Greatest Photo voltaic Panel Set up Corporations in Virginia

Solar energy would not present a lot of Virginia’s electrical energy — simply 4% in 2021 — however that determine is rising. Photo voltaic’s share of the state’s electrical energy technology doubled from 2020 to 2021.

However even when photo voltaic panels make up a small portion of the state’s total vitality combine, they will present 100% of your vitality wants.

Virginia would not supply many photo voltaic incentives on prime of the 30% federal tax credit score, however that does not imply photo voltaic cannot be value it. Photo voltaic panels generally is a sound funding for householders seeking to displace their fossil gasoline use and cut back their excessive electrical energy payments.

Electrical energy charges are on the rise across the nation. Rising electrical charges make photo voltaic panels extra enticing, although excessive mortgage rates of interest make buying a system with a mortgage much less so. For many individuals, even with excessive rates of interest, going photo voltaic can lock in long-term vitality financial savings, although every set up has a barely completely different calculation. 

Here is what you want to know in case you’re contemplating photo voltaic panels in Virginia.

Greatest nationwide photo voltaic panel corporations in Virginia

You need to interview photo voltaic corporations such as you would every other contractor. Get a number of quotes and ensure an organization clearly solutions all your questions earlier than signing a contract.

Native photo voltaic panel corporations in Virginia

Contemplate trying into a number of native photo voltaic installers throughout your search. We pulled a number of native photo voltaic installers with a few of the highest Google evaluate scores, nevertheless it’s nonetheless essential to do your individual analysis. If you recognize somebody who already has photo voltaic put in, ask them for a suggestion. Listed below are a number of native installers that is perhaps value contemplating in Virginia.

How one can decide which photo voltaic firm in Virginia is greatest for me

Since each home is a bit completely different, each photo voltaic set up might be completely different as effectively. What actually issues is discovering an installer with expertise working with the kind of roof you’ve gotten, and the kind of system you need put in. 

Ben Delman, a communications director with Photo voltaic United Neighbors, a clear vitality nonprofit, says householders ought to search for photo voltaic installers which are licensed by NABCEP and have the correct licensing for to do their work. To get a greater understanding of an organization’s popularity, learn up on on-line opinions from as many sources as you possibly can. Google and Yelp opinions are an excellent place to begin. Search for photo voltaic corporations with no less than 20 to 30 opinions. If you recognize somebody who already has photo voltaic on their roof, ask them for suggestions too. 

Benjamin Hoyne, the Virginia program director with Photo voltaic United Neighbors, recommends householders get no less than three photo voltaic estimates earlier than selecting an installer — and to be careful for aggressive gross sales techniques. 

“The excellent news is there’s by no means a rush to go photo voltaic. To not say you should not reap the benefits of going photo voltaic, however what I imply is, if some salesperson is being pushy and telling you that you want to signal a contract at the moment or a suggestion expires, that is not true,” Hoyne stated.

Be sure you perceive how the federal photo voltaic tax credit score works and that your installer explains it to you appropriately. The federal tax credit score is a tax credit score, not a refund. And never everybody could also be eligible; it is not assured to everybody. 

In accordance with Delman and Hoyne, an excellent photo voltaic installer ought to have the ability to: 

• Give good word-of-mouth references.
• Clearly clarify the challenge and dealing deadlines.
• Outline technical phrases in an easy-to-understand method.
• Precisely clarify how the federal photo voltaic tax credit score works.
• Be clear about pricing and the way financing works.
• Have data in regards to the native allow necessities and the method for system interconnection together with your native utility firm.
• Perceive householders affiliation restrictions and help you in navigating that course of.
• Reply any query, even the tough ones.

Do not hesitate to ask for clarification on any challenge and pricing particulars. Photo voltaic is an costly and complicated course of. Your installer ought to aid you really feel knowledgeable throughout each step of the journey. 

Learn extra: Simply on the lookout for an emergency backup? Try moveable photo voltaic panels and photo voltaic mills.

Common price of photo voltaic panels in Virginia

Here is a take a look at the typical money value for a 5-kilowatt system earlier than factoring in tax credit incentives, in keeping with information from FindEnergy.com. However your system would possibly change into costlier in case you select to put in a photo voltaic battery.

Virginia photo voltaic panel prices

System measurement (kW)	Value per watt	Complete price
5	$3.59	$17,960

Virginia photo voltaic panel incentives and rebates

Whereas the state of Virginia would not supply any state-level photo voltaic incentives, householders can nonetheless reap the benefits of web metering and the photo voltaic renewable vitality credit score market in Virginia. 

Web metering means that you can promote your extra photo voltaic vitality to the facility grid. 

“They’re credited at a one-to-one fee. Form of the identical fee they might be once they buy electrical energy from the grid on a wet day or within the night,” Hoyne stated.

