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.
Virginia has made a huge splash with their Clean Economy Act, requiring 100% of electricity come from clean sources like solar and wind by 2050. The law sets a solar energy specific target of 2,000 megawatts of solar by 2030, a huge amount of new power.
However, there aren’t significant home solar incentives stemming from it to report on -- yet! That’s perhaps because this mandatory requirement is so new, that utility companies here, like Dominion Energy haven’t figured out how they plan to meet their target.
In the meantime, solar power is still a pretty sweet investment, even without big state incentives chipping in.
Learn what solar incentives are available to Virginia homeowners
See what Virginia solar incentives you qualify for based on your utility company and city
Find out how much these incentives and/or Virginia 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 Virginia
This perk is commonly known as the ITC, short for “Investment Tax Credit”. If you install your photovoltaic system in 2020, the federal tax credit is 26% of the cost of your solar panel system. This is 26% 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 26% = $5,200.
The federal tax credit falls to 22% at the end of 2022.
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. After all, you are helping to stabilize the grid and helping them transition to a cleaner energy future.
Virginia’s net-metering law applies to all home solar systems up to 20 kilowatts (kW) in size. All the extra solar energy you create and aren’t able to use in your home is applied as a credit to your next bill at the utility’s avoided cost rate. The avoided cost rate is about $0.02/kwh, or about a third of the retail electricity rate of $0.12/kwh. Therefore, it’s important to size your system well so you aren’t generating much more valuable electricity than you can use. Regardless, it’s helpful Virginia compels utilities to provide at least some credit to you when you provide power back to the grid.
All the total surplus built during each 12-month billing cycle may be carried over indefinitely, or you can choose to sell the electricity back to the utility at the end of the 12-month period. In order to sell the electricity to the utility you must negotiate a power purchase agreement before starting net metering.
While Virginia does not have a dedicated state rebate for solar panel installation, some manufacturers like LG offer their own solar rebates. These programs are usually time sensitive. For example, LG offers a $600 solar rebate on their equipment, which your installer can help you redeem over the next year.
Showing data for:
Prices based on a 11.3kW system, after 26% federal tax credit
37 solar companies in Virginia provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.95 188 Reviews
Eric Smith, 1 week ago
Let me begin by saying what an exceptional company Lumina Solar is. As any good consumer, I did my research and found 5 solar installers I thought met my high standards. I set up appointments with a rep from each company and heard their sales pitch. Phillip from Lumina Solar was honest, straight forward and quite knowledgeable. He was convincing but not pushy which I respect. When I decided to hire Lumina Solar, Phillip stayed in touch with me throughout the entire install. He would answer questions I had and inform me of next steps which I truly appreciated. As I progressed through the process, other Lumina Solar team members reached out and guided me as well. They were all very friendly and helpful. Approximately two months after I signed the contract, Lumina Solar’s Allentown install team, led by Jamie, did a remarkable job. They showed up on time, were very respectful of my property and their attention to detail throughout the installation process is quite impressive. They took extra time and care tucking wires and conduits into the existing architecture to maximize exterior esthetics. They thoroughly cleaned up after each day of work and communicated with me throughout the process. One of the last steps involved after my panels were installed was the final inspection. The inspector raved about how neat and clean everything looked compared to other “solar installers”. Overall, Lumina Solar is an exceptional company with exceptional employees who value the quality of their product they sell and communication with their customers as core tenants of their business. I couldn’t recommend them more.
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Eric Smith, 1 week ago
Let me begin by saying what an exceptional company Lumina Solar is. As any good consumer, I did my research and found 5 solar installers I thought met my high standards. I set up appointments with a rep from each company and heard their sales pitch. Phillip from Lumina Solar was honest, straight forward and quite knowledgeable. He was convincing but not pushy which I respect. When I decided to hire Lumina Solar, Phillip stayed in touch with me throughout the entire install. He would answer questions I had and inform me of next steps which I truly appreciated. As I progressed through the process, other Lumina Solar team members reached out and guided me as well. They were all very friendly and helpful. Approximately two months after I signed the contract, Lumina Solar’s Allentown install team, led by Jamie, did a remarkable job. They showed up on time, were very respectful of my property and their attention to detail throughout the installation process is quite impressive. They took extra time and care tucking wires and conduits into the existing architecture to maximize exterior esthetics. They thoroughly cleaned up after each day of work and communicated with me throughout the process. One of the last steps involved after my panels were installed was the final inspection. The inspector raved about how neat and clean everything looked compared to other “solar installers”. Overall, Lumina Solar is an exceptional company with exceptional employees who value the quality of their product they sell and communication with their customers as core tenants of their business. I couldn’t recommend them more.
