Home Solar Cost Guide

What North Dakota still offers after the federal credit ended

Every incentive on this page is verified against North Dakota 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 - Selfridge systems completed in 2026 get $0 from it.

Under North Dakota's export rules, compensation for surplus power decides the payback - which typically runs 10-14 years on unsubsidized 2026 math.

Installed home solar for Selfridge homeowners averages about $2.58 a watt across the U.S. marketplace - roughly $30,960 for a 12 kW system before incentives.

The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit - the 30% one every solar ad still quotes - was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025.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.

If a salesperson in Selfridge tells you a 30% federal tax credit applies to your 2026 installation, they are quoting a dead law. What may still exist: North Dakota'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.

Clay tile roof with a solar array under strong southwestern sun
House at dusk with rooftop solar and warm window lights
Aerial view of a suburban block with several solar roofs
Tilted solar racking on a flat roof section of a ranch home

The 2026 numbers

System sizeInstalled price (marketplace avg)Notes
6 kW$15,480Small roof / low usage
8 kW$20,640Typical starter system
10 kW$25,800Family home with AC
12 kW$30,960Large home / EV charging
Home battery (optional)$12,000-$16,000Backup power + self-consumption
The U.S. marketplace average for installed home solar is about $2.58 per watt - roughly $31,000 for a typical 12 kW system before incentives.Source: EnergySage marketplace pricing data, continuously updated (early 2026)

Get solar quotes for Selfridge

These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.

EnergySageMarketplace - multiple installer bids side by sideCompare quotes on EnergySage
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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.

North Dakota rules that decide your payback

RuleNorth Dakota status
Export compensation (net metering)North Dakota rule entitles customer generators with a design capacity of 100 kilowatts or less — which covers every residential rooftop system — to net energy billing in which the system's output reverses the utility's sales meter, while the general standard for a utility's purchases from qualifying facilities is the utility's avoided cost rather than the retail rate.
State incentiveNo state-level incentive; utility rebates may apply
Property tax on added home valueExcluded

The net energy billing entitlement binds only investor-owned 'electric public utilities' as defined in N.D.C.C. 49-03-01.5 — rural electric cooperatives, which serve much of North Dakota, are not covered, a gap underscored by a 1991 Legislative Council committee objection noting the legislature had defeated a bill that would have extended net energy billing to cooperatives.

North Dakota rule entitles customer generators with a design capacity of 100 kilowatts or less — which covers every residential rooftop system — to net energy billing in which the Source: North Dakota regulator / utility filing

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.

Rooftop solar array in a clean grid on an asphalt shingle roof

What this means for Selfridge 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 Selfridge quotes

Same-day contracts are a red flag in this industry. Legitimate ND installers expect you to compare bids, check licenses, and read the interconnection terms. Anyone pressuring you to sign at the kitchen table is pricing in your haste.

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

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 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.

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 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.

Get solar quotes for Selfridge

These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.

EnergySageMarketplace - multiple installer bids side by sideCompare quotes on EnergySage
ModernizeMatches you with vetted installers in your areaGet matched with local installers

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.

Prices in nearby cities

Sentinel Butte · Sharon · Sheldon · Sherwood · Sheyenne · Sibley · Solen · Souris · South Heart · Spiritwood Lake · Springbrook · St. John

All North Dakota cities

National price ranges and what moves them