Equally, you can even promote your extra photo voltaic vitality within the type of a photo voltaic renewable vitality credit score. Sure states require energy corporations to produce a certain quantity of their electrical energy from renewable sources. Energy corporations will purchase and commerce SRECs to fulfill these necessities.

“SRECs can be found in Virginia. You’ll be able to commerce your credit in the marketplace quarterly and even month-to-month,” Hoyne stated. “The worth won’t ever exceed $75 per SREC, so typically they commerce within the $50 to $60 vary per SREC.”

You’ll be able to take part in web metering and commerce SRECs on the similar time, however essentially the most notable photo voltaic incentive is the federal photo voltaic tax credit score. This 30% photo voltaic tax credit score applies to photo voltaic panel programs purchased from the start of 2022 by way of 2032.

Virginia photo voltaic incentives

Program	Description
Web metering	Power corporations give credit in alternate for extra vitality generated by your photo voltaic system. Examine together with your native utility for particular particulars.
SRECs	Householders can promote and commerce their extra photo voltaic vitality on the SREC market.
Property tax exemption	State regulation exempts householders from property taxes on photo voltaic panel programs or different photo voltaic tools (as much as 25 kW).
Residential clear vitality credit score	Often known as the federal photo voltaic tax credit score, this tax incentive permits householders to assert a 30% tax credit score for programs put in earlier than 2032.

How one can pay for photo voltaic panels in Virginia

A number of fee choices can be found for Virginians concerned with photo voltaic panels. Listed below are a few of the commonest methods to pay on your panels.

Money: Paying in money shouldn’t be solely interest-free but additionally means that you can reap the benefits of photo voltaic incentives. Should you pay in money, be prepared for substantial upfront prices. Should you’re interested by going photo voltaic sooner or later, take into account saving up with a high-yield financial savings account.

Photo voltaic mortgage: Your photo voltaic installer will most certainly give you a financing possibility referred to as a photo voltaic mortgage. Mortgage phrases and charges can range, so store round for low-interest charges and get a number of quotes earlier than signing on the dotted line. 

Different mortgage choices: You are not restricted to only financing choices out of your installer. Getting a private mortgage out of your financial institution or opening a house fairness line of credit score are different choices. Needless to say going the HELOC route might imply shedding your private home if you cannot pay again what you owe.

Photo voltaic leases and energy buy agreements: You do not personal the photo voltaic panels. As an alternative, you pay a charge to make use of the tools or purchase the facility they produce. These choices may help with upfront prices. Nevertheless, the phrases of those agreements — particularly any fee escalators — are essential to the return on funding. Folks with photo voltaic leases or PPAs usually save lower than those that personal the panels outright and usually aren’t eligible for tax rebates.

Group photo voltaic in Virginia

Shared photo voltaic, generally often known as group photo voltaic, permits householders to energy their houses with photo voltaic by shopping for electrical energy generated by third-party photo voltaic tools. And a few shared photo voltaic packages supply cheaper electrical energy than what you’ll usually pay at your utility’s retail fee. The state has launched its personal group photo voltaic program, referred to as the Shared Photo voltaic Program, to prospects served by the utility Dominion Power. 

However this explicit program additionally comes with a little bit of a downside for sure households — a minimal invoice requirement. Households subscribed to the Shared Photo voltaic Program might want to pay a minimal of $55.10 a month to take part. Nevertheless, low-income households are exempt from the minimal invoice requirement, making photo voltaic extra accessible to low-income households. 

“The typical minimal invoice for a non low-income home-owner or family goes to be about $55 per thirty days, which is the best shared photo voltaic minimal invoice within the nation,” Hoyne stated. 

This system is at the moment below a waitlist and capability is awarded on a first-come foundation.

“There at the moment aren’t any shared photo voltaic initiatives which are truly up and operating but,” Hoyne stated. “We have now heard that there is a handful of initiatives that must be coming on-line this fall.”

Set up elements to bear in mind

Are photo voltaic panels proper on your house? Contemplate the next 5 elements about photo voltaic set up earlier than making a ultimate choice.

Photo voltaic set up elements

Householders insurance coverage	Examine together with your insurance coverage firm to see in case your coverage covers a photo voltaic panel system.
Location	Photo voltaic panels work greatest in direct daylight. Obstructions like neighboring buildings or timber will hamper manufacturing.
Roof situation	Licensed installers ought to present roof upkeep suggestions previous to set up. Embrace potential roof repairs in your price range.
Personal or lease	Householders obtain extra advantages from tax credit and incentives. Renters concerned with photo voltaic can look into group photo voltaic packages.

How we discovered one of the best photo voltaic corporations 

Virginia photo voltaic FAQs