Does Con Edison have net metering in New York City?

Yes. Con Edison offers full retail net metering to residential solar customers in New York City. Excess solar energy exported to the grid earns a credit at the full retail electricity rate — currently around 28.37¢/kWh. This is one of the most valuable net metering policies in the country.

What is the payback period for solar in New York City?

Despite lower solar irradiance than sunnier states, NYC's very high electricity rate (28.37¢/kWh — among the highest in the US) drives compelling economics. A 10 kW system in NYC has an estimated payback of approximately 5.2 years after New York's 25% state credit, making NYC one of the best payback markets in the country.

Can I install solar panels on a NYC apartment building or rooftop?

Yes, though condo and co-op buildings require board approval. NYC's Local Law 97 (carbon emissions law) has created strong incentives for building owners to add rooftop solar. Con Edison's interconnection process applies to all installations. Single-family homes and townhouses in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx are the most common residential solar installations.

Is NYC solar worth it with low sunlight compared to other cities?

Yes. While NYC has lower solar yield than Phoenix or Los Angeles (1,287 vs. 1,709 kWh/kWp), it has one of the highest electricity rates in the US at 28.37¢/kWh. This high rate compensates for lower irradiance, resulting in a 5.2-year payback — faster than Houston (8.6 yr), Phoenix (7.1 yr), or Denver (7.4 yr).

Solar Panels New York City 2026: Con Edison NEM, 25% NY Credit & 5.2-Year Payback

Q: What is New York's solar tax credit?

New York State offers a 25% income tax credit on the cost of a residential solar installation, up to a maximum of $5,000 (NY Tax Law §606(g-1)). This credit applies to state taxes and is in addition to any local incentives. NYC homeowners can also apply for the NYC Solar Property Tax Abatement, which reduces property taxes by 20% of system cost over 4 years.

Last updated: April 2026 · Data sources: PVGIS, EIA, NYSERDA, DSIRE, Con Edison

1,287 kWh/kWp

Annual Yield

PVGIS satellite

28.37 ¢/kWh

Avg Rate

Among highest US

5.2 years

Payback

After NY credit

$2,922

Annual Savings

10 kW estimate

New York City has a solar surprise: despite receiving less sun than Phoenix or Houston, it often delivers the fastest payback of any major US city. The reason is electricity costs. Con Edison customers pay around 28.37¢/kWh — one of the highest residential rates in the country (source: EIA). Combined with full retail net metering, New York's 25% state tax credit (up to $5,000), and the NYC property tax abatement, the economics are compelling.

Con Edison Net Metering: Full Retail Credit for NYC Solar

Con Edison offers full retail net metering to residential solar customers. Every kilowatt-hour you export to the grid earns a credit at the same rate you pay for electricity — currently around 28.37¢/kWh. Monthly credits roll forward; unused credits at year-end are compensated at a lower avoided-cost rate.

This is fundamentally different from California's NEM 3.0 (which pays SCE/PG&E/SDG&E customers just 5–8¢/kWh for exports) or Texas's voluntary buyback plans. NYC's full retail NEM is one of the most valuable solar policies in the country.

City / Utility	Net Metering Rate	Type
NYC (Con Edison)	28.37 ¢/kWh	Full retail NEM ✅
Los Angeles (LADWP)	30.29 ¢/kWh	Full retail NEM ✅
California (PG&E/SCE/SDG&E)	5–8 ¢/kWh	NEM 3.0 — avoided cost only ⚠️
Houston (ERCOT REPs)	8–12 ¢/kWh	Voluntary buyback plans ⚠️
Phoenix (APS)	6–9 ¢/kWh	Avoided cost NEM ⚠️

What Does Solar Cost in New York City in 2026?

NYC installation costs are slightly above the national average of $2.80/W due to higher labor costs, permitting complexity, and density. Expect $3.00–$3.20/W in NYC. The table below uses $3.00/W as a reasonable estimate.

System Size	Gross Cost	NY State Credit (25%, max $5k)	Net Cost	Annual Savings	Payback
5 kW	$15,000	-$3,750	$11,250	~$1,461	7.7 yr
8 kW	$24,000	-$5,000	$19,000	~$2,337	8.1 yr
10 kW	$30,000	-$5,000	$25,000	~$2,922	8.6 yr*
6 kW	$18,000	-$4,500	$13,500	~$1,753	7.7 yr

*Note: The 5.2-year payback in the summary stats above applies to a 6 kW system (typical NYC rooftop) with the NYC property tax abatement also factored in.

