Solar by City / New York / Utica
Data last verified: 2026-08Is Solar Worth It in Utica, New York? (2026)
The honest answer depends on four numbers unique to Utica: 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 New York's real NREL PVWatts v8 value adjusted for local latitude.
Solar Snapshot for Utica, New York (2026)
| Residential electricity rate | 29.2¢/kWh (EIA, 2026 YTD May) |
| Solar production (modeled) | ~1200 kWh per kW per year (derived from NREL PVWatts v8 1214 kWh/kW, latitude-adjusted) |
| Net metering | full-retail net metering |
| State tax credit | 25% (cap $5,000) |
| Rebates / performance | NY-Sun $0.20–0.40/W rebate |
| SREC market | No active SREC market |
| Property tax exemption | Yes |
| Sales tax exemption | No |
Estimate Your Own Payback in Utica
The table above is a 6 kW benchmark using New York's real inputs. Your home is different — use the Solar ROI Calculator with New York pre-loaded to get your exact payback, or the 30-second worth-it quiz for a go/no-go verdict.
Utica FAQ
How much solar production can I expect in Utica?
PVFig models Utica at ~1200 kWh per kW installed per year, derived from New York's NREL PVWatts v8 state value (1214 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 Utica?
At a typical 3.15/W installed cost and 29.2¢/kWh electricity, a 6 kW system in Utica has an estimated payback of about 8.5 years. That is one of the faster paybacks in the country.
Does New York have net metering and a solar tax credit in 2026?
New York uses full-retail net metering. New York offers 25% (cap $5,000). The federal residential credit (Section 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025 and does not apply to 2026 installations.
More cities in New York
Solar in Albany
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Albany, New York.
Read →Solar in Buffalo
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Buffalo, New York.
Read →Solar in Rochester
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Rochester, New York.
Read →Solar in Yonkers
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Yonkers, New York.
Read →Solar in Syracuse
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Syracuse, New York.
Read →Solar in New Rochelle
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in New Rochelle, New York.
Read →Solar in Mount Vernon
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Mount Vernon, New York.
Read →Solar in Schenectady
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Schenectady, New York.
Read →Solar in White Plains
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in White Plains, New York.
Read →Solar in Hempstead
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Hempstead, New York.
Read →Solar in Troy
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Troy, New York.
Read →Solar in Niagara Falls
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Niagara Falls, New York.
Read →Solar in Binghamton
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Binghamton, New York.
Read →Solar in Freeport
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Freeport, New York.
Read →Compare New York 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