The NYSERDA solar incentive, branded NY-Sun, is a per-watt “Megawatt Block” rebate that lowers what you pay for a rooftop system. It is paid by NYSERDA to your installer, who must take it “right off the top” of your price, and it steps down as each region’s blocks fill (NYSERDA Paying for Solar, as of July 2026). The headline value still on the table in 2026 is the income-qualified Affordable Solar rate of $0.80 per watt (Con Edison and Upstate) or $0.40 per watt (Long Island) for households at or below 80% of area median income (NYSERDA Income Eligible Guidelines, as of July 2026).
According to MySolarFY’s July 2026 analysis, an income-qualified New York City household installing a typical 7 kW system would see about $5,600 come straight off the price through Affordable Solar at $0.80 per watt. A standard-income household in 2026 will often see little or nothing from NY-Sun, because the market-rate residential blocks in the major regions have largely filled, so most of the return now comes from Con Edison net metering and the 25% New York State tax credit instead.
- Affordable Solar incentive: $0.80/W DC in the Con Edison and Upstate regions, $0.40/W DC on Long Island, for households at or below 80% of area median income (NYSERDA, as of July 2026).
- New York residential electricity rate: about 28.55 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), among the highest in the country, which is what makes solar pay here.
- Typical NYC production: a 6 kW system in Manhattan (ZIP 10001) is modeled at about 8,026 kWh a year, or roughly 9,360 kWh for a 7 kW system (NREL PVWatts, as of July 2026).
- Typical installed cost in New York: about $4.40 per watt before incentives, so a 7 kW system runs near $30,800 gross (U.S. DOE EnergySaver state median, as of May 2026).
- Federal homeowner credit: the 30% Section 25D credit ended for expenditures after December 31, 2025 (IRS, as of January 1, 2026), so it does not stack with NY-Sun in 2026.
If you are searching for the NYSERDA solar incentive, you have found New York’s main state solar rebate: the NY-Sun program. It works differently from a tax credit or a check in the mail, and in 2026 it pays very different amounts depending on your region and your household income. This page explains exactly how NY-Sun’s Megawatt Block is built, what it is worth in the Con Edison, Upstate, and Long Island regions right now, who actually receives the money, and how it nets against a typical New York system cost. Because net metering and the state tax credit are separate programs that stack on top, we link out to those rather than repeat them here.
What is the NYSERDA solar incentive, and how is NY-Sun built?
The NYSERDA solar incentive is a per-watt rebate paid through the NY-Sun program, structured as a “Megawatt Block.” New York State, through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), set aside blocks of solar capacity for each region and attached a dollars-per-watt incentive to each block (NYSERDA NY-Sun, as of July 2026). As installers fill a block with signed projects, that block closes and the next one opens at a lower per-watt rate. The incentive is designed to step down over time as more New Yorkers go solar, so the amount available depends on how much room is left in your region’s current block. Applications run through December 31, 2030, or until a region’s funds are fully committed, whichever comes first (NYSERDA Residential and Small Commercial Program Manual, as of June 2026).
There are two residential tracks, and they pay very differently. The market-rate (standard) residential track is open to any homeowner, and its per-watt value has stepped down toward the end of its run in the major regions. The income-qualified Affordable Solar track pays a much larger, still-active per-watt incentive to households at or below 80% of the area median income (NYSERDA Income Eligible Guidelines, as of July 2026). Understanding which track you fall into is the single most important thing on this page, because it can be the difference between a few hundred dollars and several thousand. For the wider picture of every New York solar program, see our New York solar guide.
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Is the NY-Sun solar rebate still available in 2026?
Partly, and it depends heavily on your income and region. The income-qualified Affordable Solar incentive is still active and meaningful in 2026, at $0.80 per watt DC in the Con Edison and Upstate regions and $0.40 per watt DC on Long Island for households at or below 80% of area median income (NYSERDA NY-Sun Upstate and Long Island Program Manual, as of May 2026). The market-rate (standard) residential incentive is a different story: because it steps down as blocks fill, several regions have little or no market-rate residential capacity left, and a region can show a per-watt value of zero once its block is fully subscribed. NYSERDA publishes live remaining capacity and the current per-watt figure on its Megawatt Block dashboard, and that is the only place to confirm today’s number before you sign (NYSERDA Dashboards and Incentives, as of July 2026).
| Region | Market-rate residential block | Affordable Solar (at or below 80% AMI) |
|---|---|---|
| Con Edison (NYC, Westchester) | Steps down as blocks fill; may show no capacity remaining. Confirm the current per-watt value on the NYSERDA dashboard. | $0.80/W DC |
| Upstate (National Grid, NYSEG, RG&E) | Steps down as blocks fill; late-stage capacity. Confirm the current per-watt value on the NYSERDA dashboard. | $0.80/W DC |
| Long Island (PSEG Long Island) | Market-rate residential capacity has long been fully subscribed. Confirm the current status on the NYSERDA dashboard. | $0.40/W DC |
Affordable Solar per-watt values verified against NYSERDA program manuals (as of May 2026). Market-rate block status changes as capacity is committed, so we do not publish a current market-rate per-watt figure as fact; the live NYSERDA Megawatt Block dashboard is the source of record (NYSERDA; DSIRE program record 701, as of July 2026).
