Delaware · Net metering

DE Net Metering

Sets the billing terms for excess solar generation sent back to the grid by residential customers in Delaware -- see the credit rate and how it shapes payback below.

Retail rate credit
stated benefit
Residential
eligible customers
15.4 yr
Delaware baseline payback
3
other Delaware programs

What it means

In Delaware, a 6 kW system already pays back in about 15.4 years on ~$1,167/year of modeled savings, and the DE Net Metering stacks on top of that, on top of any federal credit.

Retail rate cr…
stated benefit
15.4 yr
baseline payback (pre-incentive)
4
Delaware programs that stack
full
net-metering policy

Payback and savings are modeled from public NREL/EIA data; the program benefit is summarized from DSIRE and may change.

Program description

Delaware provides net metering at full retail rate for systems up to 25 kW.

Program at a glance

Program type
Net metering
Eligible customers
Residential
Stated benefit
Retail rate credit
State electricity rate
14.8¢/kWh
Delaware solar score
24/100

How Delaware compares to the U.S. average

Why this incentive matters more (or less) here - Delaware's solar fundamentals against the national average.

Irradiance
Delaware: 4.5 kWh/m²/day
U.S. avg: 4.82 kWh/m²/day
Electricity rate
Delaware: 14.8¢/kWh
U.S. avg: 15.98¢/kWh
Modeled payback
Delaware: 15.4 yr
U.S. avg: 14.2 yr

Source: NREL irradiance and U.S. EIA rates; payback modeled by PlainSolarData. Bars are scaled to the larger of the two values per metric.

Solar's trajectory in Delaware

The market this incentive operates in: total installed solar capacity in Delaware reported to the EIA.

0 MW20 MW40 MW60 MW80 MW100 MW120 MW 20112013201520172019202120232024 97 MW
Delaware now has about 97 MW of installed solar, the backdrop programs like this one are built on.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, installed solar nameplate capacity As of 2024

Delaware's solar incentive stack

How this net metering sits among Delaware's 3 tracked programs, by type

programs

What this shows Delaware tracks 3 incentive types; net metering (1 program) governs the billing side, while the state's other tracked types handle upfront cost or ongoing payments.

Source DSIRE incentives registry As of 2024

How this incentive fits Delaware's solar picture

The DE Net Metering governs how Delaware credits excess solar generation sent back to the grid, one of the state's DSIRE-tracked solar policies. Eligibility is scoped to residential customers, with a stated benefit of Retail rate credit. DSIRE lists no scheduled sunset, though enabling legislation and appropriations can still be revised year to year.

That baseline is slower than most states, which raises the stakes for every incentive on the table. Delaware averages 4.5 kWh/m²/day of usable sunlight and residential rates of 14.8¢/kWh, producing an estimated 7,884 kWh/year and $1,167 of annual utility offset on a typical 6 kW system costing $18,000. That baseline already implies a 15.4-year simple payback and a 25-year modeled net of roughly $11,175 before this incentive - every dollar this net metering delivers compresses that payback further.

A handful of other levers are worth checking alongside this one. Delaware has 4 solar incentive programs indexed in DSIRE, including adjacent options like Delaware Green Energy Fund Rebate, Delaware SREC Program. The state's net-metering policy is classified as full, which governs how excess generation is credited and often decides whether a given program is worth claiming for a specific household.

Your next step

  • See Delaware's full solar profile, score, irradiance, rates, payback, and every program you can claim. Delaware solar data
  • Run the savings calculator with your real bill to see how this incentive changes your own payback. ROI calculator
  • See how net-metering credits are valued state by state. Net-metering guide

Estimates here are modeled from public data and are not financial advice; confirm program terms and your own eligibility before relying on a dollar figure.

Frequently asked questions

What is the DE Net Metering?
The DE Net Metering is a net metering available to residential solar customers in Delaware. The stated benefit is Retail rate credit.
How does the DE Net Metering work?
Delaware provides net metering at full retail rate for systems up to 25 kW.
Who is eligible for the DE Net Metering?
The program is available to residential customers in Delaware. Check the official program page for current eligibility requirements and deadlines.
How does this incentive affect solar ROI in Delaware?
Delaware has an estimated 15.4-year payback for a 6 kW system before incentives, with about $1,167/year in modeled savings. A net metering like this lowers upfront cost or raises annual return, shortening that payback. Run the calculator for a figure based on your own bill.
Are there other solar incentives in Delaware?
Yes - Delaware has 4 solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE, including Delaware Green Energy Fund Rebate, Delaware SREC Program. State programs are designed to stack on top of any available federal solar tax credit rather than replace it.

Incentive data from the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency); state solar economics from NREL and the U.S. EIA. See our methodology.