverter replacement. A bigger or smaller system, a different price, or your own usage will change that; the table above shows other sizes.
Does Pennsylvania have net metering?
Yes. Full retail net metering, though it's being chipped away: a 2026 settlement with PPL could lower credit values for its customers.
Is there a solar tax credit in Pennsylvania in 2026?
Not from the federal government for buyers: the 30% homeowner credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. For a typical 6.5 kW system in Pennsylvania, that credit was worth about $5,012 and brought payback down to 7 years, instead of 10 years now. Leasing companies can still claim a business credit, so ask for a lease or PPA price too. Your state energy office lists any state rebates.
Is a solar battery worth it in Pennsylvania?
Not for savings. Pennsylvania credits exported power at the full retail rate, and storing power in a battery loses about 10% of it, so a battery saves nothing on the bill. It can still be worth it for backup during outages: a 13.5 kWh battery costs about $15,650 installed in 2026.
Is plug-in solar legal in Pennsylvania?
Not yet. A bill (HB 1971) is pending: in committee.
How do I check a solar company's license in Pennsylvania?
Look the company up with the Pennsylvania Attorney General (home improvement contractor registration) (attorneygeneral.gov) by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license too.
More guides: What changed for solar in 2026 · Lease or buy? · Plug-in solar · Is my solar system working?
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), final 2025 data: Annual State Historical Spreadsheets (Form EIA-861, released October 7, 2026) and Electric Power Annual (October 21, 2026); NREL PVWatts (National Solar Radiation Database), statewide averages; Solar Energy Nerds: net metering by state, 2026; Solar.com: Plug-in solar, the 2026 guide; EnergySage: median quoted price, first half of 2026.