Updated / NY residential estimate
New York solar panel cost calculator
Estimate system size, panel count, gross cost, annual production, and savings using defaults for New York. Enter an address or ZIP Code below to replace them with live location data.
Higher electricity rates can offset lower sun hours, but winter production, roof shading, and utility value-stack rules are important.
State data baseline
- Planning sun hours
- 4 hours/dayState planning default used when API data is unavailable.
- PVWatts annual yield
- 1,199 kWhPer 1 kW system at 20% loss. Solar resource: 4.59 kWh/m²/day; 13.7% capacity factor.
- EIA residential rate
- $0.2949/kWhLatest state average: 2026-06.
- API baseline location
- New York, NY 10001, USA40.7537, -73.9992
Server-side API snapshot, refreshed monthly. All three providers returned external data.Data sources and update notes
Decision brief
What changes the decision in New York
These state-specific checks are not included in a generic national quote. Resolve them before comparing payback claims. Supporting rules and official references are collected at the end of this page.
- 01Before you sign
Do not apply VDER to every residential roof
Project size and class determine whether net metering or Value Stack rules apply. Ask the installer to name the utility tariff and compensation pathway.
- 02Before you sign
Check local property-tax participation
Section 487 permits local opt-outs and local administration. Confirm the county, city, town, village, and school-district treatment with the assessor.
- 03Before you sign
Separate the state tax credit from federal assumptions
The New York credit is 25% of qualified expenditures up to $5,000 and has its own eligibility and carryforward rules. It is not the expired federal Section 25D credit.
Verified state policy
What can reduce your cost in New York
Review these 4 statewide or utility-level policy signals before comparing net cost. They are not automatically applied because eligibility, tax liability, utility territory, equipment, and program capacity can change.
Policy configuration verified .
Policy sources- Solar Energy System Equipment Credit
25% up to $5,000
The nonrefundable personal income-tax credit covers 25% of qualified expenditures, capped at $5,000, with unused credit eligible for carryover up to five years.
- NY-Sun installation incentive
Varies by region and open block
NY-Sun cash incentives are capacity-block based rather than one statewide dollar amount. The contractor must confirm the live regional dashboard before quoting the incentive.
- Residential solar sales-tax exemption
4% state tax + 0.375% MCTD tax
Qualifying equipment and installation are exempt from the 4% state tax and the 0.375% MCTD tax. Local sales-tax exemption depends on the jurisdiction.
- Real Property Tax Law Section 487
100% exemption for 15 years
Qualifying added system value can be exempt for 15 years, but local governments and school districts may opt out or require a payment-in-lieu agreement.
Calculation walkthrough
How we calculate for New York
A worked example using this page's baseline assumptions. Calculator results above change when you edit the inputs.
Baseline inputs
Illustrative 1,000 kWh/month household
- Solar resource
- 4.108 peak sun hours/day
- Modeled system loss
- 20% loss / 80% delivered
- Household electricity use
- 12,000 kWh/year
- Energy value
- $0.2949 retail / $0.06 export
- 01
Annual output per 1 kW
Location and production losses
4.108 h/day × 365 days × 80% delivered
1,199 kWh/year
- 02
Required system capacity
Annual demand divided by output
12,000 kWh ÷ 1,199 kWh per kW
10 kW
- 03
Energy-based panel count
Rounded up; entered usable roof area can cap the result
10 kW ÷ 0.4 kW per panel → round up
26 panels
10.4 kW
- 04
Estimated first-year value
Retail offset plus export credit
12,000 kWh × $0.2949 + 474 kWh × $0.06
$3,567/year
Model notes and limitationsSources and scope
Production baseline
NLR PVWatts v8 modeled a 1 kW array at 20° tilt and 180° azimuth for New York, NY 10001, USA.
Energy valuation
Self-consumed production offsets the retail rate. Production above annual use is valued at the configured export rate; utility tariffs may use different timing or settlement rules.
Not included
Roof shading, structural conditions, hourly tariffs, financing, maintenance, incentives, and tax eligibility require separate verification.
New York FAQ
Data updated: 2026-08-11. API baseline: Google Geocoding API, EIA Open Data API v2, and NLR PVWatts v8. Policy assumptions should be verified before purchase using the sources below.
Sources & verification
Review the original API, statute, regulator, or program documentation before relying on an estimate for a purchase, tax filing, or contract.
Data sources
Geocoding, residential electricity rates, and solar production inputs.
3 sources · Updated 2026-08-11
Data sources
- D1
Address normalization and coordinates
Google Geocoding API - D2
Residential electricity rate
EIA Open Data API v2 - D3
Solar production model
NLR PVWatts v8
State rules
Official references behind the state-specific decision checks.
3 primary references
State rules
- R1
Do not apply VDER to every residential roof
NYSERDA — Doing Solar Business in New York - R2
Check local property-tax participation
New York Real Property Tax Law § 487 - R3
Separate the state tax credit from federal assumptions
New York Department of Taxation and Finance
Incentives
Tax, rebate, and compensation sources used for policy summaries.
4 policy sources · Reviewed Aug 11, 2026
Incentives
- P1
Solar Energy System Equipment Credit: 25% up to $5,000
New York Department of Taxation and Finance - P2
NY-Sun installation incentive: Varies by region and open block
NYSERDA NY-Sun dashboards - P3
Residential solar sales-tax exemption: 4% state tax + 0.375% MCTD tax
New York Department of Taxation and Finance - P4
Real Property Tax Law Section 487: 100% exemption for 15 years
New York Real Property Tax Law Section 487