Solar Incentives and Rebates in Rhode Island

Peak Sun Hours (PSH):		4.3-4.5
Cost of Grid Power:		$0.18/kWh
Number Of Installations:		7,406

What’s the Cost of Solar in Rhode Island?

Cost of Grid Power

Rhode Island's electricity prices average $0.18/kWh, well above the national average of $0.14/kWh. From 2017-2019 the state roughly tripled its solar power generation, accounting for about 3% of Rhode Island's net power generation. About three quarters of that came from small-scale PV installations.

Cost of a Solar Install

Cost of a typical 6kW PV install in Rhode Island from 2013-2018 — A graph of falling prices for a typical 6kW PV install in Rhode Island from 2013-2018.
Figures include design costs. Data from Berkeley Lab, courtesy of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.

The average cost of a 6kW (equivalent to saving more than 100 trees a year) solar power system starts around $18,000 in Rhode Island. That system would pay for itself through energy savings in less than two years. System life can span well over 25 years, and savings will improve with inflation. Over the live of the system, net profit can exceed $100,000.

What Incentives are Available in Rhode Island?

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

Name	Implementing Sector	Program Type	Administrator	DSIRE ID
Solar Easements	State	Solar/Wind Access Policy		13
National Grid (Narragansett) - Interconnection Guidelines	State	Interconnection		804
Renewable Energy Standard	State	Renewables Portfolio Standard		1095
Fuel Mix and Emissions Disclosure	State	Generation Disclosure		1254
Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards	State	Appliance/Equipment Efficiency Standards		1582
Rhode Island - Green Power Purchasing	State	Green Power Purchasing		2294
Local Option - Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems	State	Property Tax Incentive	Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources	2801
Small Scale Solar Grants (Commerce RI)	State	Grant Program	Commerce RI	5361
Commercial Scale Renewable Energy Grants (Commerce RI)	State	Grant Program	Commerce RI	5362
Local Option - Property-Assessed Clean Energy Financing	State	PACE Financing		5440
Renewable Energy Growth Program	State	Performance-Based Incentive	National Grid	5523
Renewable Energy Professional Certification	State	Solar/Wind Contractor Licensing		5526
Residential Renewable Energy System Tax Credit	State	Personal Tax Credit	Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources	5629
National Grid (Electric) Commercial and Industrial Rebate Program	Utility	Rebate Program		5756
National Grid EnergyWise Financing program	Utility	Loan Program		5757
Energy Conservation Grants for the Elderly	State	Grant Program		5843
Green Power Purchasing for State Facilities	State	Green Power Purchasing		5845
Energy Efficiency Standard for State Buildings	State	Energy Standards for Public Buildings		5846
Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Equipment	State	Property Tax Incentive	http://www.tax.ri.gov/	5882
Pascoag Utility District - Business Energy Audits	Utility	Energy Analysis	Pascoag Utility District	20949
Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation - Renewable Energy Fund	Other	Energy Analysis	Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation	21044
BOC - Building Operator Certification – Northeast	Utility	Training and Information	BOC	21720
National Grid - Energy Saving Programs	Utility	Energy Analysis	National Grid	21721
National Grid - Large Business Program	Utility	Energy Analysis	National Grid	21722
National Grid - Energy Profiler Online	Utility	Energy Analysis	National Grid	21723
U.S. Department of Energy - Industrial Assessment Center (IAC): University of Massachusetts	Federal	Energy Analysis	U.S. Department of Energy	21734
National Grid - Convert to Natural Gas	Utility	Other	National Grid	21742
National Grid - Power Quality Enhancements Program	Utility	Other	National Grid	21743
National Grid - Demand Response	Utility	Energy Analysis	National Grid	21744
National Grid - Enhanced Metering	Utility	Energy Analysis	National Grid	21745
National Grid - Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Services	Utility	Energy Analysis		21762
National Grid - Energy Saving Programs	Utility	Energy Analysis	National Grid	21763
Alameda Municipal Power - New Construction Program	Utility	Energy Analysis		21764
ISO New England - Demand Resources	Other	Energy Analysis	ISO New England	21774
Northeast Energy Efficiency Council - Building Operator Certification (BOC)	Other	Training and Information	Northeast Energy Efficiency Council	21776
Agricultural Energy Program	State	Grant Program	Rhode Island Conservation & Development Area Council	21861
National Grid - Cogeneration	Utility	Energy Analysis	National Grid	22003
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships - EM&V Forum	Non-Profit	Training and Information	Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships	22024

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