Choosing the right solar installer in New York can feel overwhelming. There are so many questions to answer before making the decision you can spend hours researching. That’s why we’ve simplified it for you.
Our guide highlights New York’s top-rated solar companies, combining Solar Power Systems expert insights with feedback from locals who’ve made the switch.
No need to surf the web looking for information crumbs to have the big picture. Years in business, reviews from real customers, online reputation, panel brands, warranty, social media overview, and more – we have it all. The hard work is done to help you make the right decision.
We prioritize companies committed to long-term service and reliability. Here’s our list of New York’s most trusted solar installers:
PlugPV review 875 Broadway, Albany NY, 12207
Kasselman Solar review 279 Broadway Building 2 Menands, NY 12204
Our Expert Choice badge goes to Kasselman Solar, which concentrates on serving fewer than 1 state. With a foundation dating read more…
Kasselman Solar review 279 Broadway, Menands NY, 12204
Our Expert Choice badge goes to Kasselman Solar, which concentrates on serving fewer than 1 state. With a foundation dating read more…
AEC Solar review 210 Washington Ave Ext, Albany, NY 12203, United States
AEC Solar is rewarded with our Expert Choice badge, serving an exclusive area of fewer than 1 state. With a read more…
High Peaks Solar, LLC review 180 Main Avenue, Wynantskill, NY 12198, New York City, New York, United States
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, High Peaks read more…
PlugPV review 630 7th Ave Troy, NY 12182
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, PlugPV is read more…
Albany Solar Solutions review 15 Farrell Rd, Troy NY, 12180
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Albany Solar read more…
New England Solar + Green review 65 North St, Williamstown, MA 01267, United States
New England Solar + Green is rewarded with our Expert Choice badge, serving an exclusive area of fewer than 1 read more…
Power Guru review 160 Benmont Ave, Bennington, VT 05201
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Power Guru read more…
Apex Solar Power review 64 Main Street Queensbury, NY 12804
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Apex Energy read more…
SunCommon review 1155 Flatbush Rd, Kingston NY, 12401
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, SunCommon is read more…
Valley Solar review 116 Pleasant St Suite 321, Easthampton, MA 01027, United States
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Valley Solar read more…
Insight Solar review 59C North St., Hatfield MA, 01038
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Insight Solar read more…
SunBug Solar review 66 Westfield Industrial Park Rd, Westfield MA, 01085
Our Expert Choice badge goes to Sunbug Solar, which concentrates on serving fewer than 1 state. With a foundation dating read more…
Earthlight Technologies review 25 Main Street #338A, Northampton MA, 01060
Our Expert Choice badge goes to Earthlight, which concentrates on serving fewer than 3 states. With a foundation dating back read more…
All Energy Solar review 66-D Mainline Dr, Westfield MA, 01085
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, All Energy read more…
All Energy Solar review 66-D Main Line Drive, Westfield MA, 01085
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, All Energy read more…
Kasselman Solar review 3 Neptune Rd, Poughkeepsie NY, 12601
Our Expert Choice badge goes to Kasselman Solar, which concentrates on serving fewer than 1 state. With a foundation dating read more…
New York State Solar Farm review 1938 Route 44 55, Modena, NY 12548
Our Expert Choice badge goes to New York State Solar Farm, which concentrates on serving fewer than 1 state. With read more…
PlugPV review 1075 NY-82, Hopewell Junction NY, 12533
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, PlugPV is read more…
Cost of Solar Panels in New York
In 2025, the cost of solar panels for a home solar panel system will range between $15,000 and $30,000 before including any subsidies. The size of your system and the equipment you pick will primarily determine that range. Most folks end up with something in the 6–10 kW range.
Here’s what solar panel prices look like across different system sizes in New York:
| System Size | Cost Before Incentives | Cost Per Watt | Cost After Federal ITC (30%) | Cost After Federal + State Incentives* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | $16,500 – $18,500 | $3.30 – $3.70 | $11,550 – $12,950 | $8,050 – $9,450 |
| 6 kW | $19,800 – $22,200 | $3.30 – $3.70 | $13,860 – $15,540 | $9,660 – $11,040 |
| 8 kW | $26,400 – $29,600 | $3.30 – $3.70 | $18,480 – $20,720 | $12,880 – $14,720 |
| 10 kW | $33,000 – $37,000 | $3.30 – $3.70 | $23,100 – $25,900 | $16,100 – $18,900 |
| Pricing Disclaimer: The solar panel prices shown are estimates based on data collected from online sources as of October 2025. Actual costs may vary based on your location, system specifications, and installer. | ||||
How much do solar panels cost for a regular house in New York? For an 8 kW system (quite common for ordinary energy consumption), you could expect to spend between $26,400 and $29,600 up front. This includes the equipment, labor, permits, and grid connection. Your real out-of-pocket cost to install solar panels goes down to around $12,880–$14,720 when you factor in federal and state subsidies.