4.86 70 Reviews
Smith0, over 1 month
In 70 years, I have never had a better experience working with an installer, contractor, repairman, of any person or group. From day one, with the initial visit for an estimate, to the very last day to turn the solar panels on, Paradise has been a pleasure to work with. During the entireprocess I would get a weekly email explaining exactly the status of the project, from ordering and shipping of panels to obtaining permits to final installation. When delays in panel shipping occurred, Paradise gave me the option of switching panels to avoid delays. The installers were clean, courteous, and friendly. They cleaned up the area every day. Over the first several weeks, the system has performed well above expectations. I have already recommended Paradise to all my friends and would strongly recommend Paradise Energy Solutions to anyone considering solar power.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$16,000 ($3.20 per watt)
Smith0, over 1 month
In 70 years, I have never had a better experience working with an installer, contractor, repairman, of any person or group. From day one, with the initial visit for an estimate, to the very last day to turn the solar panels on, Paradise has been a pleasure to work with. During the entireprocess I would get a weekly email explaining exactly the status of the project, from ordering and shipping of panels to obtaining permits to final installation. When delays in panel shipping occurred, Paradise gave me the option of switching panels to avoid delays. The installers were clean, courteous, and friendly. They cleaned up the area every day. Over the first several weeks, the system has performed well above expectations. I have already recommended Paradise to all my friends and would strongly recommend Paradise Energy Solutions to anyone considering solar power.
4.83 280 Reviews
Tim, 2 days ago
I looked at several companies before settling on Solar Energy World. Their price was very competitive and provided great service. They were very responsive and took time to answer all my questions. They are a great company and a real pleasure to deal with.
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Tim, 2 days ago
I looked at several companies before settling on Solar Energy World. Their price was very competitive and provided great service. They were very responsive and took time to answer all my questions. They are a great company and a real pleasure to deal with.
4.81 54 Reviews
Jon, over 1 month
I can’t recommend Nova Solar highly enough. From the first quote through installation and finally to turning my system on, everyone I dealt with at the company was responsive, friendly, and knowledgeable. I was never in the dark about the status of the process because Tripp, Barklie, and Julian kept me informed every step of the way and took the initiative to clear potential obstacles. They leaned forward on making sure we had everything we needed to claim all the incentives for which we were eligible. Our HOA even complimented us on the application for our solar system, saying it was the most thorough they had seen. If you are looking into having solar installed, Nova Solar is the place you should start.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$13,250 ($2.65 per watt)
Jon, over 1 month
I can’t recommend Nova Solar highly enough. From the first quote through installation and finally to turning my system on, everyone I dealt with at the company was responsive, friendly, and knowledgeable. I was never in the dark about the status of the process because Tripp, Barklie, and Julian kept me informed every step of the way and took the initiative to clear potential obstacles. They leaned forward on making sure we had everything we needed to claim all the incentives for which we were eligible. Our HOA even complimented us on the application for our solar system, saying it was the most thorough they had seen. If you are looking into having solar installed, Nova Solar is the place you should start.
4.74 183 Reviews
AshM, 3 days ago
I worked with Zach Stirling, everything was communicated well and project was completed on time
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Average cost (5kW system)
$17,000 ($3.40 per watt)
AshM, 3 days ago
I worked with Zach Stirling, everything was communicated well and project was completed on time
4.73 43 Reviews
Ed, over 1 month
This is a great company with great desire for providing superior customer service and delivering on what they sale.
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Ed, over 1 month
This is a great company with great desire for providing superior customer service and delivering on what they sale.
4.67 24 Reviews
Fantastic solar company, over 1 month
I did a TON of research into solar energy companies in the DC metro area, and this one truly deserves top marks. We had several door-to-door solar "sales" people walk through our neighborhood pushing way more expensive systems, and we are very happy we didn't go with those other companies. SkyNRG had the most competitive pricing, and they are very professional in guiding homeowners through the entire process. They are not just salesmen and they actually care about their design and installation (and your home). They were flexible with timing and talked us through all of the benefits of installing solar. Other companies tried to have competitive pricing, but then they nickel-and-dimed everything on top of the contract. Rob made it clear from the start that SkyNRG won't do that, and they were right. Their price in their quote was the price we paid, even with some add-ons that I requested. They also let me decide where the inverter was going to go in my house, and even gave me information on car chargers that we can install later when we decide to get an EV. If you are even just considering solar, reach out to them early. I don't feel like they ever really pressured me at all when I was still talking with other companies, and I couldn't be happier with the final results. If you contact them, be sure to ask about SRECs and the Fed tax credit, which can really cut down on the cost to pay off the investment.
