New York · Net metering

NY Net Metering

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

Retail rate credit
stated benefit
Residential
eligible customers
11.1 yr
New York baseline payback
4
other New York programs

What it means

In New York, a 6 kW system already pays back in about 11.1 years on ~$1,696/year of modeled savings, and the NY Net Metering stacks on top of that, on top of any federal credit.

Retail rate cr…
stated benefit
11.1 yr
baseline payback (pre-incentive)
5
New York 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

New York offers full retail net metering for residential systems up to 25 kW.

Program at a glance

Program type
Net metering
Eligible customers
Residential
Stated benefit
Retail rate credit
State electricity rate
22¢/kWh
New York solar score
38/100

How New York compares to the U.S. average

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

Irradiance
New York: 4.4 kWh/m²/day
U.S. avg: 4.82 kWh/m²/day
Electricity rate
New York: 22¢/kWh
U.S. avg: 15.98¢/kWh
Modeled payback
New York: 11.1 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 New York

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

-1000 MW0 MW1.0 GW2.0 GW3.0 GW 20112013201520172019202120232024 2.7 GW
New York now has about 2.7 GW 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

New York's solar incentive stack

How this net metering sits among New York's 4 tracked programs, by type

programs

What this shows New York 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 New York's solar picture

The NY Net Metering governs how New York 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. New York averages 4.4 kWh/m²/day of usable sunlight and residential rates of 22¢/kWh, producing an estimated 7,709 kWh/year and $1,696 of annual utility offset on a typical 6 kW system costing $18,900. That baseline already implies a 11.1-year simple payback and a 25-year modeled net of roughly $23,500 before this incentive - every dollar this net metering delivers compresses that payback further.

A handful of other levers are worth checking alongside this one. New York has 5 solar incentive programs indexed in DSIRE, including adjacent options like NY Solar Property Tax Exemption, NY Solar Sales Tax Exemption, NY-Sun Megawatt Block Incentive. 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 New York's full solar profile, score, irradiance, rates, payback, and every program you can claim. New York 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 NY Net Metering?
The NY Net Metering is a net metering available to residential solar customers in New York. The stated benefit is Retail rate credit.
How does the NY Net Metering work?
New York offers full retail net metering for residential systems up to 25 kW.
Who is eligible for the NY Net Metering?
The program is available to residential customers in New York. Check the official program page for current eligibility requirements and deadlines.
How does this incentive affect solar ROI in New York?
New York has an estimated 11.1-year payback for a 6 kW system before incentives, with about $1,696/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 New York?
Yes - New York has 5 solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE, including NY Solar Property Tax Exemption, NY Solar Sales Tax Exemption, NY-Sun Megawatt Block Incentive. 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.