Solar panel prices do vary depending on where you are in the state. NYC and Long Island installations tend to run higher because of labor costs and more complex permitting. Upstate installations typically have more competitive pricing.
New York Solar Incentives and Rebates
New York offers some of the best solar incentives in the country, which seriously cut down on that upfront solar panel cost.
Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
It offers a 30% credit for all—equipment, installation, and associated expenditures. The credit, however, ends with the expiry date, December 31, 2025, and then the federal residential solar tax credit will not be accessible. Time is running out to avail this huge impetus.
New York State Solar Tax Credit
The state gives an additional 25% credit to the federal credit, to a maximum of $5,000. You can claim this if purchased or leased, although lease packages might determine how the credit is taken.
NY-Sun Initiative
Residential solar panels are incentivized through the NY-Sun program of NYSERDA on a first-come, first-served schedule. The incentives range based on where you are and what is available—for instance, Upstate is offering $0.15 per watt now, and some areas like Con Edison already utilized all the residential incentives. The current availability for your particular region can be checked.
Affordable Solar Program
If your household income is at or below 80% of the city median, then there are additional incentives that can make solar even more economical.
Net Metering
Additional power your panels generate is fed back onto the grid, and the power company buys it, reducing your monthly bill (or eliminating it).
Property Tax Exemption
The value of your property increases with solar, but your property taxes do not. That’s written into New York law.
When you combine these solar incentives, you can reduce your total upfront system cost by 50–60%. That kind of reduction really changes the math on return on investment.
Electricity Costs in New York
New York’s electricity rates are notoriously high—consistently ranking among the most expensive in the nation. Currently, most New York residents pay around 23 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
If you’re in New York City, rates are even steeper at around 31 cents per kWh. Compare that to the national average of about 17 cents, and you can see why so many New Yorkers are interested in alternatives.
The typical household here uses 600–800 kWh monthly, which translates to electric bills in the $140–$200 range or higher. Those rates keep climbing—infrastructure costs and regulatory factors push them up year after year.
That’s exactly why solar panels in New York make so much financial sense. When you’re paying premium rates for electricity, the savings from solar stack up fast, and you recoup your investment much quicker than you would in states with cheaper power.
Specific Considerations for New York Solar
Solar Irradiance and Climate
New York’s weather does support solar effectively. The state gets 3.5–4.5 peak sun hours daily depending on location. While it’s not Arizona, it’s more than enough for solid electricity production. Modern panels work surprisingly well even on cloudy days. Solar panels actually perform better in cooler temperatures, which plays to New York’s advantage.
Permitting and Interconnection
New York has made real progress here. Most municipalities now follow standardized procedures, though you’ll still see some variation from place to place. NYSERDA publishes a comprehensive Solar Guidebook that walks you through the process. Getting connected to the grid and setting up net metering is pretty straightforward in most areas. New York City is the exception—the Department of Buildings has its own set of requirements that are more involved than elsewhere in the state.
Regional Variations
Where you live in New York matters. Upstate installations tend to be simpler and cheaper. The metro areas—especially NYC and Long Island— have more hoops to jump through, but the tradeoff is those higher electricity rates that make the economics work even better. The key is working with installers who know your local area inside and out.
Timeline Expectations
Installation Timeframe
The whole process, from your first consult all the way through to your system activation, takes anywhere from 2 to 4 months, although this is subject to change. Here is how it adjusts roughly:
- Initial meeting and site visit: about a week to ten days
- Design and proposal preparation: another week or two
- Permitting: usually 2–6 weeks, depending on location
- Installation: 1–3 days
- Utility interconnection and inspection: 2–4 weeks
Permit Processing
Standard residential installations usually get approved within 2–6 weeks. Simple projects with efficient procedures at the municipality level might go through within 2–3 weeks. Difficult cases—historic districts, multi-unit residential, or properties located within the City of New York—could require 6–8 weeks or longer due to additional requirements.