Who actually gets the NY-Sun money, you or your installer?
Your installer receives the NY-Sun payment, not you, and must pass it through as a lower price. This is the part homeowners most often get wrong. NYSERDA pays the incentive directly to the participating NY-Sun contractor of record, and the contractor is required to apply it in full to the cost of your system, so you see it as a smaller contract price rather than a rebate check or a line on your tax return (NYSERDA Paying for Solar, as of July 2026). In NYSERDA’s own words, your contractor takes the incentive “right off the top” of your bill. You do not fill out a Megawatt Block application yourself; you choose a participating installer, and they handle the paperwork and the block reservation.
Confirm the current block before you sign. Because the Megawatt Block steps down and can hit zero in a region, the incentive you are quoted must match the live NYSERDA dashboard on your contract date, not an old figure from a blog or last year’s brochure. Ask your installer to show you the current per-watt value and the remaining capacity for your region, and check it yourself on NYSERDA’s Megawatt Block dashboard (NYSERDA Dashboards and Incentives, as of July 2026).
What the NY-Sun incentive nets against a typical New York system cost
Here is our own worked estimate for a typical 7 kW New York City system, so you can see how NY-Sun changes the math. We built this from the figures gathered above: the New York residential rate (EIA), the modeled NYC production (NREL PVWatts), the New York installed-cost median (U.S. DOE EnergySaver), the verified Affordable Solar rate (NYSERDA), and the 25% New York State tax credit capped at $5,000. The result is an estimate, not a quote, and your own numbers will depend on your roof, your usage, and the live block value on your contract date.
| Line | Income-qualified (at or below 80% AMI) | Standard income |
|---|---|---|
| Gross system cost (7 kW at about $4.40/W) | $30,800 | $30,800 |
| NY-Sun incentive (applied by installer) | minus $5,600 (Affordable Solar, $0.80/W) | minus $0 to a few hundred (market-rate block may be exhausted) |
| 25% New York State tax credit (capped) | minus $5,000 | minus $5,000 |
| Estimated net cost | about $20,200 | about $25,800 |
| Annual bill offset (about 9,360 kWh at 28.55 cents) | about $2,670 | about $2,670 |
| Estimated simple payback | about 7.6 years | about 9.7 years |
Inputs and assumptions: gross cost from the U.S. DOE EnergySaver New York median of about $4.40/W before incentives (DOE EnergySaver, as of May 2026); production scaled from NREL PVWatts modeling a 6 kW NYC system at 8,026 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts, as of July 2026); rate 28.55 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026); NY-Sun Affordable Solar $0.80/W (NYSERDA, as of May 2026); 25% New York State credit capped at $5,000 (the 25% New York State solar tax credit). The standard-income scenario uses $0 from NY-Sun on purpose, the worst case where the market-rate block for your region is fully subscribed, so the 9.7-year payback is transparent rather than resting on a hidden number; if any market-rate capacity remains, that payback shortens. The annual bill offset is identical in both scenarios because the production and the rate do not change, only the up-front incentive does. The bill offset assumes full crediting at the residential rate; Con Edison values exports through the Value Stack (VDER) and a customer-benefit charge applies, so your realized savings may be lower. See our data method at our data and methodology.
What NY-Sun does not do (and what actually pays alongside it)
NY-Sun is one piece of the New York stack, and it is easy to confuse with the others. It is not a check to you, it is not your bill credit, and it is not a tax credit. Knowing what each program is stops you from double-counting savings a salesperson might imply. The table below sorts the four things New York homeowners most often blur together.
| Program | What it does | Who receives it | 2026 status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NY-Sun (NYSERDA) | Per-watt upfront rebate on the install | Installer, passed through as a lower price | Affordable Solar active; market-rate steps down, confirm on dashboard |
| Net metering / VDER | Credits your exported power on your bill | Homeowner, monthly | Active; see how Con Edison values exports under VDER |
| 25% NY State tax credit | 25% of system cost off state income tax, capped at $5,000 | Homeowner, at tax time | Active; see the 25% New York State solar tax credit |
| Federal 25D credit | Was 30% of cost off federal tax | Homeowner (formerly) | Ended for expenditures after December 31, 2025 |
The federal credit ended, so NY-Sun and the state programs carry more weight in 2026
A homeowner who installs solar in 2026 cannot claim the 30% federal tax credit. The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit under Section 25D ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so it does not stack with NY-Sun for a 2026 install (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, as of January 1, 2026). That makes New York’s own programs, the NY-Sun rebate, the 25% state tax credit, and net metering, the load-bearing incentives now. One indirect exception: if a company owns your panels through a lease or power purchase agreement, that owner may claim a separate commercial credit (Section 48E), which is theirs and not yours, and may reflect part of it in the price. For the full picture, read what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026. MySolarFY does not provide tax advice; confirm your situation with a tax professional.