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Fantastic solar company, over 1 month
I did a TON of research into solar energy companies in the DC metro area, and this one truly deserves top marks. We had several door-to-door solar "sales" people walk through our neighborhood pushing way more expensive systems, and we are very happy we didn't go with those other companies. SkyNRG had the most competitive pricing, and they are very professional in guiding homeowners through the entire process. They are not just salesmen and they actually care about their design and installation (and your home). They were flexible with timing and talked us through all of the benefits of installing solar. Other companies tried to have competitive pricing, but then they nickel-and-dimed everything on top of the contract. Rob made it clear from the start that SkyNRG won't do that, and they were right. Their price in their quote was the price we paid, even with some add-ons that I requested. They also let me decide where the inverter was going to go in my house, and even gave me information on car chargers that we can install later when we decide to get an EV. If you are even just considering solar, reach out to them early. I don't feel like they ever really pressured me at all when I was still talking with other companies, and I couldn't be happier with the final results. If you contact them, be sure to ask about SRECs and the Fed tax credit, which can really cut down on the cost to pay off the investment.
4.64 24 Reviews
Josh, over 1 month
Very knowledgeable, responsive, and professional.
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Josh, over 1 month
Very knowledgeable, responsive, and professional.
4.63 1,559 Reviews
BKClark, 2 days ago
So far we are liking our solar system. All the people we dealt with were great! Beyond great. Thanks.
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BKClark, 2 days ago
So far we are liking our solar system. All the people we dealt with were great! Beyond great. Thanks.
4.58 13 Reviews
Hassettsolar, over 1 month
earth Right team is knowledgeable and a good set of people. They were honest. My install process went rather smooth from a solar perspective. I had a few energy upgrades performed to enhance the benefit of solar which I have been pleased with as well and seem to have helped lower overall energy use ( the attic foil). There were about 2 months between attic foil install and solar, so I was able to tell a general better moderation of house temperature and comfort. I also had a pool pump upgrade but due to COVID the agreed upon pump was out of stock which I am displease with, but Corey has assured the agreed pump will be sent/ installed once it is available. Supply has been an issue with many industries, if thisThe Electric company did install wrong meter but my net metering agreement is still fine and as expected. Corey and his team do a great job. He even has a roofing company which provided a comparable and fair roof estimate which went down without any issues. Once the pool pump issue is corrected, this will be a 6 star experience for sure.
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Hassettsolar, over 1 month
earth Right team is knowledgeable and a good set of people. They were honest. My install process went rather smooth from a solar perspective. I had a few energy upgrades performed to enhance the benefit of solar which I have been pleased with as well and seem to have helped lower overall energy use ( the attic foil). There were about 2 months between attic foil install and solar, so I was able to tell a general better moderation of house temperature and comfort. I also had a pool pump upgrade but due to COVID the agreed upon pump was out of stock which I am displease with, but Corey has assured the agreed pump will be sent/ installed once it is available. Supply has been an issue with many industries, if thisThe Electric company did install wrong meter but my net metering agreement is still fine and as expected. Corey and his team do a great job. He even has a roofing company which provided a comparable and fair roof estimate which went down without any issues. Once the pool pump issue is corrected, this will be a 6 star experience for sure.
Ben Zientara
January 26, 2021
This annual report ranks the states for friendliness to home solar based on their net metering programs.
Joshua Panuccio
January 14, 2022
Green Power Energy is a highly-rated solar installation company serving Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Zeeshan Hyder
January 13, 2022
Tiny home living requires careful planning. Consider all of these pros & cons before you make the decision to install solar panels.
Evan Nicoles
January 13, 2022
The CPUC's proposal to California's net metering policy will reduce the state's solar installations by 95%, according to a SolarReviews survey.
Cameron Bates
January 10, 2022
The total cost of a pellet stove installation will range between $1,500 and $5,000. Typical operating costs are between $35 and $45 a month.