Factors Influencing Timeline
Several factors can expedite or defer your timeline. Local permitting offices get backed up at different times. Spring and summer are busy seasons with more demand. System complexity matters. Some utility interconnection processes move faster than others. Installers with solid contacts at permitting authorities and utilities can usually complete things faster. A good provider should offer you a realistic timeframe upfront and keep you updated as things progress.
Are Solar Panels Worth It in New York?
For the vast majority of homeowners, solar is a smart investment in New York. You’ve got the combination of high electricity rates, generous incentives, and decent sunshine that makes New York one of the strongest solar markets in the country.
Financial Benefits
How much does it cost to install solar panels, and when will you see returns? Most New York homeowners hit their break-even point somewhere between 6–12 years, with 9 years being typical. After that, you’re generating free electricity for another 15–20+ years, since most systems last 25–30 years total. Over the full lifespan, you’re looking at $20,000–$50,000 in savings, sometimes more depending on your system size, electricity rates, and energy usage.
Energy Independence
Electricity rates in New York have historically gone up 2–4% every year. Once you’ve got solar, you’re insulated from those increases. You’re producing your own power and relying less on the grid.
Environmental Impact
A typical residential solar system in New York offsets about 3–5 tons of CO₂ annually. That’s equivalent to planting 100–150 trees every year. With New York’s aggressive renewable energy targets, your installation contributes directly to those climate goals.
Home Value
The cost of solar panel installation is offset by increased home value. Solar adds $15,000–$20,000 to your home’s value on average. Buyers will pay more for homes with solar already installed. And remember that property tax exemption—you get that increased value without the increased tax bill.
Best Candidates
Residential solar panels are an excellent option if you:
- Use a lot of power
- Have a south-facing roof with minimal shade
- Expect to remain in your house for at least five years
- Have sufficient roof space for your system
Even if you don’t check every box, the economics in New York are strong enough that solar still makes sense for most homeowners.
Time Sensitivity
The federal solar tax credit terminates at the end of 2025. Acting sooner rather than later could save you a lot on your installation costs.
Solar is appealing to most New Yorkers because it saves money, helps the environment, makes electricity more secure, and raises property values. With current incentive levels and how far the technology has come, this is an excellent time to make the switch—especially before the federal tax credit expires.
How Much Can Solar Panels Save Me in New York?
Finding out how much you can save on solar in New York is not a straightforward answer. It depends on several factors, including the solar billing of your utility company, the size of a potential solar system on your roof, and your household’s energy consumption. While most solar installers will try to cover all your electricity needs, the actual savings will depend on your home’s unique conditions. To get a personal estimate of how much you could potentially save by going solar, fill out a simple form on our website, use Google’s Project Sunroof solar savings calculator, or consult with a couple of local solar installation companies for a personalized savings calculation.
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Solar Financing Explained
You can pay for solar panels in a couple of ways:
- Cash
- Installer solar loans
- Personal loans
- Cash-out refinance or HELOC
- Solar Leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)
First, there is a cash purchase, which in most cases provides the best price and long-term savings, but the upfront payment is not always what you can afford. If you want to own your solar panels and don’t have about $15,000 to $20,000 in the bank, you’ll have to choose solar panel financing.
You can consider a personal loan, a home equity line of credit, or a solar loan offered by the solar company. However, keep in mind that these loans come with interest and additional fees. Solar loans often are tied to dealer fees, which can increase the total cost of your solar system by 20% or more in exchange for a lower interest rate. To ensure you get the best possible deal, it is wise to compare the dealer fees and interest rates offered by different installers. This way, you can make an informed decision based on the most favorable terms available.
Some companies offer solar leases or PPAs that require zero upfront cost. But in such case, you don’t own solar panels and you are not eligible for any solar rebates or the federal tax credit. And, because you have to pay the solar company monthly, your total solar savings will be lower. Ask for detailed savings calculations from a solar installer to decide on the best option. In most cases, you will still be paying less for electricity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How We Rank Solar Installers
Our main goal is to provide homeowners like you with top-rated solar companies you can trust. Our solar experts analyzed thousands of local and nationwide installers to get to the bottom of who is best in a specific location. The solar company ranking methodology is based on gathering input from homeowner surveys, consulting with industry experts, and extensive research into the solar energy market. Here are the things we believe are the most important to consider when choosing a solar company.
In short, here’s how we pick top installers:
– Company that has been in business for over five years as it indicates stability, reliability, and successful installations.
– Local solar companies over big national ones covering multiple areas as they can provide better personal attention and know more about the solar needs and regulations in their area.
