What Virginia still offers after the federal credit ended
Every incentive on this page is verified against Virginia 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 - Cedar Bluff systems completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
Under Virginia's export rules, compensation for surplus power decides the payback - which typically runs 10-14 years on unsubsidized 2026 math.
Installed home solar for Cedar Bluff homeowners averages about $2.58 a watt across the U.S. marketplace - roughly $30,960 for a 12 kW system before incentives.
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The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit - the 30% one every solar ad still quotes - was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025. Per the IRS, it is not available for any system placed in service after December 31, 2025, and 'placed in service' means the installation completion date, not the contract date.
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 Cedar Bluff
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Virginia rules that decide your payback
| Rule | Virginia status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | Net energy metering with kilowatt-hour credits: "Any billing period credits shall be accumulated, carried forward, and applied at the first opportunity to any billing periods having positive net consumptions," with residential systems capped at 25 kW for investor-owned utilities and 20 kW for electric cooperatives, and the program remaining open until net-metered capacity reaches six percent of each utility's adjusted Virginia peak-load forecast (five percent general, one percent reserved for low-income customers). |
| State incentive | Virginia's SREC market, created by the Virginia Clean Economy Act RPS — Va. Code § 56-585.5 requires a Phase II Utility (Dominion) to meet "4.5 percent for the 2026 through 2030 compliance years" of its RPS obligation with solar, wind or anaerobic digestion resources of one megawatt or less located in the Commonwealth, and "65 percent of such generation capacity procured shall be from the purchase of energy, capacity, and environmental attributes from solar facilities owned by persons other than a utility" — which is what creates demand for rooftop SRECs. There is no statewide rebate; the other state-level benefit is the local-option property tax exemption under Va. Code § 58.1-3661. |
| Sales tax on the system | Not exempt - taxed like any purchase |
| Property tax on added home value | Excluded |
Virginia has a real solar-rights law: under Va. Code § 55.1-1820.1, "No association shall prohibit an owner from installing a solar energy collection device on that owner's property unless the recorded declaration for the association establishes such a prohibition," and an HOA restriction is deemed unreasonable if it "increases the cost of installation ... by five percent" or "reduces the energy production ... by 10 percent." Offsetting that, Dominion residential customers whose systems exceed 20 kW AC pay a monthly standby charge, and unused kWh credits left at the end of the 12-month net metering period are forfeited unless the customer has a power purchase agreement to sell the excess.
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 Cedar Bluff roofs
Whether solar still pays in Virginia after the federal credit's end comes down to arithmetic, not ideology: installed cost (about $2.58 a watt at the marketplace average), what your utility pays for exports, and how much of your generation you use yourself. High self-consumption - daytime usage, EV charging, batteries - is now the biggest lever.
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 Cedar Bluff quotes
Before requesting quotes, have your last 12 months of electricity bills handy - system sizing should follow your real usage, not a salesperson's template. A bid sized far above your usage is a margin play, especially now that surplus export pays less in most states.
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
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.
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.
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.
Is solar still worth it without the federal credit?
It depends mostly on your state's export rules and your daytime usage. Paybacks lengthened by roughly a third when the credit ended, but rising electricity rates and record-cheap hardware keep the math workable in states with decent export compensation - and marginal where exports pay avoided cost only.
Should I lease, get a PPA, or buy?
Buying keeps all savings and any incentives with you. Leases and PPAs put a company's equipment on your roof for 20-25 years, complicate a home sale, and in 2026 any tax benefits they advertise belong to the company under commercial rules - not to you. Read escalator clauses carefully.
Get solar quotes for Cedar Bluff
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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