There can be solar tax credits and incentives available at the federal, state and local levels. The calculator above will show you the value of all incentives your home is eligible for.
Pennsylvania has had an up-and-down solar incentives picture for over the past decade. The state currently has a strong net metering policy, which is good for you as a prospective solar panel homeowner. That means you get credited at near retail rate electric prices for the solar power you create but can’t use!
Also, if you’re lucky enough to live in Philadelphia, you can access new $200-per-kilowatt home solar rebates. Philly plays host to 10% of the state’s population, so the rebates have a chance to make a real impact in the lives of people who want to go solar.
There is another strong incentive pending in the form of a requirement for utilities to ramp up their harvest of clean energy from sources like your rooftop, which may lead to higher renewable energy certificate (SREC) prices. You can sell those SRECs your panels produce every year, so read on!
Learn what solar incentives are available to Pennsylvania homeowners
See what Pennsylvania solar incentives you qualify for based on your utility company and city
Find out how much these incentives and/or Pennsylvania solar tax credits will reduce your cost to go solar and add batteries
The federal solar investment tax credit will have the biggest impact on the cost you will face to go solar in Pennsylvania
If you install your photovoltaic system before the end of 2032, the federal tax credit is 30% of the cost of your solar panel system. This is 30% off the entire cost of the system including equipment, labor, and permitting.
Example: If your solar energy system costs $20,000, your federal solar tax credit would be $20,000 x 30% = $6,000.
The federal tax credit falls to 26% starting in 2033.
With net metering in some states, you get full retail rate credit for the amount of electricity you send back into the grid with your solar panels.
Net metering requires your utility to monitor how much energy your solar power system produces and how much energy you actually consume and make sure you get credit for the surplus.
Since 2008, Pennsylvania law has required all investor-owned utilities to offer net metering to all residential customers with solar power systems up to 50 kW in capacity. If you produce more energy than you consume, the surplus is carried over to your next bill at the full retail rate. Net metering gives Pennsylvanian's the opportunity to save big on their electricity bills!
Aside from the federal solar tax credit, there aren't a ton of solar incentives available in Pennsylvania. And there hasn't been much movement from the state legislature on getting more rebates for needy homeowners. The good news is that solar has fallen an additional 60% (and counting) in price over the last 10 years, so even without cashback from utilities, you can be sure you're getting a sweet deal on your shiny new solar panel system.
In addition to making electricity, your home solar panels generate something called a solar renewable energy certificate, or SREC for short. Utility companies can purchase them from you to claim they are hitting their renewable energy targets. The more certificates utilities acquire, the less risk they have of missing the mark.
Currently, state lawmakers require utilities in Pennsylvania to source 0.5% of their electricity from solar power. Therefore, they are willing to pay a small amount to access your SRECs, so they aren’t hit with fees from the state. SRECs are currently selling for about $45 apiece.
Your solar panel system creates an SREC each time you generate a megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity. An average 6 kW solar system in Pennsylvania makes about 8 MWhs a year, so that’s roughly 8 SRECs. Multiply that by current SREC prices and you can potentially net an extra $360 a year in income. Not a windfall, but still nice.
If you’re lucky enough to live in Philadelphia, you can get a $200 per kW rebate for your home solar system from now until the end of 2024. On an average-sized 6 kW system, you can claim $1,200. However, there are only $500,000 in funds available every year. That means these funds are only going to provide relief to about 500 residences annually.
Showing data for:
Prices based on a 9.2kW system, after 30% federal tax credit
74 solar companies in Pennsylvania provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.89 274 Reviews
Daniel Delaney, 5 days ago
We had a great experience getting a home solar and battery system with Lumina. Our consultant Peter Hayes did a great job walking us through all the options and helping us select the right system. We appreciated that they didn't put any pressure on us and made sure we understood everything. The permitting and install process was smooth and they kept us informed throughout. Very happy with the result!
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Daniel Delaney, 5 days ago
We had a great experience getting a home solar and battery system with Lumina. Our consultant Peter Hayes did a great job walking us through all the options and helping us select the right system. We appreciated that they didn't put any pressure on us and made sure we understood everything. The permitting and install process was smooth and they kept us informed throughout. Very happy with the result!
4.89 451 Reviews
Brian, 3 days ago
We got our system installed by Solar Energy World about 6 months ago and have been extremely satisfied with every aspect of the process. Our project manager Seth was able to explain everything to us and keep us informed every step of the way. The install only took a couple of days and the installation team was professional, respectful and clean. Our system has produced more than expected since being turned on and we are very happy to have completely eliminated our utility bill. I highly recommend choosing Solar Energy World if you looking to get Solar in Maryland.
