What Delaware pays for your exported solar power
Export compensation is the single biggest payback lever in 2026. Here is Delaware's current rule in plain words, with the official source.
Under Delaware's export rules, compensation for surplus power decides the payback - which typically runs 10-14 years on unsubsidized 2026 math.
Installed home solar for New Castle homeowners averages about $2.58 a watt across the U.S. marketplace - roughly $30,960 for a 12 kW system before incentives.
New Castle, Delaware has about 5,715 residents, and its solar quotes are built from system size, roof complexity and export rules - not the town name.
The honest 2026 answer for New Castle: 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 Delaware's export compensation, covered in the net metering section.
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.
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 |
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Delaware rules that decide your payback
| Rule | Delaware status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | Net metering (not full retail): residential systems are capped at 25 kW, and effective January 1, 2024 the monthly Excess kWh Credit is valued at "the sum of the volumetric (kWh) components of the supply service charges and distribution service charges, not including the charges for societal benefits programs"; credits carry over to subsequent annualized billing periods and the customer may request a refund of the remaining balance at year end (26 Del. C. § 1014). |
| State incentive | Green Energy Program — DNREC administers rebates that offset the installed cost of residential renewable energy systems including solar PV, funded by a public benefits charge on electric bills, for Delmarva Power customers (Delaware's other utilities operate similar programs). Homeowners can also sell Delaware SRECs through the state's SREC procurement program under the RPS solar carve-out (RPS: 40% renewable by 2035, 10% of that from solar). |
| Sales tax on the system | Exempt |
| Property tax on added home value | No exclusion on record |
Delaware's Green Energy Program is utility-specific rather than statewide — the DNREC-run version is for Delmarva Power customers, and DNREC warns that "High demand for Green Energy Program incentives has caused a delay for some grant payments after an application receives final approval," so homeowners should not budget on receiving the grant quickly. Note also that Delaware's export credit excludes societal-benefit charges, so exported power is worth slightly less than the full retail rate.
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 New Castle 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 New Castle 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.
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.
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.
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.
Do I need a battery with my solar?
Not necessarily. Under full retail net metering, the grid effectively stores your surplus for free. Batteries earn their $12,000-16,000 price where export rates are low, outages are common, or time-of-use rates make evening self-consumption valuable.
Get solar quotes for New Castle
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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