Solar in New York costs about $2.97 per watt before incentives. High and rising electricity rates, plus a 25% state credit that also reaches lease and PPA customers, are what make the math work in 2026.
See what solar costs for your New York home
Your utility, your roof and your town’s property-tax rules all change the price. Your ZIP code shows local prices and installers.
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What still cuts the price of solar in New York
The quote and what you pay are different numbers in 2026. Three state benefits and one city benefit survive the federal cut.
The 30% federal credit ended for systems you ownSection 25D ended for installs completed after December 31, 2025, whatever the contract date. The commercial Section 48E credit survives for leases and PPAs: the provider claims it, if the project starts construction by July 4, 2026 or is in service by December 31, 2027.
Of net system cost, claimed on Form IT-255, with a five-year carryforward. It also applies to leases and PPAs of 10 years or more.
NY Tax DepartmentOn the home value solar adds. Localities can opt out, and then a PILOT may apply: check with your assessor before you sign.
Your installer applies it at sale. The storage sales-tax exemption ended June 1, 2026, so batteries bought after that are taxed.
7.5% a year inside the five boroughs, for systems in service from 2024 to 2035. An architect or engineer files it.
For households at or below 80% of area median income ($0.40 on Long Island). A 7 kW Upstate system collects $5,600.
See the full stack in every New York solar incentive worth claiming.
Standard NY-Sun rebates are closedCon Edison’s block closed May 29, 2025, Upstate’s on December 17, 2025, and Long Island’s in April 2016. If a salesperson promises a NY-Sun rebate on a standard-income 2026 install, ask which block and check the NYSERDA dashboard yourself.
New York solar prices by system size
A competitively shopped New York system costs $2.97 per watt before incentives. The typical reported price runs higher, because it includes premium equipment, door-to-door sales and contracts signed under pressure. For the national picture, see solar panel costs across the country.
Owned systems, before incentives. The battery figures add one 13.5 kWh battery at a New York installed cost of $15,000. Real quotes vary by roof, equipment, electrical panel and installer.
How New York’s rising rates pay for your solar
Every cent a utility adds is a cent more that each solar kilowatt-hour saves. New York electricity is expensive and climbing.
By utility: Con Edison’s plan raises delivery 2.8% a year through 2028. National Grid Upstate added $17.24 a month in year one. Central Hudson’s basic charge rises from $21.50 to $26.00. PSEG Long Island’s supply charge swung from 12.98¢ to 16.59¢ between January and April 2026. A 12 kW system making 14,000 kWh a year offsets about $4,200 at 2026 rates.
The Customer Benefit Contribution most quotes leave out
Every system connected since January 1, 2022 pays a monthly charge per kW that solar output cannot cancel. It is reset every year.
Real, but not a deal-breakerA 10 kW Central Hudson system pays $200 a year the bill credit can’t touch. Over 20 years that is thousands of dollars, so a careful payback model includes it.
What you actually pay: a 12 kW Con Edison example
A cash buyer, no federal credit, in a locality with the §487 exemption in effect.
12 kW system at $2.97 per watt
Payback runs 8 to 12 years for most New York cash buyers: shorter where rates are rising fastest, longer for low-use homes or opted-out localities. Net 25-year savings land around $38,000 to $53,000 on a similar system. Compare scenarios in Is solar worth it in New York?
Snow load, brownstone roofs and the 100-amp panel problem
Three kinds of cost show up in real New York installs, and a few things pull the price down.
+What adds cost here
- Snow and wind engineeringBuffalo, Syracuse and Albany average 60+ inches of snow, which calls for steeper racking and a structural check. Long Island’s coast needs hurricane-grade racking.
A per-watt premium - City roofs and landmark districtsBrownstone roofs are crowded with HVAC gear and hatches, and landmark districts limit where panels can sit.
- Tile, slate, metal or cedarSpecialty roofs need special mounts. Insurers now want 15+ years of roof life left.
+$0.25 to $0.75 per watt - A 100-amp panelMany pre-1980 homes need a 200-amp upgrade for solar plus EV charging. It rarely shows in a per-watt quote.
−What lowers cost here
- A simple south-facing shingle roofThe easiest install there is.
- A larger systemThe price per watt drops as size goes up.
- Three or more quotesCompetitive shopping is how you reach the $2.97 price.
- A NY-Sun participating contractorThey handle the paperwork right the first time.
How to pay for solar in New York without §25D
Each option has a 2026 catch. In New York, the state credit changes the lease math more than anywhere else.
Pay cash
You own the system
Upfront
The full price. About $10,700 to $11,000 more than a 2025 buyer paid for a large system.
Monthly
Nothing. The whole bill offset is yours.
Credits
The 25% state credit, up to $5,000.
Watch out for
The biggest upfront check since the federal credit ended.
The strongest 25-year return.
Solar loan
You own the system
Upfront
Often $0 down. Most lenders want a FICO score of 650.
Monthly
Median H2 2025 quote: 7.5% over 25 years.
Credits
The 25% state credit, up to $5,000.
Watch out for
If the payment isn’t below your bill, the day-one savings pitch isn’t real.
Ownership without cash, if the payment beats your bill.
Lease or PPA
The provider owns the system
Upfront
$0.
Monthly
A fixed fee (lease) or a price per kWh (PPA) that rises each year.
Credits
The provider claims 30% under §48E; the 25% state credit can still reach you on 10+ year contracts.
Watch out for
Escalators. Walk away from anything above 2.9% a year.
Day-one savings, lower lifetime return.
2026 is a bad year for solar scamsThe New York Attorney General sued Attyx over a $275 million scheme that sold “free solar” to low-income homeowners and seniors through inflated loans. Read what zero-down solar actually means in New York before you sign.