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Brian, 3 days ago
We got our system installed by Solar Energy World about 6 months ago and have been extremely satisfied with every aspect of the process. Our project manager Seth was able to explain everything to us and keep us informed every step of the way. The install only took a couple of days and the installation team was professional, respectful and clean. Our system has produced more than expected since being turned on and we are very happy to have completely eliminated our utility bill. I highly recommend choosing Solar Energy World if you looking to get Solar in Maryland.
4.84 114 Reviews
Charles L., over 1 month
I started working with Exact Solar in June 2021. They were consistently responsive and very helpful in all aspects of the design and permitting part of the process. Once the necessary approval and supply issues were taken care of, the installation itself was completed quickly and professionally, with the system going online in December/January. Exact Solar was also very helpful with setting up net metering and SREC accounts. I highly recommend their services!
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Average cost (5kW system)
$12,400 ($2.48 per watt)
Charles L., over 1 month
I started working with Exact Solar in June 2021. They were consistently responsive and very helpful in all aspects of the design and permitting part of the process. Once the necessary approval and supply issues were taken care of, the installation itself was completed quickly and professionally, with the system going online in December/January. Exact Solar was also very helpful with setting up net metering and SREC accounts. I highly recommend their services!
4.84 86 Reviews
Andrew John DiLiddo Jr, over 1 month
PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS is a wonderful company to work with. If you are considering solar energy for your home or business I highly recommend this company. Solar decision making is a process and deciding on a company to do the install is the first step in this venture. Should you vet and investigate one, two, or three companies? Sure, do your homework, investigate, explore and learn. I spent a couple of years doing that. The intention of this review is to save you time by recommending unequivocally PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS. I sat with a friend who had his home solarized by PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS a fews years ago. He retired from a local engineering firm that he worked for his whole working life so I knew of his construction experience. He recommended PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS. We reviewed some of the homework, due diligence we did together. At the present time there are four solar installations on homes that are near my home I know about. Two of the four are PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS customers. So, as a first step, do some homework. I spent two years doing that and I wish I had made the plunge sooner. On the PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS web site there is a simple form to make initial contact. After that is submitted, a number of steps in the process follow from there. It is a project that has different phases with tasks to be completed in each phase. Once I chose PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS the whole project from initial contact to the first Kwh generated took less than 3 months. Keep in mind that your local power company has to complete some of the steps in the project. In your locale there may be permitting & inspection requirements ad well. PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS is experienced EVEN IN THESE STEPS THAT ARE EXTERNAL TO THEIR OWN COMPANY and they regularly update you all along the way about what is happening and what the next steps are and possible time frames. I got to know quite a few people at PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS and each one was professional and knowledgable… work crews on the roof and in the basement at the electrical service circuit box were in and out of my home doing the work and every one of them was polite and very easy to talk with. They even told us when they were going to lunch and when they were coming back from lunch so there never was any mystery as to what is going on with the project. A neighbor in my allotment had had PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS install his panels a few years prior. The project manager of my install was actually up on that neighbor’s roof a few years ago. When that neighbor from a distant part of our allotment saw the trucks coming in and out of our neighborhood, he spontaneously took it upon himself to walk about a quarter of a mile from his home to my home to greet the work crew on their first day at my home. From his interactions with the work crew, I could clearly see that a few years after his installation he was still a very happy PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS customer. I live in Ohio and my work crew came from the PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS Sugarcreek Ohio location. Sugarcreek Ohio is an area with many businesses and farms so they are well located to service residential AND commercial customers. The other PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS facility I worked with is located at Paradise, Pennsylvania. That location is near Reading Hershey and Allentown PA and not that far from New Jersey, Baltimore Maryland and Delaware. Having worked in New Jersey and Baltimore and visited relatives in Allentown, it is clear to me that this firm is well positioned and established serving both business -commercial AND residential customers. GO FOR IT.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$16,000 ($3.20 per watt)
Andrew John DiLiddo Jr, over 1 month
PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS is a wonderful company to work with. If you are considering solar energy for your home or business I highly recommend this company. Solar decision making is a process and deciding on a company to do the install is the first step in this venture. Should you vet and investigate one, two, or three companies? Sure, do your homework, investigate, explore and learn. I spent a couple of years doing that. The intention of this review is to save you time by recommending unequivocally PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS. I sat with a friend who had his home solarized by PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS a fews years ago. He retired from a local engineering firm that he worked for his whole working life so I knew of his construction experience. He recommended PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS. We reviewed some of the homework, due diligence we did together. At the present time there are four solar installations on homes that are near my home I know