State solar profile · #20 of 51

Solar in District of Columbia: fast payback · high rates

District of Columbia clears a modeled 13-yr break-even (#17 of 51) at 19.5¢/kWh and 4.4 kWh/m²/day, with 4 DSIRE programs in the stack.

4.4
kWh/m²/day irradiance
19.5¢
avg electricity rate
13 yr
payback (#17)
4
incentive programs
32 Limited
Subscribe (RSS)

EIA nameplate inventory

Nameplate DC · District of Columbia score #20/51

District of Columbia | 32/100 | 13 yr payback | 29 MW

  • RATE 32/100
  • PAY #20/51
  • CAP 4.4 kWh
  • PROG 19.5c/kWh
  • NEM 13 yr
  • PHOTO 29 MW
  • BOOK 4 programs
  • VS-AVG near Kansas

Stamps derive from this state's NREL irradiance, EIA Form 860 / Electric Power Monthly nameplate, and DSIRE incentive row (score, rank, sun, rate, payback, capacity, programs, peer), not a quote or site assessment. Modeled figures use a typical 6 kW system; your roof, shading, and utility tariff decide the real return. See our disclaimer. Verify with EIA Form 860 → · Read with methodology → · Net-metering guide → · Personalized estimate → · All state rows → · States ranked → · Payback vs U.S. avg (14.2 yr): 1.2 yr faster

Modeled 6 kW payback · District of Columbia and nearest peers

Shorter bars = faster simple payback on the NREL/EIA model

years

What this shows District of Columbia sits at 13 years among nearest payback peers (1.2 yr faster vs the 14.2-yr U.S. average).

Source PlainSolarData model · NREL irradiance + EIA rates As of 2024

Fast-band 25-year ROI · District of Columbia

$19,500

system cost

$1,503/yr

modeled savings

13 yr

break-even

+$18,075

25-year net

At $19,500 and $1,503/yr, District of Columbia is already in the faster third of modeled paybacks. Roof, shading, and tariff still move the real number. Run a personalized estimate →

Installed solar capacity in District of Columbia, 2019–2024

Total solar nameplate capacity in District of Columbia reported to the EIA, utility-scale and reported distributed systems. The number of reporting facilities grew 7.5x (2 to 15) between 2019 and 2024, and the average site size fell from 3 MW to 2 MW per site, a shift toward smaller, more distributed installations.

5 MW10 MW15 MW20 MW25 MW30 MW35 MW 201920202021202220232024 29 MW
District of Columbia now has about 29 MW of installed solar capacity across 15 reported facilities.

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

District of Columbia: modest sun, still fast payback

Irradiance 4.4 kWh/m²/day (below the 4.8 national mean) vs 13-yr payback (fast band vs 14.2-yr mean). Crosshairs mark those means.

Modest sun · fast payback (high rates)Sun + speedModest sun · slowSunny but slow (cheap power)3.24.15.05.86.74.1 yr10.0 yr15.9 yr21.8 yr27.7 yrSolar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →← Faster payback (years)HI, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.9 · ← Faster payback (years): 5.2 yrCA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.8 · ← Faster payback (years): 6.3 yrAZ, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 6.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 10.3 yrNM, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 6.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 10.3 yrNV, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 6.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 11.9 yrTX, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.7 · ← Faster payback (years): 11.8 yrFL, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.6 · ← Faster payback (years): 12 yrCO, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 12.3 yrCT, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.1 · ← Faster payback (years): 8.9 yrMA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 9.2 yrUT, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.9 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.5 yrNY, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 11.1 yrRI, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 9.7 yrME, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 9.3 yrNH, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 9.8 yrNJ, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 12.8 yrSC, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 14 yrNC, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.4 yrKS, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 13.7 yrDC, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 13 yrGA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.5 yrVT, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.1 · ← Faster payback (years): 11.5 yrMD, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.3 yrMT, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.3 yrOK, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.5 yrIL, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 14 yrWY, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.3 yrLA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5.1 · ← Faster payback (years): 17.8 yrVA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.8 · ← Faster payback (years): 15 yrMN, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.9 yrTN, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.9 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.7 yrAL, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.9 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.4 yrAR, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.8 · ← Faster payback (years): 17.2 yrDE, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.4 yrMO, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.8 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.6 yrND, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.8 · ← Faster payback (years): 18.2 yrOR, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.9 yrPA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.2 yrWI, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.3 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.2 yrMS, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.7 yrNE, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.4 yrSD, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 5 · ← Faster payback (years): 17.1 yrIA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.7 yrKY, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 17.7 yrID, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.7 · ← Faster payback (years): 20 yrMI, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4 · ← Faster payback (years): 14.4 yrOH, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 16.3 yrWV, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.2 · ← Faster payback (years): 19.4 yrIN, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 4.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 15.8 yrWA, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 3.5 · ← Faster payback (years): 26.6 yrAK, Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) →: 3.4 · ← Faster payback (years): 17 yr
District of Columbia (highlighted): 4.4 kWh/m²/day, 13-yr modeled payback - faster than the national average.

Source: PlainSolarData model, NREL irradiance + EIA rates As of 2024

Solar & grid details

Net-metering policy
full
Renewable portfolio standard
Mandatory (100% by 2032)
Installed cost / watt
$3.25/W
Annual production (6 kW)
7,709 kWh
Installed capacity (EIA 2024)
29 MW
Notable programs
DC SREC Market, Solar for All

Top incentive programs

4 programs available for District of Columbia residents

Tax exemption DC Solar Property Tax Exemption · Property tax exemption Net metering DC Net Metering · Retail rate credit Rebate DC Solar for All Program · Free solar for income-qualified residents SREC / renewable credit DC Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) · Market rate ~$400+/SREC

All District of Columbia solar incentives (4)

Tax exemption

DC Solar Property Tax Exemption

Property tax exemption

DC exempts solar energy systems from real property tax assessment.

 Net metering

DC Net Metering

Retail rate credit

DC utilities offer full retail net metering for systems up to 1 MW.

 Rebate

DC Solar for All Program

Free solar for income-qualified residents

DC Solar for All provides free rooftop or community solar for low-income residents.

 SREC / renewable credit

DC Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)

Market rate ~$400+/SREC

DC has one of the highest SREC values due to aggressive RPS requirements.

Other fast-payback peers for District of Columbia

Two non-geographic peer sets for District of Columbia: composite score neighbors and payback-year neighbors (deduped so each row links a distinct comparison).

Similar composite solar score

Nearest nationwide matches on the NREL/EIA/DSIRE blend (32/100 here).

Similar modeled payback

Nearest payback-year peers nationwide (13 yr modeled here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published composite scores and modeled 6 kW payback years; rankings above use the same fields but sort the full corpus.

Solar resource from NREL; electricity rates and installed capacity from the U.S. EIA; incentive programs from DSIRE. See our methodology.

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.