Rhode Island 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. The average residential electricity rate here is about 29.9 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), and a typical 7 kW rooftop system produces about 9,055 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.
Updated for 2026.
Key statistics: Rhode Island solar at a glance (2026)
Key numbers (Rhode Island, 2026)
- Average residential rate: 29.9 cents per kWh
- Typical system size: 7 kW
- Typical annual production: 9,055 kWh per year
- Typical installed cost: $2.85 to $3.50 per watt
- Estimated system cost: $19,950 to $24,500
- Simple payback: about 10 years
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (July 2026), a typical 7 kW system in Rhode Island produces about 9,055 kWh a year, offsetting power that costs about 29.9 cents per kWh. These are our own compiled figures for Rhode Island; see Methodology below for exactly how each was produced. For the statewide rules behind these numbers, see our Rhode Island solar guide.
| Metric | Value | Source (dated) |
|---|---|---|
| Average residential rate | 29.9 cents per kWh | EIA, as of March 2026 |
| Typical system size | 7 kW | MySolarFY, typical residential array |
| Typical annual production | 9,055 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 10 years | MySolarFY analysis, as of July 2026 |
Every figure is dated and attributed. Rate is the EIA residential average for Rhode Island; 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 Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island cities using NREL PVWatts v8.
| City | System size | Annual production | Est. system cost | Est. annual bill savings | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 7 kW | 9,055 kWh per year | $22,200 | about $2,170 | about 10.2 years |
| Warwick | 7 kW | 9,377 kWh per year | $22,200 | about $2,240 | about 9.9 years |
| Cranston | 7 kW | 9,136 kWh per year | $22,200 | about $2,190 | about 10.2 years |
| Pawtucket | 7 kW | 9,036 kWh per year | $22,200 | about $2,160 | about 10.3 years |
Production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run per city ZIP. Bill savings value each kWh at about 23.9 cents, Rhode Island’s reduced net-metering credit (roughly 80 percent of the ~29.9 cent retail rate) for systems initiated after April 15, 2023; power you use on-site offsets at the full retail rate, so real savings can run higher. Payback is the system cost divided by that savings. Cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates that hold today’s rate flat and ignore financing. 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. Rhode Island Energy (formerly National Grid) serves most of the state, so its interconnection and billing shape your result; see our Rhode Island Energy solar guide. See also how net metering credits your solar exports for the mechanics.
| Utility | Residential rate | Net metering treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Energy (formerly National Grid / Narragansett Electric) | About 29.9 cents per kWh (EIA statewide residential average, March 2026); the dominant investor-owned utility | Renewable net-metering credit near the retail rate. For systems initiated after April 15, 2023, under the 275 MWac statewide cap, the credit is reduced about 20 percent (roughly 80 percent of the near-retail credit). Systems that applied on or before April 15, 2023 keep the full credit. Excess generation above 100 percent of annual use (systems 25 kW or under) is trued up at the wholesale ISO-New England price, not banked at retail. RIGL 39-26.4-2. |
| Pascoag Utility District | Municipal utility; local rate set by the district (not part of the EIA investor-owned average) | Offers 1:1 net metering (municipal utility) |
| Block Island Power Company | Municipal utility; local island rate set by the company (not part of the EIA investor-owned average) | Offers 1:1 net metering (municipal utility) |
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.
Rhode Island solar incentive stack (2026)
State programs, net metering, and any rebates or SREC market make up the Rhode Island incentive stack; for the full breakdown see our Rhode Island solar incentives guide. 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.
Renewable Energy Growth (REG) program
Tariff-based performance payment; the 2026 Small Solar (residential) ceiling price is about 33.95 cents per kWh, fixed for 20 years. REG and net metering are mutually exclusive, so a homeowner chooses one (active 2026) (RI Office of Energy Resources / PUC, as of July 2026)
Renewable Energy Fund (REF) grant
Upfront grant of about $0.65 per watt, capped near $5,000, plus roughly $2,000 for battery storage; available to net-metered systems only (active 2026) (RI Office of Energy Resources / RI Commerce, as of July 2026)
Net metering
Renewable net-metering credit near the retail rate, reduced about 20 percent for systems initiated after April 15, 2023 under the 275 MWac cap. Mutually exclusive with REG (active 2026) (RIGL 39-26.4-2 / energy.ri.gov, as of July 2026)
Rhode Island sales and use tax exemption
Solar and renewable energy systems are exempt from Rhode Island sales and use tax (active) (R.I. Gen. Laws 44-18-30, as of July 2026)
Rhode Island property tax exemption
Residential renewable energy systems are exempt from added local property tax on the value they add (active) (R.I. Gen. Laws 44-3-3, as of July 2026)
Federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D)
Ended December 31, 2025 and is not available to homeowners who buy solar in 2026, so no federal credit reduces the cost for cash or loan buyers (ended 12/31/2025) (IRS, as of July 2026)
The federal homeowner credit has ended, but Rhode Island’s programs have not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island (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 Rhode Island) and the EIA rate, holding today’s rate flat and ignoring financing.
- Incentives and net metering: the Rhode Island 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, Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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/rhode-island-solar-data-statistics-2026/.
See what solar programs are available in your Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island in 2026? A typical residential system in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island? A modeled 7 kW array produces about 9,055 kWh a year in Rhode Island (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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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.
