Solar Calc

Solar Panel Cost in Philadelphia, PA (2026 Estimate)

ByIndependent solar research and calculators

Data last updated

Philadelphia averages about 4.3 peak sun hours a day (below the national average, a little sunnier than the Pennsylvania average of 4.1), and pairs with Pennsylvania's approximate residential rate near 17ยข/kWh. In the model used here, an 8 kW system produces roughly 10,040 kWh a year and trims about $1,700 off annual electricity costs, paying back its net cost in about 9.8 years (versus 10.3 years for Pennsylvania as a whole). Local shading, roof, and your utility's export terms move the real figure.

Estimated system cost and payback in Philadelphia

Costs assume roughly $3.00/watt installed; the net column applies a 30% federal credit for comparison with quotes that include it. Savings use Philadelphia's sun hours and Pennsylvania's rate.

Modeled solar cost, production, savings and payback in Philadelphia by system size
System size Gross cost Net after 30% credit Yearly production Yearly savings Payback
6 kW $18,000 $12,600 7,530 kWh $1,300 9.8 yrs
8 kW $24,000 $16,800 10,040 kWh $1,700 9.8 yrs
10 kW $30,000 $21,000 12,560 kWh $2,100 9.8 yrs

The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems paid for after December 31, 2025 under the 2025 federal budget law. Net-after-credit figures apply only if you still qualify (for example a 2025 expenditure, or a leased system where the installer passes a credit through). Confirm with a tax professional.

Net metering and utilities around Philadelphia

Pennsylvania's net metering rules, adopted by the Public Utility Commission under the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act, credit exported energy at the full retail rate for residential systems up to 50 kW. Excess kilowatt-hours roll forward each month, and at the end of the annual period ending in May the utility pays out any remaining balance at its price-to-compare, which is the generation portion of the rate.

PECO serves Philadelphia and its suburbs, PPL Electric Utilities covers Allentown, Harrisburg, Lancaster and Scranton, Duquesne Light serves Pittsburgh, and FirstEnergy's four Pennsylvania subsidiaries (Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power) cover Reading, Erie, Johnstown and much of the west. Smaller utilities include UGI, Citizens' Electric and several cooperatives. Retail rates in PECO and PPL territory are somewhat above the national average, while Duquesne and the western FirstEnergy territories run closer to it, so savings per kilowatt-hour vary by region. Your net metering credit tracks the full delivered rate, but the annual cash-out uses only the generation portion, so a system that slightly undersizes annual usage extracts the most value.

For the full state picture, including incentives, property and sales tax treatment and the complete net metering notes, see the Pennsylvania solar cost page.

Other Pennsylvania cities

Sources and methodology

Every figure on this page is computed from two published inputs (average peak sun hours and the state's average residential electricity rate) plus the documented assumptions on the methodology page. It is a transparent model, not a survey of installer quotes. Inputs last reviewed .