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Average price of $2.75-$3.15/W for residential systems. No federal tax credit. No state rebate. Sales and property tax exemptions plus the GMP battery program help close the gap.
Cost/Watt
$3.05
VT avg
10 kW System
$30,500
avg installed
Payback
~13 yrs
cash purchase
Sun Hours
3.2/day
peak avg
The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. For a 10 kW system, that is $8,820 you would have saved at 30%. Now $0. Vermont has never offered a state solar rebate.
What still works: Sales tax exemption (~$1,830), property tax exemption (~$400/yr), net metering Cat I credits, GMP battery program, and PPA/Lease (financing company gets 48/48E at 30% until July 4, 2026).
Pricing for all 8 Vermont markets. Costs vary by installer availability, utility territory, and local conditions.
| City | $/W Range | 10 kW Cost | Utility | Rate | Prop. Tax Exempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BurlingtonLARGEST | $2.75-$3.05 | $29,000 | BED | $0.1837/kWh | Yes |
| Essex | $2.80-$3.10 | $29,500 | GMP | $0.2146/kWh | Yes |
| Rutland | $2.85-$3.15 | $27,000 | GMP | $0.2146/kWh | Yes |
| Barre | $2.85-$3.15 | $27,000 | GMP | $0.2146/kWh | Yes |
| South Burlington | $2.80-$3.10 | $32,450 | GMP | $0.2146/kWh | Yes |
| Bennington | $2.85-$3.15 | $27,000 | GMP | $0.2146/kWh | Yes |
| Brattleboro | $2.80-$3.10 | $26,550 | GMP | $0.2146/kWh | Yes |
| Montpelier | $2.85-$3.15 | $27,000 | GMP | $0.2146/kWh | Yes |
All prices are total installed costs (no incentive deductions). 10 kW cost uses midpoint of range. Property tax exemption is automatic for systems under 50 kW per 32 V.S.A. section 3802.
A 10 kW system breakdown with every dollar accounted for. No hidden savings, no expired credits.
The sales tax savings means you simply do not pay the tax. The gross cost is your out-of-pocket price.
~$400/yr
Systems under 50 kW exempt. ~$10000 over 25 years.
$0.1439/kWh
Blended rate ($0.1839) + positive adjustor, locked for 10 years from interconnection. 7 consecutive years of PUC cuts, so act soon.
$55/mo
Add backup power + VPP income. Or BYOD: up to $10,500 incentive.
Vermont has the longest solar payback in New England at approximately 13 years. Here is an honest look at the timeline and what drives it.
No Federal ITC
+3-4 years to payback
25D would have saved ~$8,820
No State Rebate
No state help at all
VT never had one
Declining NM Rates
7 consecutive cuts
PUC reduces adjustor annually
System installed. $30,500 out of pocket.
Annual savings of ~$2,200-$2,600 (electricity + property tax). Still in payback period.
Rate escalation increases savings to ~$2,800-$3,200/yr. Cat I adjustor still locked.
Breakeven point. System has paid for itself. All future savings are profit.
Free electricity (minus minor maintenance). 12+ years of pure savings at rising rates.
Select your city and system size to see real costs and savings. No state rebate, no federal ITC — just honest numbers based on VT net metering and electric rates.
Estimate your solar costs and savings in Vermont. No state rebate, no federal ITC (25D expired 2025). Savings come from net metering credits, tax exemptions, and high electric rates.
Gross Cost
$29,000
$2.90/W × 10 kW
Sales Tax Savings (6%)
$1,740
You don't pay 6% VT sales tax
Net Cost (Out of Pocket)
$29,000
No ITC, no state rebate
Year 1 Savings
$2,018
BED @ $0.18/kWh
NM Credits (Year 1)
$2,631
Cat I @ $0.2239/kWh
Payback Period
12 years
Incl. property tax savings
25-Year Net Savings
$53,600
After system cost, 2.5% annual escalation
Important Notes
Savings model: 70% self-consumed at retail rate, 30% exported at NM credit rate ($0.1439/kWh). 2.5% annual rate escalation. Panel degradation of 0.4%/year. 25-year panel warranty standard.
Vermont has 3 main utilities. GMP dominates with ~75% market share and the only battery incentive programs.
Retail Rate
$0.2146
/kWh
Service: Statewide (largest utility — most of VT outside Burlington)
TOU available: Off-peak $0.1452/kWh, On-peak $0.3407/kWh (weekdays 4-9 PM)
Exclusive: Battery lease + BYOD programs
Retail Rate
$0.2348
/kWh
Service: Northern and eastern VT (rural areas, 32,000+ members)
Tiered rate: first 100 kWh at lower rate, then $0.2348/kWh for usage above 100 kWh
Retail Rate
$0.1837
/kWh
Service: Burlington only (municipal utility)
Tiered rate: first 100 kWh at lower rate, then $0.1837/kWh for usage above 100 kWh. BED reached 100% renewable in 2014.
What you will pay based on system size. All prices are before any savings (no federal tax credit, no state rebate).
| System Size | Panels | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | 12-15 | $13,750 - $15,750 | Small home, low usage |
| 6 kW | 15-18 | $16,500 - $18,900 | Condo or small ranch |
| 8 kW | 20-24 | $22,000 - $25,200 | Average VT home |
| 10 kWPOPULAR | 25-30 | $27,500 - $31,500 | Larger home or EV charging |
| 12 kW | 30-36 | $33,000 - $37,800 | High usage household |
Prices reflect VT average installed costs ($2.75-$3.15/W). No federal tax credit or state rebate is applied. Actual system size depends on your electricity consumption, roof orientation, shading, and snow load requirements.
