New York Solar Calculator 2026

Why New York Is One of the Best States for Solar (Despite the Clouds)

If you live in New York, you've probably wondered: "Do I even get enough sun for solar to make sense?" The answer might surprise you. Despite what your instincts tell you about New York winters, the Empire State actually gets average 4.0-4.5 peak sun hours per day annually – comparable to states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and even parts of Nevada.

But here's the real reason New York is a solar powerhouse: policy. Between the NY-Sun block grant, strong net metering laws, and the federal tax credit (30%), New York homeowners can often recoup their solar investment in 5-7 years – one of the shortest payback periods in the country.

Understanding the NY-Sun Block Grant (2026 Update)

The NY-Sun Iniciative is New York's flagship solar incentive program, administered by NYSERDA. Unlike tax credits (which you claim on your tax return), NY-Sun provides an upfront rebate that reduces your installer's quoted price immediately.

Here's how the "block" system works: NYSERDA divides each utility territory into "blocks" with decreasing incentive levels. When one block fills up (first-come, first-served), the next block with a lower incentive opens. In 2026, here's what you can expect:

Block	Incentive Rate	For a 6 kW System	Availability
Block 1	$0.20/W	$1,200	January – March (typically)
Block 2	$0.15/W	$900	April – August (typically)
Block 3	$0.10/W	$600	September – December (if funds remain)

Pro Tip: If you're planning a 2026 installation, sign your contract in Q4 2025 or Q1 2026 to secure Block 1 pricing. Once Block 1 fills up (which can happen as early as February in downstate territories), you'll lose $300-400 in incentives.

New York Utilities: How Your Electric Rate Affects Solar Savings

Not all New York utilities are created equal when it comes to solar savings. Here's the breakdown:

1. Con Edison (NYC & Westchester)

Con Edison ("Con Ed") serves New York City and Westchester County. Electricty rates here are the highest in the state – averaging $0.24/kWh for residential customers. That's good news for solar: the more you pay for electricity, the more you save by generating your own.

Con Ed also offers a Time-of-Use (TOU) rate called "Clean Heat" for customers with heat pumps or solar+storage. Under this rate, you pay $0.28/kWh from 2-6pm (peak) but only $0.12/kWh at night. If you have solar, you can time your usage to maximize savings.

2. PSEG Long Island

Long Island residents served by PSEG-LI pay slightly less than Con Ed customers ($0.23/kWh), but the utility has been more aggressive about introducing "value of solar" studys that could reduce net metering rates in the future. If you're on Long Island, install sooner rather than later to lock in current net metering polic.

3. Upstate Utilities (National Grid, NYSEG, RG&E)

Upstate New York has lower electricty rates ($0.17-0.19/kWh), which means solar savings are smaller in absolute terms. However, upstate also has lower installation costs (labor is cheaper, permitting is simpler), so the payback period is still reasonable at 7-9 years.

Net Metering in New York: What You Need to Know

New York has some of the strongest net metering (NEM) laws in the country. Under current policy (as of 2026), utilities must credit your solar exports at the full retail rate – meaning if you export 10 kWh during the day, you get 10 kWh of credit to use at night.

However, there's a looming threat: the Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) proceeding at the Public Service Commission (PSC). VDER aims to replace net metering with a "value stack" that pays solar exports based on their environmental and grid benefits – which, in practice, usually means lower payments than retail rates.

Our recommendation: If you're on the fence about solar in New York, install in 2026. You'll likely be grandfathered into current net metering for 20 years, protecting you from future VDER reductions.

Additional New York Solar Incentives (Beyond NY-Sun)

In addition to NY-Sun and the federal tax credit, New York offers several other incentives that can further reduce your costs:

1. NYSERDA Low-Income Rebate – If your household income is below 80% of the area median income (AMI), you may qualify for an additional $1,500-3,000 rebate on top of NY-Sun. Check eligibility at nyserda.ny.gov.
2. Property Tax Exemption – Under New York State Real Property Tax Law § 487, solar installations are exempt from property tax assessments for 15 years. This can save you $500-1,500/year in property taxes, depending on your home value and local tax rate.
3. Sales Tax Exemption – Solar panel systems are exempt from New York State sales tax (4%) and local sales taxes (up to 4.875%). On a $17,000 system, that's $680-1,400 in savings.
4. Con Edison Battery Incentive – If you're a Con Ed customer and add a battery, the utility offers an additional $250/kWh rebate (on top of NY-Sun and the federal tax credit). For a 10 kWh battery, that's $2,500 back.

Common Mistakes New York Homeowners Make with Solar

Having helped many New Yorkers go solar, here are the top mistakes I see:

1. Waiting too long in the year. NY-Sun blocks fill up fast. If you wait until April to sign, you might miss Block 1 and lose $300-400.
2. Not considering roof age. New York gets snow and ice. If your roof is 15+ years old, replace it before (or with) solar. Removing and reinstalling panels for a roof replacement costs $2,500-3,500 in New York (higher than national average due to labor costs).
3. Leasing instead of buying. With New York's strong incentives, buying with a solar loan (4-6% interest) almost always beats leasing. Leases in New York typically promise "$0 down, $90/month," but over 20 years, you'll pay $21,600 and get zero incentives. Buying gets you the tax credits and incentives.
4. Ignoring Con Ed's "pil" charges. Con Edison has a unique "Power Line Charge" (pil) that's based on your peak demand. Solar can reduce your pil charges, but only if you size your system correctly. Ask your installer to model this.

Frequently Asked Questions About New York Solar