Quick answer: Virginia solar statistics (2026)
Virginia’s average residential electricity rate is about 17.6 cents per kWh (EIA, May 2026), and a typical 7 kW rooftop system produces about 9,409 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8, August 2026). Virginia now has about 7,841 MW of installed solar, roughly 7.8 GW, which ranks 9th nationally and is enough to power around 892,500 homes (SEIA, 2026). There is no state solar income tax credit, but net metering pays a full 1-to-1 retail credit and solar equipment is exempt from Virginia sales tax.
Virginia 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 17.6 cents per kWh (EIA, as of May 2026), and a typical 7 kW rooftop system produces about 9,409 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._
Virginia solar market: size and growth (2026)
Virginia has become one of the country’s largest and fastest-growing solar markets. The market-size figures below come from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA); capacity is measured in direct-current (DC) watts and updates each quarter.
Virginia solar market (SEIA, 2026)
- Installed solar capacity: about 7,841 MW (roughly 7.8 GW)
- National rank: 9th among all states
- Homes powered: about 892,500
- Share of state electricity from solar: about 9.6 percent
- Record growth year: a state-record 1.5 GW added in 2024
- Total solar investment to date: more than $10.7 billion
According to SEIA (2026), Virginia’s roughly 7,841 MW of installed solar ranks 9th in the nation, up from about 6.8 GW a year earlier after a record 1.5 GW was added in 2024 (SEIA Virginia solar profile, as of 2026). Market totals shift each quarter, so treat these as a dated snapshot.
Key statistics: Virginia solar at a glance (2026)
Key numbers (Virginia, 2026)
- Average residential rate: 17.6 cents per kWh
- Typical system size: 7 kW
- Typical annual production: 9,409 kWh per year
- Typical installed cost: $2.50 to $3.20 per watt
- Estimated system cost: $17,500 to $22,400
- Simple payback: about 12 years
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), a typical 7 kW system in Virginia produces about 9,409 kWh a year, offsetting power that costs about 17.6 cents per kWh. These are our own compiled figures for Virginia; see Methodology below for exactly how each was produced. For the statewide rules behind these numbers, see our Virginia solar guide.
| Metric | Value | Source (dated) |
|---|---|---|
| Average residential rate | 17.6 cents per kWh | EIA, as of May 2026 |
| Typical system size | 7 kW | MySolarFY, typical residential array |
| Typical annual production | 9,409 kWh per year | NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 2026 |
| Typical installed cost | $2.50 to $3.20 per watt | MySolarFY cost range, as of August 2026 |
| Estimated system cost | $17,500 to $22,400 | MySolarFY, 7 kW, as of August 2026 |
| Simple payback | about 12 years | MySolarFY analysis, as of August 2026 |
Every figure is dated and attributed. Rate is the EIA residential average for Virginia; 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 Virginia
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 Virginia cities using NREL PVWatts v8.
| City | System size | Annual production | Est. system cost | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 7 kW | 9,409 kWh per year | $19,600 | about 12 years |
| Virginia Beach | 7 kW | 10,066 kWh per year | $19,600 | about 11 years |
| Arlington | 7 kW | 9,659 kWh per year | $19,600 | about 12 years |
| Roanoke | 7 kW | 9,019 kWh per year | $19,600 | 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. 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.
| Utility | Residential rate | Net metering treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Dominion Energy Virginia | About 15 to 18 cents per kWh all-in residential | Full 1-to-1 retail net metering for residential systems under 25 kW; systems over 15 kW AC (rising to 20 kW AC on July 1, 2026 under HB 1255) may owe standby charges; net excess trued up yearly at an avoided-cost rate (Virginia SCC, Aug 2025 order) |
| Appalachian Power (APCo) | Serves southwest Virginia | Full retail net metering preserved after the SCC rejected APCo’s 2025 proposal to cut credit value (Virginia SCC, Sept 2025); monthly customer charge unchanged |
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.
Virginia solar incentive stack (2026)
State programs, net metering, and any rebates or SREC market make up the Virginia incentive stack. 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 (1-to-1 retail)
Residential systems under 25 kW earn full retail credit for exported power, banked over a 12-month period (active) (Virginia SCC / VCEA, as of August 2026)
State property tax exemption
Local-option exemption for the value solar equipment adds, so your assessment does not rise for the panels where the locality has adopted it (active) (Va. Code Sec. 58.1-3661 / DSIRE, as of August 2026)
Sales and use tax exemption
Certified solar energy equipment is exempt from Virginia sales and use tax (active) (Virginia Dept. of Taxation / DSIRE, as of August 2026)
No state income tax credit
Virginia does not offer a state solar income tax credit (none) (DSIRE, as of August 2026)
Solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs)
Virginia SRECs trade in a market that has recently run roughly $20 to $30 per MWh; prices are volatile and not guaranteed (active) (SREC market, as of August 2026)
The federal homeowner credit has ended, but Virginia’s programs have not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a Virginia 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 Virginia (EIA retail sales, as of May 2026).
- Production: modeled with NREL PVWatts v8 for a 7 kW south-facing array at the city ZIP (NREL PVWatts v8 documentation, as of August 2026).
- Cost and payback: MySolarFY estimates built from installed cost per watt (informed by the DataForSEO cost SERP for Virginia) and the EIA rate, holding today’s rate flat and ignoring financing.
- Incentives and net metering: the Virginia public utility commission and the DSIRE incentive database (DSIRE, as of August 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, Virginia Solar Data & Statistics 2026, accessed August 21, 2026.” Data compiled by MySolarFY from EIA (residential electricity rate), NREL PVWatts v8 (modeled production), DSIRE and the Virginia 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/virginia-solar-data-statistics-2026/.
See what solar programs are available in your Virginia 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 Virginia
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.
Related Virginia solar guides
Use these companion pages to go deeper on the numbers above:
- Virginia solar guide: the statewide overview of costs, incentives, and how to get started.
- Virginia solar incentives (2026): net metering, the sales and property tax exemptions, and why the federal 25D credit no longer applies.
- Dominion Energy Virginia solar: net metering, standby charges over 15 kW, and interconnection with the state’s largest utility.
- Appalachian Power (APCo) solar: how net metering works for southwest Virginia customers.
- Virginia Beach solar: a local, city-level view for coastal Virginia homeowners.
- Maryland solar data and statistics: the same dated, sourced treatment for a neighboring state, for comparison.
- Our data and methodology: how MySolarFY sources and models every figure on pages like this one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average solar cost in Virginia in 2026? A typical residential system in Virginia runs about $2.50 to $3.20 per watt installed before any incentives (MySolarFY cost range, as of August 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 Virginia? A modeled 7 kW array produces about 9,409 kWh a year in Virginia (NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 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 Virginia 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 MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked EIA, NREL, DSIRE, and Virginia PUC sources as of August 2026; 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.