Why Vermont solar prices range from $2.75 to $3.15/W depending on location, roof, and equipment.
Vermont roofs must handle heavy snow loads (40-70 lbs/sq ft). Racking systems must be rated for VT conditions, which adds cost. Metal roofs (common in VT) need specialized clamps. Steeper pitches help snow shed but raise installation labor costs.
Vermont is at 42.7-45N latitude. South-facing at 35-40 degrees is ideal. East/west roofs produce 10-15% less. Northern VT (St. Johnsbury, Newport) gets slightly less production than southern VT (Brattleboro, Bennington).
Vermont is 78% forested. Tree removal or trimming is frequently needed, adding $500-2,000 to project cost. Microinverters handle partial shade better than string inverters but add $0.15-0.25/W. A shade analysis is critical before installation.
Vermont has a relatively small solar market compared to MA or CT. Fewer installers means less pricing competition, especially in rural areas. Burlington-area projects benefit from the densest installer network in the state.
Every solar installation in Vermont requires a Certificate of Public Good (CPG) from the VT Public Utility Commission. This adds 2-4 weeks to the timeline and paperwork costs. No other New England state has this requirement.
Premium panels (REC Alpha, SunPower Maxeon) cost $0.30-0.50/W more than standard Tier 1 (Qcells, Canadian Solar). Enphase microinverters add $0.15-0.25/W over string inverters. All carry 25-year warranties.
Answers to the most common questions about solar panel costs in Vermont in 2026.
Solar panels in Vermont cost $2.75-$3.15 per watt installed in 2026. A typical 10 kW system costs $27,500-$31,500, with the statewide average at $3.05/W or $30,500 for 10 kW. Costs are slightly lower in Burlington ($2.75-$3.05/W via BED) and higher in rural areas like Rutland and Barre ($2.85-$3.15/W). There is no federal tax credit (25D expired Dec 31, 2025) and Vermont has never had a state solar rebate.
No. The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025. Homeowners who purchase solar with cash or a loan receive $0 in federal tax credits. However, if you choose a third-party owned system (PPA or lease), the financing company can claim the Section 48/48E ITC at 30% for projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026. The system OWNER claims the ITC, not the homeowner.
No. Vermont has never offered a direct state solar rebate. The only state-level financial benefits for solar are the sales tax exemption (6% saved on equipment, labor, and batteries) and the property tax exemption (systems under 50 kW exempt under 32 V.S.A. section 3802). There is no state income tax credit for solar either.
For a cash purchase, solar pays for itself in approximately 13 years in Vermont. This is the longest payback in New England, driven by the lack of any state incentive and the absence of the federal ITC. However, after payback, you get 12+ more years of nearly free electricity from a 25-year panel warranty. With 2.5% annual rate escalation, 25-year net savings still exceed $20,000.
Vermont uses a category-based net metering system. Residential systems (Category I, up to 15 kW) receive the blended retail rate ($0.1839/kWh) plus a positive adjustor of approximately $0.04/kWh, locked for 10 years from interconnection. The effective rate for new Cat I systems is about $0.1439/kWh after recent PUC rate cuts. Credits appear as bill credits, with annual true-up. All installations require a Certificate of Public Good (CPG).
Green Mountain Power offers a battery lease at $55/month (or $5,500 upfront) for 2 Tesla Powerwall 3 units (27 kWh) or 2 Enphase IQ Battery 10C units (20 kWh) over a 10-year term. There is a 1,200+ person waitlist. Alternatively, the BYOD program pays $850-$950/kW for qualifying batteries (plus $100/kW solar retrofit bonus, max $10,500). Batteries provide backup power and participate in GMP's ~50 MW virtual power plant.
It depends on your situation. A 13-year payback with 12+ years of free electricity afterward still yields positive returns over 25 years. The sales tax exemption saves ~$1,830, property tax exemption saves ~$400/year ($10,000 over 25 years), and rate escalation improves savings over time. If you have a south-facing roof, are a GMP customer ($0.21/kWh), and plan to stay in your home 15+ years, solar makes financial sense.
The Vermont Public Utility Commission has cut net metering rates 7 consecutive years. The adjustor for Category I residential systems has been reduced multiple times. While Cat I still has a positive adjustor, it is smaller than ever. Every year you wait, new systems lock in worse rates. If you are considering solar, acting sooner means locking in better net metering economics for 10 years.
Green Mountain Power (GMP) serves ~75% of Vermont and offers the most solar-friendly ecosystem: $0.2146/kWh retail rate, TOU rates for battery optimization, and the exclusive battery lease/BYOD programs. Burlington Electric Department (BED) has the lowest rate at $0.1837/kWh but serves only Burlington. Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) at $0.2348/kWh serves rural northern/eastern VT. Higher rates mean faster payback.
Yes. Vermont requires a Certificate of Public Good (CPG) from the VT Public Utility Commission for all solar installations. This is unique to Vermont — no other New England state requires PUC approval. Your installer handles the CPG application. For systems under 15 kW, it is a simplified process (typically 2-4 weeks). Larger systems require more review. You also need utility interconnection approval from your utility (GMP, VEC, or BED).
Explore more Vermont solar resources to make the best decision.
How VT solar works with no federal ITC
Read moreCategory rates, PUC cuts, and CPG rules
Read morePowerwall lease, BYOD, and VPP details
Read moreSales tax and property tax savings
Read moreWhich financing option saves most in VT?
Read moreSee exact pricing for your roof and utility
Read moreSee exact pricing for your roof, your utility, and your town. Includes net metering projections, tax exemption details, and GMP battery program options. No obligation, no pressure.
No federal tax credit. No state rebate. Just honest numbers on what Vermont solar actually costs and saves in 2026.