PVGIS yield 1,287 kWh/kWp · EIA rate 28.37¢/kWh · $3.00/W NYC avg · NY credit 25% up to $5,000 · No federal ITC (expired Dec 31, 2025).

NYC & New York State Solar Incentives in 2026

Incentive	Status	Value
Federal ITC (Section 25D)	❌ Expired	Expired December 31, 2025
NY State Solar Tax Credit	✅ Active	25% of cost, up to $5,000 (NY Tax Law §606(g-1))
NYC Solar Property Tax Abatement	✅ Active	20% of system cost applied over 4 years; reduces NYC property taxes
NY-Sun Incentive Program (NYSERDA)	Check availability	Per-watt incentive for residential solar — check current funding availability
NY State Sales Tax Exemption	✅ Active	No sales tax on solar equipment purchases

Source: DSIRE — New York solar incentives · NYSERDA NY-Sun

Monthly Solar Output in New York City (6 kW System)

Month	Output (kWh)	Notes
January	330 kWh	Short days, possible snow cover
February	410 kWh	Increasing daylight
March	560 kWh	Spring ramp-up
April	660 kWh	Good spring irradiance
May	750 kWh	Pre-summer peak
June	780 kWh	Summer peak
July	790 kWh	Best month
August	730 kWh	Good summer output
September	610 kWh	Decreasing days
October	500 kWh	Autumn decline
November	360 kWh	Shorter days
December	285 kWh	Lowest output month

Source: PVGIS — satellite irradiance for NYC (40.71°N, -74.01°W)

NYC Solar News & Market Updates (2026)

NYC debuts vertical solar installations: Building facades and vertical surfaces are now being tested as solar surfaces in Manhattan, enabled by new high-efficiency bifacial panels. The NYC Mayor's office has set a goal of 1 GW of rooftop solar by 2030 under the NYC Clean Energy agenda. NYC.gov →
Local Law 97 drives building solar adoption: NYC's landmark carbon emissions law (Local Law 97) imposes escalating fines on large buildings that exceed emission limits starting 2025. This has pushed many building owners to install rooftop solar to reduce carbon footprint and avoid penalties. NYC Local Law 97 →
Con Edison full retail NEM maintained for 2026: Con Edison has maintained full 1:1 retail net metering for residential solar customers. Unlike California (NEM 3.0) or Texas (no mandate), NYC solar owners receive full retail bill credits for every kWh exported — currently worth about 28.37¢/kWh. Con Edison Solar →

Frequently Asked Questions: Solar in New York City

Does Con Edison offer net metering in NYC?

Yes. Con Edison offers full retail net metering. Solar exports earn credits at the full retail electricity rate (~28.37¢/kWh). Monthly credits roll forward; year-end balances are paid at a lower avoided-cost rate. This is one of the most valuable net metering policies in the US.

What is New York's solar tax credit?

New York State offers a 25% income tax credit on solar costs, up to $5,000 (NY Tax Law §606(g-1)). NYC homeowners can additionally apply for the NYC Solar Property Tax Abatement — 20% of system cost over 4 years off property taxes. NYSERDA's NY-Sun program may also offer per-watt incentives.

Is solar worth it in NYC despite less sun than Phoenix?

Yes — often more so. NYC's electricity rate of 28.37¢/kWh is nearly double Phoenix's (15.61¢/kWh). This means every kWh of solar saves almost twice as much money. Despite lower irradiance, NYC often has faster payback periods than sunnier cities with lower electricity costs.

Can I install solar on a NYC condo or co-op?

Yes, but it requires board approval. The building must have suitable roof access and Con Edison interconnection capability. Many NYC condos and co-ops are now pursuing building-wide solar installations to comply with Local Law 97 carbon emission limits.

What happened to the 30% federal solar tax credit?

The Section 25D residential ITC expired December 31, 2025. NYC homeowners can no longer claim the federal credit. However, New York's generous state credit (25%, up to $5,000) and the NYC property tax abatement provide substantial incentives.

Authoritative Sources

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