Home · 2026
What home solar costs and saves in District of Columbia this year — built on the state's real 24.41¢/kWh rate and full retail rules.
Avg electricity rate
24.41¢/kWh
Net metering
Full retail
Federal status
25D ended (2025)
Verified 2026-06-26 · source
In District of Columbia, the average residential electricity rate is about 24.41¢/kWh — above the U.S. average of roughly 17.6¢. Because a solar system's payback is driven mostly by the utility rate it offsets, District of Columbia's high rates make home solar a strong bet in 2026.
District of Columbia still offers full retail-rate net metering, so every kWh you export is credited at the same price you pay. That is the most favorable arrangement for solar economics and shortens payback.
The federal 30% residential tax credit (Section 25D) ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. In 2026, home-solar value comes from offsetting your utility bill, net metering, and battery backup — not a federal credit.
For a typical District of Columbia home spending about $150/month on electricity, our model estimates a 5.27 kW system costing roughly $15,810 after incentives, paying back in about 8.8 years, with on the order of $29,214 in 25-year savings. These are estimates built from District of Columbia's real electricity rate — get a quote to confirm your numbers.
With District of Columbia's net-metering rules, 2026 home solar is increasingly about energy independence — pairing panels with a battery to ride through outages and shift usage — not just shaving the monthly bill.
Estimates only — not tax, financial, or legal advice. Verify all incentives and savings with a qualified professional before acting.
No — the federal residential credit (Section 25D) ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. District of Columbia home solar now pays through your electricity rate (about 24.41¢/kWh), net metering, and battery backup rather than a federal credit.
District of Columbia uses full retail-rate net metering. That affects how the power you export is credited and, in turn, your payback — full retail-rate crediting is most favorable, while net billing makes pairing solar with a battery more attractive.
At about 24.41¢/kWh, District of Columbia's residential electricity rate strongly favors solar economics in 2026. Run your address through the calculator above for a source-backed estimate of system size, net cost, and payback.
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