Virginia Solar Guide 2026
Everything Virginia homeowners need to know: costs, incentives, net metering policy, and what makes this state unique for solar.
Quick answer
Virginia solar economics depend mainly on 4.7 average peak sun hours, an estimated $2.9/W installed cost, 13.0¢/kWh electricity, and the state's current net-metering rules.
Reviewed 2026-07-26
- Best for
- Virginia 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 Virginia solar
Virginia's Clean Economy Act mandates full retail net metering and sets aggressive renewable energy standards, creating a stable policy environment. Northern VA's high home values boost the financial case for solar.
Peak sun hours
4.7
hrs/day avg
Avg electricity rate
13.0¢
per kWh
Median install cost
$2.9/W
before incentives
Typical payback
11 yrs
8 kW system, avg usage
Typical 8 kW system in Virginia
Annual production
13,724 kWh
Year-1 savings
$1,784
System cost (est.)
$23,200
No federal tax credit — Section 25D expired December 31, 2025.
Virginia Net Metering Policy
Full retail net metering
Virginia mandates full retail net metering under the Clean Economy Act (2020). Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power must credit exports at retail. Annual true-up with net excess paid at avoided cost.
Virginia Solar Incentives
Available in addition to any utility rebates. Federal 25D credit is $0 for homeowner-owned systems from 2026.
- ✓Property tax exemption on added home value (localities may opt in)
- ✓Sales tax exemption
- ✓Dominion Energy solar programs
Top Utilities in Virginia
Interconnection timeline: 6–12 weeks
State-specific decision guide
What to verify before signing a Virginia solar quote
In Virginia, 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 6–12 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 Virginia solar economics
Our calculators are pre-filled with Virginia data. Run any tool below.