Solar panels in Pennsylvania: cost, payback and the rules that matter
Pennsylvania homes pay 21.0¢ per kWh for electricity, the 15th highest of 51, up 12.5% in a year. A typical home needs 20 panels. With no federal tax credit they pay for themselves in about 11.5 yrs.
Four facts that decide solar in Pennsylvania
1. The sun. One kilowatt of panels makes about 1,241 kWh a year in the median Pennsylvania city, from 1,176 in Pittsburgh to 1,306 in Philadelphia.
2. The price of electricity. Every kWh your panels make is worth what you would otherwise pay: 21.0¢ in Pennsylvania today.
3. What your utility pays for exports. Most Pennsylvania utilities still credit exported solar close to the retail rate, but rules differ by utility and change often.
4. Incentives. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (IRC §25D) ended for systems whose installation is completed after December 31, 2025 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, P.L. We don't know of a statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania's homes
5,274,853 households; 69.3% own their home. 3,424,557 owner-occupied single-family houses: the main market for rooftop solar. The median home was built in 1965; 25.3% heat with electricity.
ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau.
Plan a specific Pennsylvania home
Solar in every Pennsylvania city with 50,000+ people
| City | Sun hrs/day | kWh per kW | Best tilt | Typical kW | Payback (NM) | Payback (NB) | Solar ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 4.6 | 1,306 | 36° | 8.0 | 10.9 yrs | 18.1 yrs | 11.9 |
| Pittsburgh | 4.2 | 1,176 | 33° | 8.4 | 12.0 yrs | 19.5 yrs | 13.2 |
| Allentown | 4.4 | 1,239 | 36° | 8.4 | 11.5 yrs | 19.0 yrs | 12.6 |
| Reading | 4.5 | 1,261 | 36° | 8.0 | 11.3 yrs | 18.5 yrs | 12.4 |
| Erie | 4.1 | 1,179 | 33° | 8.4 | 12.0 yrs | 19.5 yrs | 13.1 |
| Bethlehem | 4.4 | 1,241 | 36° | 8.4 | 11.5 yrs | 19.0 yrs | 12.6 |
| Scranton | 4.2 | 1,189 | 35° | 8.4 | 11.9 yrs | 19.5 yrs | 13.1 |
| Lancaster | 4.5 | 1,288 | 36° | 8.0 | 11.1 yrs | 18.3 yrs | 12.1 |
| Harrisburg | 4.4 | 1,255 | 36° | 8.0 | 11.3 yrs | 18.5 yrs | 12.4 |
NM = exports credited at retail (net metering); NB = exports at ~30% of retail (net billing). Systems sized to the Pennsylvania average home. $3.00/W, cash, 25 years.
Rule changes that affect Pennsylvania
All changes and deadlines →- Federal: In-service deadline for the lease/PPA solar credit · Tax credits
- Federal: National data: solar prices fell to a median $3.60 per watt · Prices
- Federal: Construction-start deadline passed for the lease/PPA credit · Tax credits
- Federal: The 30% homeowner solar tax credit is gone · Tax credits
Questions about solar in Pennsylvania
How much do solar panels cost in Pennsylvania?
A 8.4 kW system, the size the average Pennsylvania home needs, costs about $21,000 to $31,500 before incentives in 2026.
Is solar worth it in Pennsylvania?
In the median Pennsylvania city, solar pays for itself in about 11.5 yrs if exported power earns the retail rate, or 19.0 yrs if it earns about 30% of retail. Most utilities here still offer some form of net metering; check yours.
Is there a solar tax credit in Pennsylvania?
We know of no statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Pennsylvania; utilities and cities sometimes offer rebates. The 30% federal credit ended for homeowner systems installed after December 31, 2025.
How many solar panels does a Pennsylvania home need?
About 20 panels of 420 watts for the state-average 817 kWh a month. Sunnier cities need fewer: Philadelphia gets 1,306 kWh per kW a year, Pittsburgh 1,176.