Is Solar Worth It in Arlington, District of Columbia? (2026)

Q: How much solar production can I expect in Arlington, District of Columbia?

PVFig models Arlington at ~1300 kWh per kW installed per year, derived from District of Columbia's NREL PVWatts v8 state value (1300 kWh/kW) adjusted for the city's latitude. This is a modeled estimate — a site-specific PVWatts run with your exact roof azimuth, tilt and shading will differ. Actual output also depends on panel quality and local weather.

Q: Does District of Columbia have net metering and a solar tax credit in 2026?

District of Columbia uses full-retail net metering. There is no state income tax credit for residential solar in 2026. The federal residential credit (Section 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025 and does not apply to 2026 installations.

Direct answer

Arlington, District of Columbia in 2026: residential electricity averages 24.6¢/kWh (EIA, 2026 YTD). Solar production for Arlington is modeled at ~1300 kWh per kW per year, derived from District of Columbia's NREL PVWatts v8 state value (1300 kWh/kW) adjusted for the city's latitude — a modeled estimate, not a site-specific PVWatts run. District of Columbia uses full-retail net metering. SREC market active at ~$40/MWh. A typical 6 kW system in Arlington has an estimated payback of 7.7 years. The federal residential credit (Section 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025; state and utility incentives are the deciding factor in 2026. Sources: EIA, NREL PVWatts v8, DSIRE (retrieved 2026-08-29).

The honest answer depends on four numbers unique to Arlington: your electricity rate, your solar production, your net metering policy, and your state incentives. Here are the real figures, with sources and dates. City production is a modeled estimate derived from District of Columbia's real NREL PVWatts v8 value adjusted for local latitude.

GOOD — solar generally pays off in Arlington, District of Columbia

Est. payback (6 kW)

7.7 yr

Electricity rate

24.6¢/kWh

Solar production (modeled)

1300 kWh/kW

Net metering

Full retail

Solar Snapshot for Arlington, District of Columbia (2026)

Residential electricity rate	24.6¢/kWh (EIA, 2026 YTD May)
Solar production (modeled)	~1300 kWh per kW per year (derived from NREL PVWatts v8 1300 kWh/kW, latitude-adjusted)
Net metering	full-retail net metering
State tax credit	None in 2026
Rebates / performance	None
SREC market	Active — ~$40/MWh (2026 market)
Property tax exemption	No
Sales tax exemption	No

Estimate Your Own Payback in Arlington

The table above is a 6 kW benchmark using District of Columbia's real inputs. Your home is different — use the Solar ROI Calculator with District of Columbia pre-loaded to get your exact payback, or the 30-second worth-it quiz for a go/no-go verdict.

Arlington FAQ

How much solar production can I expect in Arlington?

PVFig models Arlington at ~1300 kWh per kW installed per year, derived from District of Columbia's NREL PVWatts v8 state value (1300 kWh/kW) adjusted for the city's latitude. This is a modeled estimate — a site-specific PVWatts run with your exact roof azimuth, tilt and shading will differ. Actual output also depends on panel quality and local weather.

What is the estimated solar payback in Arlington?

At a typical 3.00/W installed cost and 24.6¢/kWh electricity, a 6 kW system in Arlington has an estimated payback of about 7.7 years. That is one of the faster paybacks in the country.

Does District of Columbia have net metering and a solar tax credit in 2026?

District of Columbia uses full-retail net metering. There is no state income tax credit for residential solar in 2026. The federal residential credit (Section 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025 and does not apply to 2026 installations.

More cities in District of Columbia

Solar in Washington

Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Washington, District of Columbia.

Read →

Compare District of Columbia with nearby states

Massachusetts — 30.1¢/kWh, ~1302 kWh/kW
Connecticut — 29.8¢/kWh, ~1252 kWh/kW
Maine — 29.7¢/kWh, ~1319 kWh/kW
New Hampshire — 26.8¢/kWh, ~1259 kWh/kW
Rhode Island — 29.5¢/kWh, ~1294 kWh/kW
Vermont — 23.9¢/kWh, ~1222 kWh/kW

Modeled estimate & disclaimer: The city production figure (~1300 kWh/kW) is modeled from District of Columbia's real NREL PVWatts v8 state value (1300 kWh/kW) adjusted for Arlington's latitude — it is not a site-specific PVWatts simulation. Electricity rate (24.6¢/kWh) is the real EIA 2026 YTD state residential average; installed cost (3.00/W) is a real regional estimate. All figures are estimates from dated public sources (EIA 2026, NREL PVWatts v8, DSIRE 2026; retrieved 2026-08-29) — not a quote or financial advice. Incentive budgets close; verify current terms with your utility and a licensed installer. Federal residential ITC (Section 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025.