about. Two of the four are PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS customers. So, as a first step, do some homework. I spent two years doing that and I wish I had made the plunge sooner. On the PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS web site there is a simple form to make initial contact. After that is submitted, a number of steps in the process follow from there. It is a project that has different phases with tasks to be completed in each phase. Once I chose PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS the whole project from initial contact to the first Kwh generated took less than 3 months. Keep in mind that your local power company has to complete some of the steps in the project. In your locale there may be permitting & inspection requirements ad well. PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS is experienced EVEN IN THESE STEPS THAT ARE EXTERNAL TO THEIR OWN COMPANY and they regularly update you all along the way about what is happening and what the next steps are and possible time frames. I got to know quite a few people at PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS and each one was professional and knowledgable… work crews on the roof and in the basement at the electrical service circuit box were in and out of my home doing the work and every one of them was polite and very easy to talk with. They even told us when they were going to lunch and when they were coming back from lunch so there never was any mystery as to what is going on with the project. A neighbor in my allotment had had PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS install his panels a few years prior. The project manager of my install was actually up on that neighbor’s roof a few years ago. When that neighbor from a distant part of our allotment saw the trucks coming in and out of our neighborhood, he spontaneously took it upon himself to walk about a quarter of a mile from his home to my home to greet the work crew on their first day at my home. From his interactions with the work crew, I could clearly see that a few years after his installation he was still a very happy PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS customer. I live in Ohio and my work crew came from the PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS Sugarcreek Ohio location. Sugarcreek Ohio is an area with many businesses and farms so they are well located to service residential AND commercial customers. The other PARADISE ENERGY SOLUTIONS facility I worked with is located at Paradise, Pennsylvania. That location is near Reading Hershey and Allentown PA and not that far from New Jersey, Baltimore Maryland and Delaware. Having worked in New Jersey and Baltimore and visited relatives in Allentown, it is clear to me that this firm is well positioned and established serving both business -commercial AND residential customers. GO FOR IT.
4.81 54 Reviews
Patty, 1 week ago
I can't imagine any company ever topping TerraSol Energies. From start to finish excellent. Every worker who was ever at my house was exceptional. Clearly explained, every question answered, very thorough. They were even kind enough to help me with another roof issue I had!!! You can't go wrong choosing TerraSol!
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Average cost (5kW system)
$25,900 ($5.18 per watt)
Patty, 1 week ago
I can't imagine any company ever topping TerraSol Energies. From start to finish excellent. Every worker who was ever at my house was exceptional. Clearly explained, every question answered, very thorough. They were even kind enough to help me with another roof issue I had!!! You can't go wrong choosing TerraSol!
4.79 30 Reviews
Wayne C, 4 days ago
Patrick has been transparent and thorough throughout the entire process. We experienced some of Apollo's growth and are happy to see them grow as a competitor in the solar industry. Patrick was able to show accurate rates, able to provide us on all the incentives, provide us with frequent updates, and served as a great guide throughout the process. He is thorough in his correspondence and can get you what you want. Would highly recommend this to friends and family.
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Wayne C, 4 days ago
Patrick has been transparent and thorough throughout the entire process. We experienced some of Apollo's growth and are happy to see them grow as a competitor in the solar industry. Patrick was able to show accurate rates, able to provide us on all the incentives, provide us with frequent updates, and served as a great guide throughout the process. He is thorough in his correspondence and can get you what you want. Would highly recommend this to friends and family.
4.76 72 Reviews
David Loew, over 1 month
Evoke Solar, Inc is a truly professional company yet gives you that home town touch. Very knowledgeable, informative, friendly, and helpful. Their product is top notch and hard to beat.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$23,200 ($4.64 per watt)
David Loew, over 1 month
Evoke Solar, Inc is a truly professional company yet gives you that home town touch. Very knowledgeable, informative, friendly, and helpful. Their product is top notch and hard to beat.
4.63 59 Reviews
Pat, over 1 month
We had solar panels put on our house and decided on EIS because of our initial contact with Ian. Their works crews were very professional and reliable. I appreciated all of the education that they provided to us. I highly recommend them.
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Pat, over 1 month
We had solar panels put on our house and decided on EIS because of our initial contact with Ian. Their works crews were very professional and reliable. I appreciated all of the education that they provided to us. I highly recommend them.
4.63 39 Reviews
Irene, over 1 month
SAVKAT is a phenomenal company, phenomenal personnel, and phenomenal products and solar panels! I am so thrilled to be a SAVKAT customer, and give my highest recommendations to everybody I know to get on board with solar power, SunPower, and SAVKAT!
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Irene, over 1 month
SAVKAT is a phenomenal company, phenomenal personnel, and phenomenal products and solar panels! I am so thrilled to be a SAVKAT customer, and give my highest recommendations to everybody I know to get on board with solar power, SunPower, and SAVKAT!
4.61 35 Reviews
Jim Morano, over 1 month
Charlie, Catherine and the office staff were very responsive to my every call and question. Their installation crew and subcontractors did their jobs on time and very professionally.<br />
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Average cost (5kW system)
$30,950 ($6.19 per watt)
Jim Morano, over 1 month
Charlie, Catherine and the office staff were very responsive to my every call and question. Their installation crew and subcontractors did their jobs on time and very professionally.<br />