Home solar in District of Columbia: prices, net metering, what is left in 2026
What District of Columbia homeowners pay for solar in 2026, how the state's export rules work, and which incentives survived - verified against state sources, town by town.
Installed home solar in District of Columbia compares against the U.S. marketplace average of about $2.58 a watt - roughly $30,960 for 12 kW.
The 30% federal solar credit ended December 31, 2025 - District of Columbia installations completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
A home battery in District of Columbia runs about $12,000-$16,000 installed, before any state storage incentive.
The honest 2026 answer for District of Columbia: solar pays back slower without the 30% credit - paybacks that ran 7-10 years often now run 10-14 - but electricity rates keep rising and hardware is the cheapest it has ever been. The deciding factor is District of Columbia's export compensation, covered in the net metering section.
District of Columbia rules that decide your payback
| Rule | District of Columbia status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | Net energy metering is available District-wide: D.C. Code § 34-1518 directs the Public Service Commission to run a program that "affords eligible customer-generators the opportunity to participate in net energy metering," requires bidirectional metering, bills the customer only for net electricity supplied, and leaves the specific credit rate and settlement terms to Commission rules (15 DCMR Ch. 9). |
| State incentive | SRECs earned under the District's Renewable Portfolio Standard solar carve-out are the main incentive — D.C. Code § 34-1432 requires electricity suppliers to source "not less than 4.3%" of retail sales from solar in 2025, rising to "not less than 9.0%" by 2032 and "not less than 15.0%" in 2041 and thereafter, which sustains the District's SREC market. DOEE's Solar for All separately provides solar benefits to income-qualified households, targeting 100,000 low- to moderate-income households with 50% bill reductions by 2032. |
| Sales tax on the system | Not exempt - taxed like any purchase |
| Property tax on added home value | No exclusion on record |
DC's aggressive solar carve-out (rising to 15% of all retail electricity sales by 2041) is what makes District SRECs valuable, but the income is not fixed — DOEE cautions that "SREC values fluctuate based on supply and demand," so a payback estimate built on today's SREC price can slip badly if prices fall as more systems come online. The District also offers no tax incentives of its own.
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 installed solar costs in 2026
| 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 |
Compare solar quotes for District of Columbia
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The 30% federal tax credit is gone for 2026 installations
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (30%) was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025. Per the IRS, the credit is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025 - and the IRS counts the installation completion date, not the contract date.
Common questions
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.
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.
What happens if my installer goes out of business?
Panel and inverter warranties come from the manufacturers and survive, but the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. That is a real risk in the post-credit shakeout - prefer installers with years of local history, and get manufacturer-backed workmanship coverage where offered.
How much does home solar cost in 2026?
The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed - roughly $15,500 for a 6 kW system and $31,000 for 12 kW, before any state incentives. Quotes meaningfully above that level deserve a written explanation of what justifies the premium.
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.
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.
Compare solar quotes for District of Columbia
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.