Is Solar Worth It in Washington in 2026?
Complete analysis of solar costs, incentives, net metering, and payback for Washington homeowners — without the federal ITC.
Cost Per Watt
$3.10
installed
Electricity Rate
$0.188
per kWh
Payback (No ITC)
15.9 yr
current reality
Payback (With 30% ITC)
11.1 yr
hypothetical
25-Year ROI
58%
return on investment
Incentive Breakdown — Washington
Available incentives for a typical 7kW residential solar system in Washington
Federal ITC (25D)
ExpiredThe federal solar Investment Tax Credit expired on January 1, 2026. No federal credit available for new installations.
State Tax Credit
NoneWashington does not offer a state tax credit for solar installations.
SREC Market
Not AvailableWashington does not have a traditional SREC market.
Property Tax Exemption
No statewide property tax exemption for solar
Sales Tax Exemption
Solar equipment exempt from state sales tax
Key Incentives: Sales tax exemption on solar equipment.
Solar Math — With vs Without Federal ITC
Cost breakdown for a typical 7kW residential system in Washington
2026 Reality (No Federal ITC)
- System Size
- 7 kW
- Cost per Watt
- $3.10/W
- Gross Cost
- $21,700
- Federal ITC
- $0
- Net Cost
- $21,700
- Annual Savings
- $1,368/yr
- Payback Period
- 15.9 years
Hypothetical (With 30% ITC)
- System Size
- 7 kW
- Cost per Watt
- $3.10/W
- Gross Cost
- $21,700
- Federal ITC (30%)
- -$6,510
- Net Cost
- $15,190
- Annual Savings
- $1,368/yr
- Payback Period
- 11.1 years
Impact: Without the federal ITC, Washington homeowners face a 4.8-year longer payback period — paying $6,510 more out of pocket.
Net Metering Policy — Washington
How Washington compensates your excess solar production
Full retail rate net metering — you earn the same rate you pay for electricity. Best case for solar savings.
Washington requires net metering at full retail rate for systems up to 100 kW under UTC rules.
Cost Per Watt Benchmark — Washington
Washington Average
$3.10/W
National Average
$3.05/W
Typical 7kW System
$21,700
Washington's average installed cost is above the national average of $3.05/W
Breakeven Timeline
Without the federal ITC, a typical 7kW system in Washington breaks even in 15.9 years. With the former 30% ITC, payback would drop to 11.1 years.
Without Federal ITC
15.9
years to break even
With Former 30% ITC
11.1
years to break even
Production Details
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