Vermont solar calculator
Size a Vermont home solar system from your electric bill — kW, panel count, roof area, true cost with no federal credit for 2026 installs, and payback.
Quick answer: At $0.238/kWh and 4 peak sun hours, a $200/month bill needs about 9.02 kW — 22 × 410 W panels covering ~44 m². Gross cost is ~$25,076 with no federal credit for systems installed after 2025, offsetting $2,400 a year for a ~10.4 year payback.
Your details
Ballpark, not gospel. Ballpark, not gospel. Sized at 78% real-world output with the Vermont sun-hour average — confirm shading, roof angle and your utility's net-metering credit terms with a local installer before buying. Vermont utilities credit excess at the statewide blended rate (20.71¢/kWh from August 2026), minus the siting and REC adjustors — and the PUC's September 2026 rulemaking may redesign those credits, so real savings track the final rules.
The 30% credit ended — what changed
The residential clean energy credit (26 U.S.C. § 25D) gave homeowners a 30% credit on solar installed from 2022 through 2025. The July 2025 tax law ended it: no credit is available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. That is why every figure on this page is ~30% higher than pre-2026 guides show. If your system went live by the end of 2025, tick the box above to see the credit applied; leased systems may still benefit because the leasing company claims the commercial credit. Source: IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.
Typical Vermont system sizes by monthly bill
| Monthly bill | System size | Panels (410 W) | Net cost (no 2026 federal credit) | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | 4.51 kW | 11 | $12,538 | 10.4 years |
| $200 | 9.02 kW | 22 | $25,076 | 10.4 years |
| $300 | 13.53 kW | 33 | $37,613 | 10.4 years |
Computed at $0.238/kWh, 4 peak sun hours and $2.78/W installed, with no federal credit for 2026 installs. Run your exact bill above.
Solar in Vermont: the details
Solar cost in Vermont
Solar sits mid-pack on cost in Vermont. The EnergySage marketplace averaged about $2.78 per watt installed in 2026, with market quotes typically landing $2.36–$3.20/W — inside the $2.50–$3.50/W national band. A typical ~9 kW Vermont system grosses around $25,100 before any incentives, with no federal credit for 2026 homeowner installs.
What moves the number: roof complexity, panel tier, and installer competition. Get at least three quotes — spreads of $0.50/W between installers are common.
Export rules: getting paid for surplus power
Vermont requires every utility to offer net metering. Excess generation is credited at the statewide blended residential rate — 20.71¢/kWh from August 1, 2026 (per PUC Case 26-0291-INV), minus a 5¢/kWh siting adjustor on new rooftop systems up to 15 kW and a 4¢/kWh REC adjustor if you keep your renewable energy credits.
One caution: the PUC opened a rulemaking on September 9, 2026 to redesign the net-metering credit — so treat the current compensation as under review. Practical takeaway: exports still have real value here, which is why the calculator's near-retail math is close to reality.
Vermont solar incentives
Vermont offers no cash rebates for panels, but the tax treatment is clean: solar equipment is exempt from the 6% sales tax and from property tax.
The headline incentive is for batteries: Green Mountain Power's Bring Your Own Device program pays $850–$950 per kW (up to $10,500) for enrolled battery capacity — one of the better battery incentives in the country, and a natural fit for Vermont's outage-prone winters.
Is solar worth it in Vermont?
Verdict: yes, on the numbers. The calculator puts a $200/month bill at a ~10.4-year payback with no federal credit — and Vermont is one of the few states where the calculator isn't flattering you: exports are credited at the blended residential rate minus adjustors, close to retail. The 23.8¢ retail rate does the heavy lifting, with sales and property tax exemptions as a tailwind. The caveat is the PUC's September 2026 rulemaking redesigning net-metering credits — get grandfathered under current terms while you can.
Questions people actually ask
Straight answers, no fluff. Then run your own numbers above.
How many solar panels do I need in Vermont?
It follows your bill. At the Vermont average of $0.238/kWh and 4 peak sun hours, a $200/month bill needs about a 9.02 kW system — roughly 22 × 410 W panels covering ~44 m² of roof.
What is the average cost of solar panels in Vermont in 2026?
Solar sits mid-pack on cost in Vermont. The EnergySage marketplace averaged about $2.78 per watt installed in 2026, with market quotes typically landing $2.36–$3.20/W — inside the $2.50–$3.50/W national band. A typical ~9 kW Vermont system grosses around $25,100 before any incentives, with no federal credit for 2026 homeowner installs.
Does Vermont have net metering?
Yes — all Vermont utilities must offer net metering. Excess is credited at the statewide blended residential rate (20.71¢/kWh from August 1, 2026, per PUC Case 26-0291-INV), minus a 5¢/kWh siting adjustor on new rooftop systems up to 15 kW and a 4¢/kWh REC adjustor if you keep your RECs.
Does Vermont offer any solar tax credit or rebate?
No cash rebates for panels, but solar equipment is exempt from the 6% sales tax and from property tax. Green Mountain Power's Bring Your Own Device battery program pays $850–$950 per kW (up to $10,500) — one of the better battery incentives in the country.
Is the 30% federal solar tax credit still available?
Not for homeowner purchases anymore. The residential clean energy credit (26 U.S.C. § 25D) is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the July 2025 tax law (Public Law 119-21). Systems installed by the end of 2025 can still claim 30%, and leased systems may still benefit because the leasing company claims the commercial credit instead. (Source: IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.)
Is solar worth it in Vermont?
Verdict: yes, on the numbers. The calculator puts a $200/month bill at a ~10.4-year payback with no federal credit — and Vermont is one of the few states where the calculator isn't flattering you: exports are credited at the blended residential rate minus adjustors, close to retail. The 23.8¢ retail rate does the heavy lifting, with sales and property tax exemptions as a tailwind. The caveat is the PUC's September 2026 rulemaking redesigning net-metering credits — get grandfathered under current terms while you can.
Figures last checked October 2026. Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly, NREL PVWatts/NSRDB, DSIRE, Vermont Public Utility Commission; IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.
More US solar calculators
Compare other states: Texas, Florida, California, Arizona, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. And the national US solar calculator for country averages.
Comparing quotes? The solar cost calculator breaks down cost per watt and the solar ROI calculator maps your payback year by year. Going deeper: installation cost guide, how net metering works, how much you can save with solar and the solar batteries guide.