What Hawaii still offers after the federal credit ended
Every incentive on this page is verified against Hawaii 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 - Urban Honolulu systems completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
Under Hawaii's export rules, compensation for surplus power decides the payback - which typically runs 10-14 years on unsubsidized 2026 math.
Installed home solar for Urban Honolulu 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The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit - the 30% one every solar ad still quotes - was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025.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 Urban Honolulu tells you a 30% federal tax credit applies to your 2026 installation, they are quoting a dead law. What may still exist: Hawaii'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.
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 Urban Honolulu
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Hawaii rules that decide your payback
| Rule | Hawaii status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | Full retail net energy metering is closed to new customers in Hawaii, and the interim successor tariffs — Customer Grid Supply, Customer Grid Supply Plus, Interim Smart Export and Customer Self-Supply — also closed to new enrollment in early 2024, so new rooftop solar customers now enroll in the Smart DER Tariff, choosing either an Export Rider paying time-varying export rates or a Non-Export Rider for self-consumption only. |
| State incentive | Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit (RETITC), HRS §235-12.5 — 35% of actual installed cost, capped at $5,000 per system for solar photovoltaic on single-family residential property (a separate $2,250 cap applies to solar water heating) |
| Sales tax on the system | Not exempt - taxed like any purchase |
Hawaii has by far the highest electricity prices in the nation — 52.00 cents/kWh residential in May 2026 against an 18.44 cent US average (EIA) — which makes rooftop solar unusually valuable, but grid saturation means full retail net metering has been closed for years and new systems are steered toward self-consumption and batteries rather than exporting, so a solar-plus-storage design is usually the one that actually pays.
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 Urban Honolulu roofs
Whether solar still pays in Hawaii 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 Urban Honolulu quotes
Marketplace platforms collect bids from multiple HI 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
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.
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 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.
Is my roof even suitable for solar?
Three things decide it: orientation (south-facing is best in the U.S., east-west workable), shade (trees or taller buildings across midday hours can sink the math), and roof age (if the shingles have under 10 years left, reroof first - removing and reinstalling panels later costs thousands). Any honest installer assesses all three before quoting a number.
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.
Get solar quotes for Urban Honolulu
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.