Delaware Solar Guide 2026
Everything Delaware homeowners need to know: costs, incentives, net metering policy, and what makes this state unique for solar.
Quick answer
Delaware solar economics depend mainly on 4.3 average peak sun hours, an estimated $2.95/W installed cost, 15.0¢/kWh electricity, and the state's current net-metering rules.
Reviewed 2026-07-26
- Best for
- Delaware homeowners comparing solar costs, incentives, and payback assumptions.
- Inputs needed
- annual kWh usage, utility rate, installed $/W, net-metering policy
- Formula used
- Typical production = system kW × peak sun hours × 365.
- Source checked
- state incentive data, utility tariff checks, Wattcrunch price benchmarks
Key fact about Delaware solar
Delaware's SREC market provides additional revenue beyond net metering. As the smallest US state, the installer market is thin — many Delaware residents use Maryland or PA-based installers.
Peak sun hours
4.3
hrs/day avg
Avg electricity rate
15.0¢
per kWh
Median install cost
$2.95/W
before incentives
Typical payback
10 yrs
8 kW system, avg usage
Typical 8 kW system in Delaware
Annual production
12,556 kWh
Year-1 savings
$1,883
System cost (est.)
$23,600
No federal tax credit — Section 25D expired December 31, 2025.
Delaware Net Metering Policy
Full retail net metering
Delaware requires full retail net metering under the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards Act. Delmarva Power and Delaware Electric must credit exports at retail. Monthly rollover with annual settlement.
Delaware Solar Incentives
Available in addition to any utility rebates. Federal 25D credit is $0 for homeowner-owned systems from 2026.
- ✓SREC market (DE-SREC ~$30–$50/SREC)
- ✓Green Energy Program rebate ($100–$500)
- ✓Property tax exemption
Top Utilities in Delaware
Interconnection timeline: 4–8 weeks
State-specific decision guide
What to verify before signing a Delaware solar quote
In Delaware, the financial result depends on more than sunshine or the headline installation price. Confirm the export rule, program eligibility date, and interconnection timeline for your exact utility before treating a payback estimate as a promise.
Export value
This page models full retail net metering. Ask which tariff and export credit apply to your account, not only which program name appears in the proposal.
Incentive eligibility
Check equipment, income, installer, application, and placed-in-service rules before subtracting an incentive from the quote. Programs can close or change terms.
Interconnection
Budget for the published 4–8 weeks and confirm who pays for a required meter, service upgrade, or engineering review.
Source trail: production assumptions use NREL PVWatts; incentive discovery should be checked against DSIRE; electricity-market context is available from the EIA. Confirm final tax treatment with the IRS and your utility.
Calculate your Delaware solar economics
Our calculators are pre-filled with Delaware data. Run any tool below.