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.
4.91 367 Reviews
Terry Mauser, over 1 month
I would like to thank Bethany Fuller for helping me out. I couldn’t under stand why my production rates were not adding up properly. I was told I don’t have a consumption meter and the energy that my house was was in accurate She is a very intelligent lady and very nice to talk with. Thanks Bethany again for Your help.
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Terry Mauser, over 1 month
I would like to thank Bethany Fuller for helping me out. I couldn’t under stand why my production rates were not adding up properly. I was told I don’t have a consumption meter and the energy that my house was was in accurate She is a very intelligent lady and very nice to talk with. Thanks Bethany again for Your help.
4.86 79 Reviews
Al G, over 1 month
We had a terrific experience with TerraSol. We wanted a relatively small solar panel installation to partially offset our electric costs and wanted to coordinate the installation with a larger renovation. I was really impressed by the personal attention to our small project. Rob met with us at our home. We never got any pressure to purchase a larger system. He provided a quote that was competitive with larger companies and much lower than another local installer. The TerraSol team worked seamlessly with our contractor to minimize the appearance of exterior wiring and installed the system in one day. TerraSol handled all the interactions with PECO and our township for inspections etc. System has been working flawlessly for several months now. The team was very responsive to all our questions and timely in their correspondence. We couldn't have asked for a better experience.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$25,900 ($5.18 per watt)
Al G, over 1 month
We had a terrific experience with TerraSol. We wanted a relatively small solar panel installation to partially offset our electric costs and wanted to coordinate the installation with a larger renovation. I was really impressed by the personal attention to our small project. Rob met with us at our home. We never got any pressure to purchase a larger system. He provided a quote that was competitive with larger companies and much lower than another local installer. The TerraSol team worked seamlessly with our contractor to minimize the appearance of exterior wiring and installed the system in one day. TerraSol handled all the interactions with PECO and our township for inspections etc. System has been working flawlessly for several months now. The team was very responsive to all our questions and timely in their correspondence. We couldn't have asked for a better experience.
4.85 112 Reviews
Glen Denlinger, over 1 month
Our solar system was put in place by expert craftsmen. Paradise Energy Solutions provide excellent service. I can highly recommend them.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$16,000 ($3.20 per watt)
Glen Denlinger, over 1 month
Our solar system was put in place by expert craftsmen. Paradise Energy Solutions provide excellent service. I can highly recommend them.
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!
4.79 79 Reviews
Janet W, over 1 month
My family and I have wanted to install solar on our home for years, but unfortunately were never able to do so until our recent move. Our new home is perfectly situated for solar, so I started searching for a solar company in the tail end of December 2023. I wound up with two options, one of which was SavKat Solar, and made appointments with both companies. Jay from SavKat came out to our house on 12/26/2023 and spent several hours explaining EVERYTHING to me in great detail. He reviewed whether or not my house was a good fit for solar and why, then went over the different system sizes that are available and the warranties that go with each one. He explained the entire installation process from start to finish, including how long each of the steps in the process usually takes, and worked with me to figure out how many panels my family and I would need, as well as what the best location for each panel would be. He was open and honest about pricing and repayment options, and thoroughly answered and addressed each and every one of my questions and concerns. And when my daughter came home from work, he even spent extra time explaining everything to her! Neither one of us felt rushed or pressured into making a decision. He made us both feel extremely comfortable about asking him questions, and made sure that we understood everything. He told us to reach out to him with any questions we thought of after he left, and even e-mailed us all of the information that he spoke with us about so that we could review it and make a decision in our own time. Talk about service! I can't say the same about the other company. Jay also invited us to take a tour of the SavKat facilities, which I did on 1/3/2024. While there, I met multiple employees - including the owner - who were not only kind, but also quick to answer all of the questions that I had as well. After talking things over with my family, we decided to request an additional 3 panels so that we could be sure that we had enough wattage, and both Jay and the employees at SavKat were more than willing to accommodate our request. We signed a contract with them that day. Each and every step of the entire project happened faster than Jay had led us to expect, part of which might have been due to the fact that not a lot of people install solar in the beginning of the year. When the solar panels themselves were installed, every one of the employees were nice, quick, and efficient, and everything was explained to my family and I after it was done. Our new electric meters were installed today, so I'm hoping that we'll get permission to operate tomorrow. I can't say enough wonderful things about everyone at SavKat, especially Jay. Every time I've reached out to Jay, even when he was on a business trip, he has been extremely responsive, no matter how small my question might seem, and I was never once spoken down to or made to feel like I should know something that I didn't. If I could work with SavKat forever, I would. I wish more companies were as amazing as they are!
