Nonprofit Solar United Neighbors, which helps organize solar cooperatives, evaluates quotes by installers and advocates for increased solar accessibility, estimates the payback time to be shorter: between eight and 11 years, according to Virginia program associate Ben Hoyne. A solar array typically lasts about 25 years. For a 9 kilowatt system, the average cost is about $26,100 before federal tax breaks.ĮnergySage estimates the average solar system in Virginia pays for itself in about 12 years by lowering or eliminating a household’s power bill and saves customers about $21,000 over 20 years compared with simply buying energy from a traditional electric utility. The most common systems are between 8 to 10 kilowatts, but it depends on the size of the roof. The solar marketplace EnergySage estimates the average price for residential solar in Virginia to fall between $12,325 and $16,675 for a 5 kilowatt system, which is on the smaller end of a system size.

With a price tag similar to that of a used car, Virginia homeowners looking to make a financial investment in solar panels are confronted with navigating a tangle of tax exemptions, credits, rights and utility company programs.

Scammy internet ads and dubious “qualification” surveys about solar installation in Virginia abound online, but it is difficult to find clear, accurate information on what the state and federal government are doing to encourage cleaner energy consumption.

How to get credits in critical ops