Solar in Pennsylvania pays back in about 11 to 13 years on a roughly $22,000 7 kW system, driven by the state’s 20.9 cents per kWh electricity rate (EIA, as of March 2026) and full-retail net metering. Pennsylvania homeowners weighing solar want real numbers, not a sales pitch, so this page gathers the ones that matter in one place, each dated and sourced. A typical 7 kW rooftop system produces about 9,494 kWh a year. Below you will find installed cost, simple payback, per-city production, how each utility handles net metering, and the current state incentives, updated for 2026. Comparing states? See our New Jersey solar data and statistics for a neighbor with a stronger incentive stack, or start from the Pennsylvania solar guide.
Updated for 2026.
Key statistics: Pennsylvania solar at a glance (2026)
Key numbers (Pennsylvania, 2026)
- Average residential rate: 20.9 cents per kWh
- Typical system size: 7 kW
- Typical annual production: 9,494 kWh per year
- Typical installed cost: $2.85 to $3.50 per watt
- Estimated system cost: $19,950 to $24,500
- Simple payback: about 12 years
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (July 2026), a typical 7 kW system in Pennsylvania produces about 9,494 kWh a year, offsetting power that costs about 20.9 cents per kWh. These are our own compiled figures for Pennsylvania; see Methodology below for exactly how each was produced. For the statewide rules behind these numbers, see our Pennsylvania solar guide.
| Metric | Value | Source (dated) |
|---|---|---|
| Average residential rate | 20.9 cents per kWh | EIA, as of March 2026 |
| Typical system size | 7 kW | MySolarFY, typical residential array |
| Typical annual production | 9,494 kWh per year | NREL PVWatts v8, as of July 2026 |
| Typical installed cost | $2.85 to $3.50 per watt | MySolarFY cost range, as of July 2026 |
| Estimated system cost | $19,950 to $24,500 | MySolarFY, 7 kW, as of July 2026 |
| Simple payback | about 12 years | MySolarFY analysis, as of July 2026 |
Every figure is dated and attributed. Rate is the EIA residential average for Pennsylvania; production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run for a 7 kW array; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates for planning, not a quote. Confirm current terms before you decide.
Solar cost and payback by city in Pennsylvania
Production and payback vary within a state because the solar resource and the local rate shift by location. The table below models a 7 kW system for representative Pennsylvania cities using NREL PVWatts v8.
| City | System size | Annual production | Est. system cost | Est. annual bill savings | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 7 kW | 9,494 kWh per year | $22,200 | about $1,986 | about 11 years |
| Pittsburgh | 7 kW | 8,335 kWh per year | $22,200 | about $1,744 | about 13 years |
| Allentown | 7 kW | 8,935 kWh per year | $22,200 | about $1,869 | about 12 years |
| Harrisburg | 7 kW | 9,163 kWh per year | $22,200 | about $1,917 | about 12 years |
Production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run per city ZIP; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates that hold today’s rate flat and ignore financing. Bill savings are annual production times the 20.92 cents per kWh EIA rate, and simple payback is the roughly $22,200 system cost divided by those savings. Payback excludes the roughly $200 to $230 a year in SREC income, which would shorten it by about a year. A written quote for your roof beats any table.
Utility rate and net metering comparison
Your utility sets the delivery rate and administers net metering, which is the credit you earn for the power your roof sends back to the grid. See how net metering credits your solar exports for the mechanics. For utility-specific detail, see our guides to PECO solar and PPL Electric solar, and read the full rules in our Pennsylvania net metering guide.
| Utility | Residential rate | Net metering treatment |
|---|---|---|
| PECO | Greater Philadelphia; billed per PUC tariff (state avg about 20.9 cents/kWh, EIA Mar 2026) | Full retail 1:1 kWh credit, monthly rollover; annual surplus paid at the supply-only Price to Compare; residential up to 50 kW |
| PPL Electric | Central and eastern PA; billed per PUC tariff (state avg about 20.9 cents/kWh, EIA Mar 2026) | Full retail 1:1 kWh credit, monthly rollover; annual surplus paid at the supply-only Price to Compare; residential up to 50 kW |
| Duquesne Light | Pittsburgh and Allegheny County; billed per PUC tariff (state avg about 20.9 cents/kWh, EIA Mar 2026) | Full retail 1:1 kWh credit, monthly rollover; annual surplus paid at the supply-only Price to Compare; residential up to 50 kW |
| Met-Ed (FirstEnergy) | South-central PA (Reading, York area); billed per PUC tariff (state avg about 20.9 cents/kWh, EIA Mar 2026) | Full retail 1:1 kWh credit, monthly rollover; annual surplus paid at the supply-only Price to Compare; residential up to 50 kW |
| Penelec (FirstEnergy) | Northern and central PA; billed per PUC tariff (state avg about 20.9 cents/kWh, EIA Mar 2026) | Full retail 1:1 kWh credit, monthly rollover; annual surplus paid at the supply-only Price to Compare; residential up to 50 kW |
| West Penn Power (FirstEnergy) | Southwestern and central PA; billed per PUC tariff (state avg about 20.9 cents/kWh, EIA Mar 2026) | Full retail 1:1 kWh credit, monthly rollover; annual surplus paid at the supply-only Price to Compare; residential up to 50 kW |
Net metering rules are set by state law and the utility commission, not the installer. Confirm your utility’s current tariff before you size a system.
