What a solar system costs in Washington, DC this year, and why

The number to start with

Price per watt is the fairest way to compare quotes, because it removes the effect of system size. In 2026, a fair price for a residential system in the District is about $3.00 to $3.40 per watt installed, before incentives. A 6 kW system, a common size for a rowhouse, lands around $15,000 to $18,000.

Quotes well below that range usually leave something out, such as the electrical work, the permit and interconnection paperwork, or the SREC registration. Quotes well above it should come with a reason you can see on paper.

Where the money goes

A solar price covers more than panels. Equipment is one part: the modules, the inverter or microinverters, racking and wiring. Labor is another: design, roof work, electrical connection and testing. The rest is the work nobody sees on install day, which includes permits, the Pepco interconnection, inspection scheduling, SREC registration, and the company's overhead and warranty reserves.

When a quote is much cheaper, it is usually cheaper in that last group. Ask what is included in the paperwork and the warranty, because those are the parts that matter in year five.

What pushes a quote up

The roof and the electrical panel decide most of the variation. A flat rowhouse roof with ballasted racking prices differently from a pitched shingle roof; a full 100 amp panel may need work before solar can connect; historic district review adds drawings and time.

None of these are required for solar to work, so it is worth seeing them priced separately rather than folded into one number.

Rowhouse or detached house

Small systems cost more per watt, because the permit, design, interconnection and the trip itself cost roughly the same whether the roof holds twelve panels or thirty. Many DC rowhouses carry modest systems, so they often land toward the upper end of the per-watt range even when the total price is lower.

Flat-roof racking and roof access also move the number. A ballasted rack on a membrane roof is priced differently from rails on shingles, and getting materials up through a hatch on a three-story rowhouse takes planning and labor. Detached houses with larger pitched roofs tend to price lower per watt and higher in total.

What brings the net cost down

The federal 25D credit for homeowner-owned systems ended on January 1, 2026, so it no longer reduces the price. What remains in the District is stronger than in most places. DC SRECs sold for about $360 to $455 each in 2026, which typically adds $2,200 to $3,200 a year for a home system, and Pepco credits exported solar at the full retail rate under net metering.

For households at or below 80 percent of area median income, DC's Solar Advantage Plus rebate offers up to $10,000 toward solar or solar plus storage. Solar for All was waitlisted as of mid-2026.

A worked example

Take a 6 kW system at $16,500, the middle of the range. If its credits bring in $2,200 to $3,200 a year, the SRECs alone would repay the system in about five to seven and a half years. The savings on the Pepco bill come on top of that and shorten the payback further.

The example also shows why registration matters. A system that is never certified for SRECs loses most of its DC advantage.

Paying cash, borrowing or leasing

Paying cash or using a loan keeps the system in your name, so the SRECs and the net metering savings are yours. A loan adds interest but spreads the cost; in DC, the yearly credit income can cover a meaningful share of the payments.

Leases and power purchase agreements need a closer look. In many DC leases the leasing company keeps the SRECs, which are most of the District's solar value. A lease can still make sense for someone who wants lower bills with no upfront cost, but compare it with ownership on paper before signing.

How to compare quotes

• Put every quote on a price per watt basis, using the same system size.
• Check the equipment list: panels, inverter type and racking.
• Confirm who files the permit, the Pepco interconnection and the SREC certification.
• Ask whether the roof and the main panel were inspected before pricing.
• Read the workmanship warranty, not just the manufacturer warranties.

A quote that answers all five clearly is easier to trust than a cheaper one that leaves them open.

Sources

1. City Renewables: Cost of solar per watt in DC, 2026
2. City Renewables: Electrification incentives in DC after the federal ITC sunset
3. City Renewables: DC SREC prices in 2026
4. EnergySage: DC solar rebates and incentives
5. A1 Solar Store: Solar battery storage cost
6. EV Lectron: Cost to install a home charging station
7. Jouleio: EV home charging station cost
8. NuWatt Energy: Solar critter guard

Figures are as published by the sources above in 2026 and can change. Call (202) 978-0232 to check how they apply to your address.