As of August 2026, Delaware offers full-retail net metering: your utility credits every kWh you export at the retail rate, month to month, on residential systems up to 25 kW. Surplus left at the annual true-up settles at the lower energy-supply rate. Delaware also runs a customer-owned SREC market. The 30% federal homeowner credit ended December 31, 2025.
- Full retail, monthly. Delaware net metering credits your exported kWh at the same retail rate you pay, applied on your monthly bill for residential systems up to 25 kW (DSIRE).
- Annual true-up is the one catch. Credits roll month to month, but any surplus left at your annual true-up is settled at the utility’s lower energy-supply (avoided-cost) rate, not full retail (DSIRE).
- SRECs are separate and customer-owned. You earn one certificate per 1,000 kWh you generate, on top of net metering. The 2026 price is market-driven, so verify the current value with the Delaware SEU (Energize Delaware).
- Rate context. Delaware residential power runs about 19.4 cents per kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, May 2026), which is what each net-metered credit is worth.
- Federal credit is gone. The 30% residential credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 (IRS).
This page is the mechanics deep-dive for Delaware net metering and the state’s SREC market: how each credit is valued, what happens at the annual true-up, who owns the SRECs, and how the two stack. For the full cost, incentives, and payback picture, start with our Delaware solar hub, part of our Solar by State guides. If you just want the export mechanics in plain terms, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
How Delaware net metering works
Delaware credits your exported solar at the full retail rate, month to month. Your home runs on its own solar first; anything extra flows through a bidirectional meter to the grid, and your utility nets what you export against what you import over the billing month. Because the credit is at the retail rate, roughly one exported kWh cancels one imported kWh, so a well-sized system can zero out most of your usage charges across the year. Residential systems qualify up to 25 kW of capacity (DSIRE).
The one nuance that costs people money is the annual true-up. Monthly credits roll forward, but any surplus still on your account at the end of Delaware’s annual true-up period is cashed out at the utility’s lower energy-supply (avoided-cost) rate, well under retail. That is why the smart move is to size your array to your own yearly usage rather than oversizing to bank a big surplus you will only be paid pennies for. To see how the monthly credit lowers your bill, read how solar lowers your electricity bill.
| Feature | Delaware rule (2026) |
|---|---|
| Export credit rate | Full retail rate, applied on your monthly bill |
| Residential system cap | Up to 25 kW (DSIRE) |
| Credit rollover | Month to month across the year |
| Annual surplus settlement | Paid at the lower energy-supply (avoided-cost) rate at true-up |
| Who keeps the credits | The homeowner (lease and PPA customers still see bill credits; the owner keeps SRECs) |
What full-retail net metering is worth in Delaware
Full-retail net metering is the single most valuable ongoing benefit here, and it is worth far more than a wholesale export program. Because each credit is measured against Delaware’s retail rate of about 19.4 cents per kWh rather than a wholesale figure, the value adds up fast.
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), a 7 kW rooftop system in Dover (ZIP 19901) produces about 9,755 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8). Under Delaware’s full-retail net metering, that output offsets grid power worth about $1,890 a year at roughly 19.4 cents per kWh. If Delaware instead paid exports at a wholesale-style 5 cents, the same production would be worth only about $490, so full-retail net metering is worth roughly $1,400 a year more here than an avoided-cost export program.
MySolarFY estimate as of August 2026, shown so you can check the math. Assumes all production is credited against retail usage over the year; real value depends on how much power you self-consume, your utility, your usage pattern, panel degradation, and future rate changes. The wholesale comparison is illustrative. Confirm figures against the linked sources.
Delaware SRECs: a second, separate income stream
SRECs are not net metering, and they stack on top of it. Net metering lowers your electric bill; a Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) is a tradable certificate you earn for the clean energy your system produces, which you can sell into Delaware’s market. You earn one SREC per 1,000 kWh (one megawatt-hour) generated, and the certificates belong to whoever owns the system.
The price is market-driven, so treat any quoted SREC income as unconfirmed until you verify it. Unlike the fixed retail credit in net metering, Delaware SREC values rise and fall with supply and demand, and there is no fixed per-SREC price we could confirm for 2026. Verify the current value and how to register with the Delaware SEU before you count SREC income in a payback estimate (Energize Delaware).
| Net metering | SRECs | |
|---|---|---|
| What it pays for | Power you export to the grid | Every 1,000 kWh you generate |
| How you get it | A credit on your electric bill | Sold into the SREC market for cash |
| Value in 2026 | Fixed at the retail rate (about 19.4 cents/kWh) | Market-driven; verify with the Delaware SEU |
| Who keeps it | Bill credits go to the customer; owner on record | The system owner (not lease or PPA homeowners) |
Your utility decides the details
Net-metering paperwork, the true-up date, and SREC registration all depend on which utility serves your address, so confirm your provider first. Delaware is not a single-utility state:
- Delmarva Power, an Exelon company, is the largest electric utility and serves most of the state, including Wilmington, Newark, and Dover. Its net-metering and Green Energy Program processes are documented, and it is the provider most Delaware solar shoppers deal with. See our Delmarva Power Delaware solar guide.
- Delaware Electric Cooperative is a member-owned co-op serving Kent and Sussex counties, with its own net-metering terms and its own green energy fund.
- Municipal utilities such as the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation towns (for example Newark’s and Dover’s municipal systems, Milford, Lewes, and others) each set their own net-metering and incentive rules.
Because the true-up date and SREC steps differ by provider, confirm your utility before you compare quotes. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers who serve your area and know your utility’s net-metering process.
How you pay changes who keeps the SRECs
Owners keep the SRECs; lease and PPA customers do not. Ownership is the most misunderstood line in a Delaware solar quote. If you buy the system with cash or a loan, you own it, so you keep the net-metering credits and the SRECs and can sell the certificates yourself. If you lease or sign a PPA, the company that owns the panels keeps the SRECs, and your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. Either way you still see net-metering bill credits, but only an owner monetizes the SRECs. Neither path gives a 2026 Delaware homeowner the federal residential credit, because Section 25D ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 (IRS). For how financing changes your total, see our Delaware solar cost and payback guide and what the federal credit change means in 2026.
See the net-metering and SREC setup for your Delaware ZIP code
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Delaware net metering and SREC FAQ
Does Delaware have full net metering in 2026? Yes. Delaware credits residential solar exports at the full retail rate, month to month, on systems up to 25 kW, with any annual surplus settled at the lower energy-supply rate at true-up (DSIRE).
What is the system-size cap for Delaware net metering? Residential net-metered systems qualify up to 25 kW of capacity. Size your array to your own annual usage, because surplus beyond what you use is paid at the lower energy-supply rate, not full retail.
How much is a Delaware SREC worth in 2026? The price is set by the market and changes over time, so there is no fixed figure to quote. Verify the current SREC value and registration steps with the Delaware SEU before counting SREC income in a payback estimate (Energize Delaware).
Do I keep the SRECs if I lease solar in Delaware? No. SRECs belong to the system owner, so a lease or PPA provider keeps them. You still receive net-metering bill credits, but only an owner (cash or loan) can sell the certificates.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, tax advisor, or government program. Net-metering rules, credit rates, SREC prices, size caps, and incentives are set by your state and utility, vary by provider, change over time, and are not guaranteed; confirm current terms with your utility’s tariff, the Delaware SEU, and the Delaware Public Service Commission. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing where eligible; these agreements typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase. Solar panels are not free. Ask a tax professional about your situation. See our full disclaimer.
