What Vermont still offers after the federal credit ended
Every incentive on this page is verified against Vermont government sources - and the expired ones salespeople still quote are called out.
The 30% federal solar tax credit ended for installations finished after December 31, 2025 - Burlington systems completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
Under Vermont's export rules, compensation for surplus power decides the payback - which typically runs 10-14 years on unsubsidized 2026 math.
Installed home solar for Burlington homeowners averages about $2.58 a watt across the U.S. marketplace - roughly $30,960 for a 12 kW system before incentives.
If a salesperson in Burlington tells you a 30% federal tax credit applies to your 2026 installation, they are quoting a dead law. What may still exist: Vermont's own incentives and tax treatment, listed below, and lease/PPA arrangements where a company claims commercial credits - in which case the credit belongs to them, not you.
Leased and PPA systems deserve extra scrutiny in 2026: the sales pitch often bundles 'tax savings' that now accrue to the leasing company under separate commercial rules - not to you. Get every claimed saving in writing, attributed to a specific law, before signing a 20-25 year contract.
The 2026 numbers
| System size | Installed price (marketplace avg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,480 | Small roof / low usage |
| 8 kW | $20,640 | Typical starter system |
| 10 kW | $25,800 | Family home with AC |
| 12 kW | $30,960 | Large home / EV charging |
| Home battery (optional) | $12,000-$16,000 | Backup power + self-consumption |
Get solar quotes for Burlington
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Vermont rules that decide your payback
| Rule | Vermont status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | Vermont pays net-metering customers a bill credit built from three PUC-set numbers - a statewide blended residential rate plus a REC adjuster and a siting adjuster - and effective August 1, 2026 the blended residential rate rises to $0.2071/kWh, with the siting adjuster for Category I systems (up to 15 kW, the typical residential size) at negative $0.05/kWh and the REC adjuster at $0.00/kWh if you transfer your renewable energy credits to your utility. |
| State incentive | Net-metering rate adjusters set by the Vermont Public Utility Commission under Commission Rule 5.100 / 5.128 (biennial update), which function as the state's net-metering incentive; no separate state rebate verified. |
| Sales tax on the system | Exempt |
| Property tax on added home value | Excluded |
Keeping your renewable energy credits costs you money: if you retain the RECs instead of transferring them to your utility, a REC adjuster of negative $0.04/kWh is applied to ALL kilowatt-hours your system produces - including the power you use on site, not just what you export - and it shows up as a charge on your bill. Also, timing matters: a complete certificate of public good application had to be filed on or before July 31, 2026 to lock in the prior incentive levels, since the new adjusters apply to systems whose complete CPG application is filed on or after August 1, 2026.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
What this means for Burlington roofs
Beware of any 2026 payback estimate that looks as good as the 2025 ones: with the federal credit gone, a third of the old subsidy math vanished. If a sales projection has not gotten noticeably worse since 2025, it is hiding something - usually an inflated utility-rate escalation assumption.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
Getting Burlington quotes
Marketplace platforms collect bids from multiple VT installers against the same spec, which is the only clean way to compare - same roof, same size, different prices. Getting quotes is free and does not commit you to anything; prices come from the installers, never from this site.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
Common questions
Does solar raise my property taxes?
It depends on the state - many exempt solar's added home value from property tax, others do not, and some exemptions have expiration dates. This guide's state page lists the verified rule and source for your state.
How long do solar panels actually last?
Panels are typically warrantied for 25 years of production and commonly outlive it, losing about 0.5% output per year. Inverters are the component that usually needs replacement - typically once, around year 12-15, at a few thousand dollars.
How do I check if a solar quote is fair?
Divide the total price by the system's wattage. The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed; $2.30-3.00 covers most fair quotes depending on roof complexity. Above that, ask exactly what you are paying extra for - in writing.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
No. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit was repealed effective for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, per the IRS. Only systems finished by the end of 2025 qualified. State-level incentives are separate and some survive - check the state page in this guide.
What is net metering and why does it decide everything?
It is the rule for how your utility credits electricity you export. Full retail net metering credits exports at the same rate you pay - the grid works like a free battery. Net billing or avoided-cost rules pay far less per exported kWh, which lengthens payback and strengthens the case for a home battery.
Get solar quotes for Burlington
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
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