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Janet W, over 1 month
My family and I have wanted to install solar on our home for years, but unfortunately were never able to do so until our recent move. Our new home is perfectly situated for solar, so I started searching for a solar company in the tail end of December 2023. I wound up with two options, one of which was SavKat Solar, and made appointments with both companies. Jay from SavKat came out to our house on 12/26/2023 and spent several hours explaining EVERYTHING to me in great detail. He reviewed whether or not my house was a good fit for solar and why, then went over the different system sizes that are available and the warranties that go with each one. He explained the entire installation process from start to finish, including how long each of the steps in the process usually takes, and worked with me to figure out how many panels my family and I would need, as well as what the best location for each panel would be. He was open and honest about pricing and repayment options, and thoroughly answered and addressed each and every one of my questions and concerns. And when my daughter came home from work, he even spent extra time explaining everything to her! Neither one of us felt rushed or pressured into making a decision. He made us both feel extremely comfortable about asking him questions, and made sure that we understood everything. He told us to reach out to him with any questions we thought of after he left, and even e-mailed us all of the information that he spoke with us about so that we could review it and make a decision in our own time. Talk about service! I can't say the same about the other company. Jay also invited us to take a tour of the SavKat facilities, which I did on 1/3/2024. While there, I met multiple employees - including the owner - who were not only kind, but also quick to answer all of the questions that I had as well. After talking things over with my family, we decided to request an additional 3 panels so that we could be sure that we had enough wattage, and both Jay and the employees at SavKat were more than willing to accommodate our request. We signed a contract with them that day. Each and every step of the entire project happened faster than Jay had led us to expect, part of which might have been due to the fact that not a lot of people install solar in the beginning of the year. When the solar panels themselves were installed, every one of the employees were nice, quick, and efficient, and everything was explained to my family and I after it was done. Our new electric meters were installed today, so I'm hoping that we'll get permission to operate tomorrow. I can't say enough wonderful things about everyone at SavKat, especially Jay. Every time I've reached out to Jay, even when he was on a business trip, he has been extremely responsive, no matter how small my question might seem, and I was never once spoken down to or made to feel like I should know something that I didn't. If I could work with SavKat forever, I would. I wish more companies were as amazing as they are!
4.79 84 Reviews
Eric G, over 1 month
I decided to get solar early in 2023. When I signed the contract, there were supply delays with the panel manufacturer, and they gave me a late 2023 (Oct-Nov) timeframe for installation. But they worked with the manufacturer and were able to get them sooner and installed second week of August. I've had them now for 3 months. In August, since it was a partial month, I had a small electric bill. But Sept and October, my net usage was 0, so my bill was $15 (the monthly customer charge). And I banked almost 400 kwh in those 3 months. Overall, I'm happy with my solar. The panels that I chose aren't the cheapest around but they are one of the best on the market. The Evoke team have specific people dedicated to each step, from ordering to permits to install to post-install. And you can get one of the owners (husband/wife) on the phone easily if you have questions, Very easy to work with.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$23,200 ($4.64 per watt)
Eric G, over 1 month
I decided to get solar early in 2023. When I signed the contract, there were supply delays with the panel manufacturer, and they gave me a late 2023 (Oct-Nov) timeframe for installation. But they worked with the manufacturer and were able to get them sooner and installed second week of August. I've had them now for 3 months. In August, since it was a partial month, I had a small electric bill. But Sept and October, my net usage was 0, so my bill was $15 (the monthly customer charge). And I banked almost 400 kwh in those 3 months. Overall, I'm happy with my solar. The panels that I chose aren't the cheapest around but they are one of the best on the market. The Evoke team have specific people dedicated to each step, from ordering to permits to install to post-install. And you can get one of the owners (husband/wife) on the phone easily if you have questions, Very easy to work with.
4.73 564 Reviews
Shay, over 1 month
Crew was quick and efficient uninstalling the panels.
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Shay, over 1 month
Crew was quick and efficient uninstalling the panels.
4.65 46 Reviews
phyllis, over 1 month
Bright Eye Solar was a great company to work with. We had been looking into solar for a couple of years but the solar tax credits made it worthwhile to pursue. All of the people we met from Bright Eye were pleasant and able to answer our questions in layman's language. They were prompt in their design and permit applications and installation was a breeze. Our follow-up questions were also answered quickly. We highly recommend Bright Eye Solar.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$12,000 ($2.40 per watt)
phyllis, over 1 month
Bright Eye Solar was a great company to work with. We had been looking into solar for a couple of years but the solar tax credits made it worthwhile to pursue. All of the people we met from Bright Eye were pleasant and able to answer our questions in layman's language. They were prompt in their design and permit applications and installation was a breeze. Our follow-up questions were also answered quickly. We highly recommend Bright Eye Solar.
4.64 60 Reviews
Jared Fretz, over 1 month
I had a solar project installed in December of 2021. I wanted to wait to see how the system performed before leaving a review. It's now September and I haven't had an electric bill since March. In fact, my energy use has been in the negative. We produce more than we use. I love it! In addition, the monthly loan payment is at or around what my electric bill was. It's a total win. Everyone we had contact with in the company were very friendly, professional and knowledgeable. My wish is that I had done this sooner.
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Jared Fretz, over 1 month
I had a solar project installed in December of 2021. I wanted to wait to see how the system performed before leaving a review. It's now September and I haven't had an electric bill since March. In fact, my energy use has been in the negative. We produce more than we use. I love it! In addition, the monthly loan payment is at or around what my electric bill was. It's a total win. Everyone we had contact with in the company were very friendly, professional and knowledgeable. My wish is that I had done this sooner.
4.59 21 Reviews
Ray Glennon, over 1 month
I had used KRES contractors for several household projects prior to this one. I have found them to be extremely professional, and competent. I would not hesitate to recommend this firm to a prospective customer.<br />
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Ray Glennon, over 1 month
I had used KRES contractors for several household projects prior to this one. I have found them to be extremely professional, and competent. I would not hesitate to recommend this firm to a prospective customer.<br />