Solar panels in Virginia: cost, payback and the rules that matter
Virginia homes pay 16.8¢ per kWh for electricity, the 21st highest of 51, up 13.1% in a year. A typical home needs 22 panels. With no federal tax credit they pay for themselves in about 12.7 yrs.
Four facts that decide solar in Virginia
1. The sun. One kilowatt of panels makes about 1,395 kWh a year in the median Virginia city, from 1,313 in Harrisonburg to 1,399 in Hampton.
2. The price of electricity. Every kWh your panels make is worth what you would otherwise pay: 16.8¢ in Virginia today.
3. What your utility pays for exports. Most Virginia 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 Virginia.
Virginia's homes
3,365,732 households; 67.3% own their home. 2,079,996 owner-occupied single-family houses: the main market for rooftop solar. The median home was built in 1984; 57.5% heat with electricity.
ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau.
Plan a specific Virginia home
Solar in every Virginia city with 50,000+ people
| City | Sun hrs/day | kWh per kW | Best tilt | Typical kW | Payback (NM) | Payback (NB) | Solar ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 4.9 | 1,395 | 32° | 9.2 | 12.6 yrs | 20.7 yrs | 11.1 |
| Chesapeake | 4.9 | 1,398 | 33° | 9.2 | 12.6 yrs | 20.7 yrs | 11.1 |
| Arlington | 4.7 | 1,331 | 35° | 9.7 | 13.3 yrs | 21.7 yrs | 11.7 |
| Richmond | 4.9 | 1,348 | 35° | 9.7 | 13.1 yrs | 21.5 yrs | 11.6 |
| Norfolk | 4.9 | 1,398 | 33° | 9.2 | 12.6 yrs | 20.7 yrs | 11.1 |
| Newport News | 4.9 | 1,396 | 34° | 9.2 | 12.7 yrs | 20.7 yrs | 11.1 |
| Alexandria | 4.7 | 1,334 | 35° | 9.7 | 13.3 yrs | 21.6 yrs | 11.7 |
| Hampton | 4.9 | 1,399 | 33° | 9.2 | 12.6 yrs | 20.7 yrs | 11.1 |
| Suffolk | 5.0 | 1,398 | 34° | 9.2 | 12.7 yrs | 20.7 yrs | 11.1 |
| Roanoke | 4.8 | 1,337 | 35° | 9.7 | 13.2 yrs | 21.5 yrs | 11.6 |
| Portsmouth | 4.9 | 1,399 | 33° | 9.2 | 12.6 yrs | 20.7 yrs | 11.1 |
| Lynchburg | 4.9 | 1,351 | 35° | 9.7 | 13.1 yrs | 21.4 yrs | 11.5 |
| Harrisonburg | 4.7 | 1,313 | 36° | 9.7 | 13.5 yrs | 21.8 yrs | 11.9 |
NM = exports credited at retail (net metering); NB = exports at ~30% of retail (net billing). Systems sized to the Virginia average home. $3.00/W, cash, 25 years.
Rule changes that affect Virginia
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 Virginia
How much do solar panels cost in Virginia?
A 9.2 kW system, the size the average Virginia home needs, costs about $23,000 to $34,500 before incentives in 2026.
Is solar worth it in Virginia?
In the median Virginia city, solar pays for itself in about 12.7 yrs if exported power earns the retail rate, or 20.7 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 Virginia?
We know of no statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Virginia; 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 Virginia home need?
About 22 panels of 420 watts for the state-average 1,032 kWh a month. Sunnier cities need fewer: Hampton gets 1,399 kWh per kW a year, Harrisonburg 1,313.