When solar doesn’t make financial sense in New York
Not every roof, and not every homeowner, is a good fit in 2026:
- Heavy shade. Afternoon trees or NYC rooftop gear can cut output 30% to 40%. Insist on a site visit, not a satellite quote.
- Under 400 kWh a month. Payback stretches past 13 years. Community solar is often the better fit.
- You may move within 7 years. Most cash payback runs 8 to 12 years.
- Your locality opted out of §487. The added home value can raise your property tax.
- Your roof needs replacing within 5 years. Removing and reinstalling panels costs $1,500 to $3,000.
- A municipal utility, co-op or LIPA without VDER. Net metering rules and rates differ, and the savings usually don’t match Con Edison or National Grid.
What to ask a New York installer
These questions separate an installer who will get it right from one who won’t:
- Are you a NY-Sun participating contractor?
- What is the §487 status of my locality?
- What is my utility’s 2026 CBC rate, and is it in the payback model?
- If you propose a battery, am I enrolling in my utility’s BYOB program? NYSERDA’s $200 to $250 per kWh storage incentive requires it since April 1, 2026.
- What is the escalator on this PPA or lease?
- Can you show me three recent installs of a similar size in my utility territory?
See vetted New York installers we have reviewed, region by region.
See the 2026 New York math for your ZIP code
Statewide averages can’t see your roof, your utility or your locality’s §487 status. Enter your ZIP code to run the numbers for your home.
- Quotes built for your roofEach quote is designed around your home and your bills.
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More New York solar guides
Solar companies by city
Frequently asked questions
How Much Does a Solar System Cost in New York?
In 2026, a homeowner-purchased residential solar system in New York runs $2.97 per watt installed before incentives: $17,800 for a 6 kW system, $23,800 for an 8 kW, $29,700 for a 10 kW, and $35,600 for a 12 kW. After the state’s 25% credit (capped at $5,000), a 12 kW cash buyer pays $30,600 out of pocket.
Can I Still Get a Federal Solar Tax Credit in New York in 2026?
For a purchased system, no. The federal residential clean energy credit (Section 25D) ended for installations whose installation is completed after December 31, 2025. The federal commercial credit (Section 48E) survives and can reach you indirectly if you sign a lease or PPA, because the provider claims the credit and passes value through as a lower monthly payment.
What Is the New York Customer Benefit Contribution (CBC)?
The CBC is a monthly per-kW charge that every solar system interconnected on or after January 1, 2022 pays. It cannot be netted out by your solar generation and is recalculated annually. The 2026 rates run from $0.97 per kW per month on National Grid Upstate to $1.67 on Central Hudson. On a 10 kW system, the annual cost ranges from $115 to $200. It is a real drag, but it is not large enough to break the payback math at New York’s rate levels.
Does the New York State Solar Credit Apply if I Lease My System?
Yes. New York’s 25% state credit (Tax Law §606(g-1)) is one of the few in the country that explicitly applies to leased and PPA systems, provided the contract runs at least ten years. The credit is capped at $5,000 per taxpayer and carries forward five years. This is part of why third-party-owned systems became more competitive in 2026 New York than in most other states.
Is NY-Sun Still Paying Rebates for Standard-Income Households?
No, not for standard-income residential customers. The NY-Sun Megawatt Block standard residential incentive closed in the Con Edison territory on May 29, 2025, and in the Upstate territory on December 17, 2025. The Long Island standard block closed back in April 2016. The only remaining NY-Sun rebate is the Affordable Solar Residential Incentive for households at or below 80% of area median income: $0.80 per watt Upstate and Con Edison, $0.40 per watt Long Island.
How Long Will It Take to Pay Back a Solar System in New York?
For a cash buyer in 2026, payback runs 8 to 12 years, depending on utility territory, system size, and locality. A Con Edison 12 kW system pays back in 9.5 years at current rate levels. Payback shortens as rates climb. Leases and PPAs offer immediate monthly savings rather than payback in the traditional sense, with lower lifetime return.
What Happens to My Net Metering When I Sell My House?
The transitional Phase One net-metering enrollment carries a 20-year term that travels with the property. A new owner inherits the remaining years of the lock. Be sure your closing paperwork documents the enrollment and the date the 20-year clock started; buyers’ lenders and inspectors increasingly ask for it.
How we calculate these costs
Cost figures use the EcoGen Solar Cost Index (v2 method): New York’s standardized installed price per watt, blended from current marketplace data and benchmarked against the national modeled cost. Payback and 25-year figures use the EcoGen Solar Payback Methodology at a 4% yearly rate increase and 0.5% panel degradation over 25 years. System size and average cost come from the State Profile, built from EIA consumption data, the NREL production factor and the state residential rate. Real quotes vary by roof, equipment and installer.
Sources (13)
- EIA, New York State Electricity Profile (2024 data): eia.gov
- IRS, Residential Clean Energy Credit: irs.gov
- NY Tax Department, Form IT-255: tax.ny.gov
- NY Tax Department, RPTL §487 opt-out records and assessor manual
- NYSERDA, NY-Sun Dashboards and Incentives: nyserda.ny.gov
- NYSERDA, 2026 Utility-Published CBC Rates: nyserda.ny.gov
- NYSERDA, Residential and Retail Storage Incentives
- NY DPS, Pending and Recent Electric Rate Cases: dps.ny.gov
- Con Edison, National Grid and PSEG Long Island rate pages
- NY Attorney General, action against Attyx (2026) and Going Solar consumer guide
- NYC Department of Finance, Clean Energy Systems Property Tax Abatement
- CRS Insight IN12611, Section 25D Expiration and Carryforward
- NREL PVWatts and Berkeley Lab Tracking the Sun
