Solar power in Rochester, New York
Rochester Gas & Electric offers its customers a $400 per kW rebate along with net metering. On a typical 5kW system this means RG&E will provide a $2,000 rebate.
New York also runs an affordable solar system where if your income qualifies the utility rebate doubles giving you $4,000 off your system.
Alongside already excellent rebates New York offers a state tax credit of 25% of the system cost up to $5,000.
There is still also the federal solar tax credit, worth 26% of total systems costs in 2020 (it falls to 22% in 2021). That means that on a standard size system, over half of all costs are covered within the first year.
Solar is a must have for your home in Rochester, over half of costs covered through rebates and tax credits with net metering makes solar seem like a no brainer.
Net Metering Broken Down
With net metering every kWh of electricity not used in the home is exported to their grid and you receive full retail value for it.
With power very expensive in New York, being able to receive that value for power your system's output is actually the best incentive of all.
The average cost of installing residential solar panels in Rochester,
New York in 2025 is
$2.78 per watt. The average system size
in the US is 6 kilowatts, which means the average price of a solar system
in Rochester, NY
is $13,900.
(after claiming 26% tax credit and other rebates)
The 26% federal solar tax credit explained
If you have a federal income tax liability, 26% of the cost of your solar system can be claimed as a deduction to your taxes. This incentive is claimed when you do your taxes. In order to receive the tax credit quicker it's best to do your taxes as soon as possible after installation.
What if my tax liability is less than 26% of my systems costThere is the option to claim this incentive over several years if your tax liability is less than 26% of the system cost.
How much will solar panels on my home save me?
The answer to this question depends on your electricity usage. Generally speaking the greater your power usage the greater the potential savings from installing solar.
The average monthly usage in New York is only 603kWh per month however, you are most likely using a lot more than this since this average includes condos and small apartments.
The Rochester solar panel savings calculator below will convert your monthly power spend into power usage (in kWh's) and then work out exactly how many solar panels you need to offset your usage, how much they will cost based on the prices of local solar companies and the amount you will save. Our New York solar savings calculator can do this because it contains a database of the electric rates charged by National Grid (formerly Keyspan), Rochester Gas & Electric Corp, Village of Churchville, Village of Fairport, Village of Spencerport, Niagara Mohawk Power Corp
How much can solar panels save you in Rochester
What does the cost of a real solar system look like?
Facts about installing a 12.35kW solar system in Rochester, NY
This system would offset 100% of your energy usage if your typical monthly bill is $199, however your situation may vary so try our Rochester solar calculator to get a result tailored to you.
$20,061
Net cost of system
7 Years 3 Months
Average payback time
13,325 kWh
Annual power production
6¢/kWh
Levelized cost of solar energy
32¢/kWh
If you don't get solar
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of this 12.35kW system
Life-time savings on this system over the next 25 years
$77,267
(Prices shown after repayments of capital)
33
Solar companies in Rochester, NY that provide pricing through the SolarEstimate marketplace.
Average total cost of solar panel installation in Rochester
| System Size |
Cash purchase After 26% solar tax credit |
Financed purchase After 26% solar tax credit |
|---|---|---|
| 3kw | $6,460 | $6,977 |
| 4kw | $8,495 | $9,175 |
| 5kw | $10,434 | $11,269 |
| 6kw | $12,343 | $13,331 |
| 7kw | $14,141 | $15,273 |
| 8kw | $15,925 | $17,199 |
| 9kw | $17,582 | $18,989 |
| 10kw | $19,240 | $20,779 |
Find out what system size you need for your home
Going solar in New York
Check out all of the ways energy providers of New York can help you be more energy efficient and save money.
The following programs are available:
| Incentive Name | Eligibility | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit | Federal | Personal Tax Credit |
| Residential Solar State Tax Credit | State | Personal Tax Credit |
| Property Tax Exemption | State | Property Tax Incentive |
| Solar Sales Tax Exemption | State | Sales Tax Incentive |
| Value of Distributed Energy Resources - Phase One Net Metering | State | Net Metering |
| NY-Sun Smart Energy Loan | State | Loan Program |
| NY-Sun Megawatt Block Program - Upstate Region - Block 8 | Utility | Rebate Program |
Find your local rebates and incentives
Please keep in mind that the best source of up-to-date information on incentives are the solar installers who specialize in your area.
