All states / New York
Solar in New York
At 29.49¢ per kWh and 1291 kWh of production per kW each year, a household paying $200 a month needs a 5.93 kW system. Paid in cash, it returns its $12,266 cost in 5.5 yr.
What we don't know yet
Two prices, two answers
Payback 5.5 yr — at competitive quoted prices ($2.76/W, EnergySage 2026): net cost $12,266, 25-year net $54,330.
Payback 9.4 yr — at typical reported prices ($4.50/W, LBNL 2023): net cost $21,666, 25-year net $44,930.
The gap is methodology, not staleness: the first what you get if you shop around for competitive quotes; the second what the average buyer actually paid, as recorded in permit and incentive data. Every table below uses quoted prices. Why we show both.
By monthly bill
| Your bill | Use / yr | System | Panels | Net cost | Payback | 25-yr net (cash) | Lease, year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100/mo | 3,581 kWh | 2.77 kW | 7 | $5,742 | 6 yr | $22,478 | $502 |
| $150/mo | 5,615 kWh | 4.35 kW | 11 | $9,004 | 5.7 yr | $38,404 | $787 |
| $200/mo | 7,650 kWh | 5.93 kW | 15 | $12,266 | 5.5 yr | $54,330 | $1,072 |
| $300/mo | 11,719 kWh | 9.08 kW | 23 | $20,054 | 5.8 yr | $84,916 | $1,642 |
Cash, loan or lease — at $200 a month
| How you pay | 25-year net | Upfront | Year 1 | Payback / cash flow | Federal credit to you |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $54,330 | $12,266 | $2,106 | 5.5 yr | $0 |
| Loan $95/mo · 6.99% APR · 20 yr | $43,790 | $0 | $966 | immediate (+$966 in year 1) | $0 |
| Lease / PPA up to $5,000 state credit, accrued over the life of the agreement | $23,997 | $0 | $1,072 | immediate (+$1,072 in year 1) | $0 |
The 30% federal credit goes to the system owner, not to you. It is reflected in the rate you are offered. The owner claims it at 30% under IRC 48E.
The inputs, and where they came from
| Input | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residential electricity rate | 29.49¢/kWh | U.S. EIA API v2, electricity/retail-sales, residential sector, 2026-06 |
| Specific yield | 1291 kWh/kW/yr | NLR (formerly NREL) PVWatts v8 API, 1 kW reference system (state:NY) |
| Installed cost | $2.76/W | EnergySage Marketplace real-quote average, as of Sep 2026; page updated 2026-08-28 · LBNL Tracking the Sun 2023 median: $4.5/W, reference only |
| Export compensation | full retail net metering · 100% | Full retail net metering — not yet verified against the tariff |
| Federal credit, purchase | 0% | IRC 25D (expired) |
| Federal credit, third-party owner | 30% | IRC 48E (Clean Electricity Investment Credit) |
| State incentives | $4,089 | Solar Energy System Equipment Credit (Form IT-255) (25%, up to $5,000) |