What’s the Cost of Solar in Pennsylvania?

Cost of Grid Power

Pennsylvania electricity prices average $0.14/kWh, on par with the national average of $0.14/kWh.

Only four percent of Pennsylvania's electricity generation came from renewable sources in 2019. Of that roughly two fifths came from hydropower and one third from wind power. Of the 6% of renewable energy from solar, over eighty percent came from small-scale, "rooftop solar."

Cost of a Solar Install

The average cost of a 6kW (equivalent to saving over 100 trees a year) solar power system starts around $11,000 in Pennsylvania. That system would pay for itself through energy savings with 10-13 years. System life can span well over 25 years, and savings will improve with inflation.

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What Incentives are Available in Pennsylvania?

Data from DSIRE. For more info visit: https://www.dsireusa.org/

Name	Implementing Sector	Program Type	Administrator	DSIRE ID
Fuel Mix Disclosure	State	Generation Disclosure		68
Renewable Portfolio Standard	State	Renewables Portfolio Standard		191
Property Tax Assessment for Commercial Wind Farms	State	Property Tax Incentive	Administered at county level	2369
Philadelphia Gas Works - Residential and Commercial Construction Incentives Program	Utility	Rebate Program	Philadelphia Gas Works	5354
PECO Energy (Gas)- Commercial Heating Efficiency Rebate Program	Utility	Rebate Program		5851
Solar Energy Loan Program	State	Loan Program	Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)	5945
PECO Energy - Ways to Save For Your Business	Utility	Energy Analysis	PECO Energy	14112
PPL Energy Services - Energy Savings Solutions	Other	Energy Analysis	PPL Energy Services	16507
PPL Electric Utilities - Industrial & Manufacturing Rebates	Utility	Energy Analysis	PPL Electric Utilities	17665
UGI Penn Natural Gas - Energy Advisor	Other	Energy Analysis	UGI Penn Natural Gas	17798
Met-Ed - Energy Analyzer- Pennsylvania	Other	Energy Analysis	Met-Ed	19778
Duquesne Light Company - Online Energy Audits	Other	Energy Analysis	Duquesne Light Company	19896
UGI Utilities - Business Resources	Other	Energy Analysis	UGI Utilities	20269
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development - Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program	Other	Energy Analysis	Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development	20960
PPL Electric Utilities - All Rebates	Utility	Energy Analysis	PPL Electric Utilities	20999
Delmarva Power and FirstEnergy Efficiency Solutions - Power Management Platform	Other	Energy Analysis	Delmarva Power and FirstEnergy Efficiency Solutions	21719
U.S. Department of Energy - Industrial Assessment Center (IAC): University of Delaware	Federal	Energy Analysis	U.S. Department of Energy	21749
First Energy - Business Energy Analyzer נOhio	Other	Energy Analysis		21758
First Energy - Business Energy Analyzer	Other	Energy Analysis	First Energy	21760
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - Comprehensive Statewide Pro-Active Industrial Energy Efficiency (E2) Program	Utility	Other	Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection	21988
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - Office of Pollution Prevention & Energy Assistance	State	Other	Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection	21989
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships - EM&V Forum	Non-Profit	Training and Information	Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships	22026
City of Philadelphia - Solar Rebate Program	Local	Rebate Program	City of Philadelphia	22110

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Resources

• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
• Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PAPUC)
• Pennsylvania Sustainable Development Fund
• U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA): Pennsylvania