How to choose a NY-Sun installer without getting sold
Because the incentive flows through your installer, the contractor you pick matters more in New York than in a check-in-the-mail state. For the full vetting checklist, see our guide on how to choose a solar installer in New York. Use objective criteria rather than a ranking: confirm the company is a participating NY-Sun contractor in good standing, holds the proper New York licensing, employs or subcontracts NABCEP-certified installers, and offers a workmanship warranty in writing alongside the panel and inverter manufacturer warranties. Ask to see the current NYSERDA dashboard value for your region on the day you sign, and get the incentive shown as a distinct line that reduces your price. A reputable installer will do all of this without pressure. To understand the two export-crediting choices before you commit, read how net metering credits your solar exports, and for the Con Edison specifics see our Con Edison solar guide and how Con Edison net metering works in 2026.
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NY-Sun and NYSERDA solar incentive FAQ
Is the NY-Sun solar incentive still available in 2026?
Partly. The income-qualified Affordable Solar incentive is still active in 2026 at $0.80 per watt in the Con Edison and Upstate regions and $0.40 per watt on Long Island, for households at or below 80% of area median income. The market-rate residential incentive steps down as each region’s Megawatt Blocks fill, and some regions have little or no market-rate capacity left, so a region can show a value of zero. Confirm the current figure for your region on NYSERDA’s Megawatt Block dashboard before you sign. (Source: NYSERDA Dashboards and Incentives)
How much is the NYSERDA solar incentive worth?
It is a per-watt amount, so the total scales with your system size. The verified income-qualified Affordable Solar rate is $0.80 per watt DC in the Con Edison and Upstate regions, which is about $5,600 on a 7 kW system, and $0.40 per watt DC on Long Island. Market-rate values are lower and step down as blocks fill, so for a standard-income household the amount may be small or zero depending on the current block. Always confirm the live per-watt value for your region on the NYSERDA dashboard. (Source: NYSERDA NY-Sun Program Manual)
Do I get the NY-Sun rebate as a check?
No. NYSERDA pays the NY-Sun incentive directly to your participating installer, who must apply it in full to the cost of your system as an upfront price reduction. You see it as a lower contract price, not a rebate check or a tax refund. You also do not file the Megawatt Block application yourself; your installer reserves the block and handles the paperwork. In NYSERDA’s words, the contractor takes the incentive “right off the top” of your bill. (Source: NYSERDA Paying for Solar)
Is the 30% federal solar tax credit gone in 2026?
Yes, for homeowner-owned systems. The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so a homeowner who installs in 2026 cannot claim the 30% federal credit, and it does not stack with NY-Sun this year. A third-party owner of a leased or PPA system may claim a separate commercial credit (Section 48E), which is the owner’s, not yours. New York’s own programs still apply. MySolarFY does not provide tax advice; confirm with a tax professional. (Source: IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit)
What if my household earns under 80% of area median income?
Households at or below 80% of area median income can access NY-Sun’s Affordable Solar track, which pays a much larger per-watt incentive: $0.80 per watt DC in the Con Edison and Upstate regions and $0.40 per watt DC on Long Island. Eligibility is based on being at or below 80% of the area median income, with an additional path for some households enrolled in eligible utility payment-assistance programs. Your installer verifies eligibility through an income application before the block is reserved. This is the single largest NY-Sun benefit still active in 2026. (Source: NYSERDA Income Eligible Guidelines)
Is NY-Sun the same as net metering?
No, they are separate programs that stack. NY-Sun is a one-time, per-watt rebate on the cost of your system, paid through your installer. Net metering, delivered in New York through the Value Stack (VDER) for Con Edison and the other investor-owned utilities, is an ongoing bill credit for the power your panels export to the grid. You can benefit from both. For how the export side is valued, see our guide to how Con Edison values your solar exports under VDER in 2026. (Source: NYSERDA NY-Sun)
How do I find out what I qualify for in my ZIP code?
Because the NY-Sun block value, your region, your income eligibility, and your utility’s net-metering rules all interact, the fastest way to see what applies to your home is to check your address. Enter your ZIP and MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers who serve your area, at no cost and with no obligation, and they can confirm the current NYSERDA block value for your region. You can also see the live figures yourself on NYSERDA’s Megawatt Block dashboard. (Source: NYSERDA Dashboards and Incentives)
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, tax advisor, or government program, and we do not provide tax advice. The NY-Sun incentive is administered by NYSERDA and is paid to your installer, not to you; values step down over time and by region, are set by NYSERDA, and are not guaranteed, so confirm the current figure on NYSERDA’s Megawatt Block dashboard before you sign. The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures after December 31, 2025, and most homeowners who install in 2026 cannot claim it, so confirm your tax situation with a professional. “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. Incentives, savings, and rates vary, change over time, and are not guaranteed. See how we work at how MySolarFY works and our full disclaimer.