NorthSolarCalc › By State › New York
🦅 New York Solar Panel Calculator
New York's high electricity costs and strong net metering make solar a top investment.
Rates and incentive status reviewed 2026-07-27
Avg rate: $0.22/kWh · 4.79 peak sun hrs/day
Your Solar Estimate for New York
Rates and incentive status reviewed 2026-07-27
5.8 kW
System Size
recommended
10.4 yrs
Payback Period
break-even
$46,908
25-Year Savings
net profit
3.2t
CO₂ Offset
per year
This estimate does not deduct the expired US federal 30% residential tax credit (ended for spending after 2025-12-31) or the closed Canada Greener Homes Grant/Loan. It also does not assume any unverified state, provincial, or utility rebate. See methodology and confirm current incentives with your state/province, utility, or a tax professional before budgeting for one.
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New York Solar Facts
$0.22/kWh
Avg Electricity Rate
4.79 hours
Daily Peak Sun Hours
Expired (ended 2025-12-31)
Federal Incentive Status
Electricity rate: U.S. EIA / Statistics Canada utility filings. Peak sun hours: NREL PVWatts. Federal incentive status verified against IRS.gov and Natural Resources Canada. See methodology for full assumptions.
Net Metering in New York
New York offers full net metering — you receive full retail credit for excess solar energy sent back to the grid. This maximizes your savings and shortens your payback period.
Net metering rules are set by state/provincial regulators and utilities and can change — confirm current terms with your utility before purchasing.
Utility Landscape in New York
New York's NY-Sun initiative, administered by NYSERDA, pays a Megawatt Block incentive that declines region by region as installed capacity in that region fills — so the incentive available today depends on how much solar has already been installed near you, not just on your utility. Con Edison, which serves New York City and Westchester, has the highest electricity rates in the state, while National Grid and other upstate utilities serve lower-rate territory.
How Solar Varies Within New York
In New York City, co-op and condo board approval and competition for limited roof space are often bigger obstacles than sun hours, and labor costs push installed price per watt well above the upstate average. Upstate regions have lower installation costs but also somewhat lower electricity rates, which changes the payback math in the opposite direction.
Worth Knowing Locally
For NYC apartment and condo residents who can't install rooftop panels at all, NY-Sun-eligible community solar subscriptions are a common substitute — worth knowing about even though this calculator models rooftop ownership.
What This Estimate Does Not Assume
This calculator does not automatically apply the expired US federal 30% residential tax credit, the closed Canada Greener Homes Grant or Loan, or any unconfirmed state or utility rebate for New York. If you find a currently active program, confirm it with the issuing agency — we link the general databases we trust in our methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is solar worth it in New York?+
Does New York still get the 30% federal solar tax credit in 2026?+
How long does solar take to pay back in New York?+
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