– Companies with hands-on experience and a wealth of projects under their belt are more likely to deliver efficient and timely installations that cater to specific customer needs.
– Companies that handle their own installations instead of outsourcing to subcontractors ensure a higher caliber of work and nurture a culture of excellence and accountability in service.
– Select a company that has a good overall reputation and reviews on sites like SolarReviews, BBB, Google Maps, and Yelp.
– The company is licensed and insured and holds relevant certifications such as NABCEP certification.
– Companies that offer a wide selection of high-quality solar panels and related products and work with reputable brands.
– Companies that provide flexible financing options such as solar loans, leases, or power purchase agreements.
– Installers that provide substantial workmanship warranties and system performance guarantees.
Read more:
Our Methodology
What Made Us Choose Sources for Expert Score?
How We Classify Solar Installers: What Matters Most?
What to Look for In a Solar Company
To ensure that you partner with a great provider that can meet your needs of going solar, look for the following:
– Make sure the solar installer has industry-standard certifications, such as those from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), indicating that they meet the gold standard in renewable energy installations. Also, verify if they are licensed, bonded, and insured for residential solar projects in your area. If subcontractors are involved, check their credentials as well.
– Prioritize installers with a proven track record in solar installations, ideally with at least 5+ years of experience. Ask about the number of systems they’ve installed and their project portfolio. A competent installer should openly discuss the solar panels, inverters, and batteries they use if they help to take advantage of local solar incentives and rebates, as well as warranty coverage specifics.
– Your installer should be forthcoming about the installation process and answer any questions you might have, like “How many solar panels will I need? Why?”, “Can you give me a detailed cost breakdown based on my energy consumption?”, “What solar panel brands do you install? Why?”, etc. They should also be transparent about their use of subcontractors, detailing their roles and how their work will be supervised.
– A preliminary evaluation of your roof’s condition is the groundwork. The installer should advise on necessary repairs to ensure it’s ready for solar panel installation and clarify responsibilities for any potential roof damage during the process. Discuss aesthetic concerns, such as the placement of solar panels around roof vents or the possibility of relocating vents for a more visually appealing setup.
– Check the installer’s reputation through online reviews and testimonials. They should be able to connect you with past customers who are willing to share their experiences. Personal recommendations from friends or neighbors who’ve gone solar can also be invaluable.
– Solar installation costs can vary widely, so obtaining multiple quotes is advisable. Experienced installers will adjust their offers to your home’s specifics—size, energy needs, etc. For an objective cost comparison, calculate the price per watt of the proposed system, giving you a standardized basis to evaluate different quotes.
Should You Choose a Local Solar Installer or a Big National Company?
Always choose a local solar company over a big national corporation. Small local companies that operate in a distinct local area are better than multi-state and national solar companies and large corporations. It’s the small local companies who get the best reviews on our website, and it’s the national multistate companies who get very poor reviews. Why so, you may ask?
Solar is a local service business, for the most part, and it is extremely difficult to run a solar company and offer good customer service to many locations from a central office.
Local ones have a community connection, they know the incentives and regulations in the area better, and they simply care more about you than large businesses trying to get into your pocket and overprice you. While multi-state solar companies might try to convince you by financial stability and “quality of installations across different locations”, try to choose a local company that meets all your criteria.
What Does a Solar Installation Look Like?
Here’s how a solar system installation will look like once the design for your solar system is approved:
– First, a solar installer should estimate your energy needs, and analyze your annual and monthly electricity consumption, which you can find on utility bills measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Such calculations will help to understand potential savings, payback period, and the system size you need.
– A home energy audit is something every experienced solar company would do to understand the size and output needed.
– Next question on the list: are your house’s roof conditions good enough for installation? A solar installer should carefully inspect the roof and ensure its conditions and orientation are good to go, how and where to better place solar panels and wire the system.
– Next, they will design the system and show you how it’s going to look.
You will usually need a permit to install solar panels from your local authorities, and the solar provider should handle all the paperwork.
– The entire process might take up to 3 months depending on the state and local regulations, while the system installation is usually up to 3 days (might take longer depending on roof conditions and system complexity).
– The installation crew should always clean up and remove any debris, leaving your house in good condition.
– When the system is installed, it should be checked and approved by local municipality inspection.
– If you’re connecting your system to the grid, it has to be wired to your local utility system. You’ll apply for connection through your utility company, which will also want to inspect your system to ensure it’s following utility guidelines. Some installers may help you with this step, so always ask. Once you have all the permits, your system will be up and running, powering your home with solar.
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