Solar in Virginia: is it worth it in 2026?
Virginia 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 27th of 51, its sun ranks 16th, and exported power earns full retail credit. Of the 51 states and DC, Virginia has the 18th-fastest payback for a typical home.
The average home here pays about $163 a month for 1,067 kWh. An 8 kW system sized for that home would knock about $1,744 off the first year's bills, 89% of the total.
Checked November 12, 2026
What makes solar pay off in Virginia
- 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 15.3¢ 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 15 years.
Payback by system size
An average Virginia home uses about 12,804 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50% | 4.5 kW | $11,565 | 6,422 kWh | 11 years | $17,189 |
| 72% | 6.5 kW | $16,705 | 9,276 kWh | 11 years | $25,995 |
| 100% | 9 kW | $23,130 | 12,843 kWh | 11 years | $36,998 |
| 123% | 11 kW | $28,270 | 15,697 kWh | 13 years | $38,402 |
The 4.5 kW system pays back fastest, but the 11 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 Virginia credits power you send to the grid
Full credit (net metering)
1:1 retail net metering. Dominion Energy asked to cut it, and regulators turned that down in April 2026.
By utility
- Dominion Energy Virginia: 1:1 net metering with yearly netting kept in Dominion's 2026 successor tariff (“NEM 2.0”); power left over at the end of the 12-month period now earns more than the old avoided-cost rate.
- Appalachian Power (Virginia): 1:1 net metering, with credits banked month to month over a 12-month period; at the end of each period, leftover credit is paid at about 5.7 cents per kWh instead of carrying forward (2025 SCC order).
Before you sign in Virginia
Check the license. Look the company up with the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license number too.
Virginia 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
Virginia compared with its neighbors
| State | Electricity | kWh per kW | Typical payback | Exported power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 15.3¢ | 1,427 | 11 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Maryland | 19.5¢ | 1,392 | 9 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| District of Columbia | 21.9¢ | 1,391 | 8 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| West Virginia | 15.4¢ | 1,219 | 17 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Kentucky | 13.1¢ | 1,343 | 20 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢ | 1,338 | 24 years | No statewide rule |
| North Carolina | 14.0¢ | 1,416 | 15 years | Monthly netting |
Questions about solar in Virginia
How long does solar take to pay for itself in Virginia?
About 11 years for a typical 8 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 Virginia have net metering?
Yes. 1:1 retail net metering. Dominion Energy asked to cut it, and regulators turned that down in April 2026.
Is there a solar tax credit in Virginia in 2026?
Not from the federal government for buyers: the 30% homeowner credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. For a typical 8 kW system in Virginia, that credit was worth about $6,168 and brought payback down to 8 years, instead of 11 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 Virginia?
Not for savings. Virginia 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 Virginia?
Yes, starting January 1, 2027, under HB 395 / SB 250, up to 1,200 watts. Landlords with more than 4 rental units can't ban kits; notice required before installing.
How do I check a solar company's license in Virginia?
Look the company up with the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (dpor.virginia.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; Piedmont Environmental Council: SCC keeps Dominion's net metering structure; pv magazine USA: Virginia approves Dominion's NEM 2.0 (May 2026); Cardinal News: rooftop solar rules mostly unchanged for Appalachian Power (2025); Advanced Energy United: Virginia keeps Appalachian Power net metering; NC Clean Energy Technology Center: 50 States of Solar; Solar.com: Plug-in solar, the 2026 guide; EnergySage: median quoted price, first half of 2026.