Pennsylvania solar incentive stack (2026)
State programs, net metering, and any rebates or SREC market make up the Pennsylvania incentive stack. For the dated $/credit number and how to sell yours, see our Pennsylvania SREC price guide; for the full crediting rules, see Pennsylvania net metering. These go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels keeps the incentive while the net-metering bill credit follows your account.
Net metering
Full retail 1:1 kWh credit with monthly rollover across every PA PUC-regulated utility; leftover surplus at the annual true-up is cashed at the supply-only Price to Compare, not full retail. Residential systems up to 50 kW are eligible. This is the strongest solar program in the state. (Active) (PA PUC 52 Pa. Code Ch. 75, DSIRE Pennsylvania Net Metering #65, as of July 2026)
Pennsylvania SREC / AEC market
You earn one SREC for every 1,000 kWh you produce. The 2026-vintage solar credit trades near $23.50 each on Flett Exchange, so a typical 7 kW system earns roughly $200 to $230 a year on top of bill savings. SRECs have a 3-year life, Act 40 of 2017 limits eligibility to in-state systems, and SREC income is generally taxable. (Active but low-priced) (Flett Exchange market prices, Penn State Extension, as of July 2026)
State solar rebate
None. Pennsylvania has no active statewide residential solar rebate; the PA Sunshine rebate program has ended. (Not available) (DSIRE Pennsylvania, as of July 2026)
State solar income-tax credit
None. Pennsylvania offers no state personal income-tax credit for residential solar. (Not available) (DSIRE Pennsylvania, as of July 2026)
Property-tax and sales-tax exemption
None. Pennsylvania has no statewide property-tax exemption for the added home value and no sales-tax exemption for residential solar equipment. (Not available) (DSIRE Pennsylvania, as of July 2026)
Federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D)
Ended December 31, 2025. A Pennsylvania homeowner who buys solar in 2026 cannot claim the 30 percent federal credit. (Ended) (IRS, as of July 2026)
The federal homeowner credit has ended, but Pennsylvania’s programs have not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a Pennsylvania homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, as of 2026). State net metering and the incentives listed above were not affected by that change. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means and our state solar incentives overview.
Methodology and sources
- Electricity rate: the latest EIA Form residential retail price for Pennsylvania (EIA retail sales, as of March 2026).
- Production: modeled with NREL PVWatts v8 for a 7 kW south-facing array at the city ZIP (NREL PVWatts v8 documentation, as of July 2026).
- Cost and payback: MySolarFY estimates built from installed cost per watt (informed by the DataForSEO cost SERP for Pennsylvania) and the EIA rate, holding today’s rate flat and ignoring financing. Simple payback is the estimated system cost divided by annual bill savings (annual production times the EIA rate); it excludes SREC income.
- Incentives and net metering: the Pennsylvania public utility commission and the DSIRE incentive database (DSIRE, as of July 2026).
- Assumptions: a 7 kW system, standard losses, and a south-facing array. Your roof, usage, and financing change the result, so treat these as planning figures, not a quote.
Citing this data
Citing this data?
Cite as: “MySolarFY, Pennsylvania Solar Data & Statistics 2026, accessed July 19, 2026.” Data compiled by MySolarFY from EIA (residential electricity rate), NREL PVWatts v8 (modeled production), DSIRE and the Pennsylvania public utility commission (incentives and net metering), and DataForSEO (cost SERP). Figures are dated in each table above.
Journalists and researchers may quote these statistics with attribution to MySolarFY and a link to https://mysolarfy.com/pennsylvania-solar-data-statistics-2026/.
See what solar programs are available in your Pennsylvania ZIP code
Incentives, net-metering credits, installer availability, and electric rates change by utility and location. Enter your ZIP and we will match you with licensed installers who serve your area.
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How to choose a solar installer in Pennsylvania
Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria: NABCEP certification, a valid state license, a written workmanship and equipment warranty, real experience with your utility’s interconnection, and a transparent quote that uses today’s incentive values. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average solar cost in Pennsylvania in 2026? A typical residential system in Pennsylvania runs about $2.85 to $3.50 per watt installed before any incentives (MySolarFY cost range, as of July 2026). A 7 kW system is a common size for a single-family home. Cost varies with roof, equipment, and installer, so use a written quote for your own numbers.
How much electricity does a solar system produce in Pennsylvania? A modeled 7 kW array produces about 9,494 kWh a year in Pennsylvania (NREL PVWatts v8, as of July 2026). Production drives both your net-metering credits and your payback, so estimate your specific roof rather than a generic number.
Did the federal solar tax credit end? Yes for homeowners. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a Pennsylvania homeowner who buys solar in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). State programs and net metering were not affected by that change.
Reviewed by the SolarFY Editorial Team. Figures were verified against the linked EIA, NREL, DSIRE, and Pennsylvania PUC sources as of July 2026, following our data and methodology standards; rates, incentive values, and net-metering terms can change, so confirm current terms before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. Solar panels are not free and any monthly payments apply. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation; lease and PPA terms may include an annual escalator and total payments may exceed a cash purchase, and on a lease or PPA the incentives go to the company that owns the system. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
