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Lewiston solar costs $2.91-$3.12/W in 2026, averaging $27,135 for a 9 kW system. CMP provides 1:1 NEB credits at $0.27/kWh, generating ~$2,916/year. The federal 25D ITC is dead, but Section 48E PPAs offer $0-down solar with day-1 savings. Property tax 100% exempt. About 65% of Lewiston homes heat with oil — solar plus heat pump is the strongest cost-cutting combination for the twin cities.
$3.02/W
Avg Cost
$27,135
9 kW System
$0.27
CMP Rate (/kWh)
$2,916
NEB/Year
~16 yr
Payback (Cash)
$3.82
Oil Price/Gal
Lewiston solar installation costs $2.91-$3.12 per watt in 2026. For a typical 9 kW residential system, here is the full cost breakdown. Lewiston-Auburn is Maine's second-largest metro with approximately 110,000 residents, and solar adoption has been growing as CMP rates continue climbing.
| Component | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Solar panels (9 kW) | $9,600-$11,200 |
| Inverter(s) | $2,400-$3,700 |
| Mounting and racking | $1,900-$2,800 |
| Electrical work and wiring | $2,300-$3,300 |
| Permitting and interconnection | $500-$900 |
| Labor and installation | $4,700-$6,500 |
| Design, engineering, overhead | $2,800-$4,100 |
| Total (before incentives) | $26,190-$28,080 |
The Section 25D residential solar tax credit expired December 31, 2025 under the OBBBA. Lewiston homeowners who buy solar outright receive $0 in federal tax credits in 2026. However, the Section 48E third-party ITC (30%) is still active — see the PPA/Propel options below.
100% property tax exemption statewide — solar adds value to your Lewiston home but $0 to your property tax bill. At Lewiston's effective tax rate (~1.39%), this saves approximately $377/year on a 9 kW system. Sales tax exemption status is unverified.
Lewiston homes range from compact triple-deckers in the downtown Franco-American neighborhoods to larger single-family homes in the outer neighborhoods and Auburn suburbs. System sizes typically range from 6-12 kW, with 9 kW being the market average.
| System Size | Panels | Cost Range | Annual NEB | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | 13-14 | $17,460-$18,720 | $1,944 | ~16 yr |
| 8 kW | 18-19 | $23,280-$24,960 | $2,592 | ~16 yr |
| 9 kW | 20-21 | $26,190-$28,080 | $2,916 | ~16 yr |
| 12 kW | 27-28 | $34,920-$37,440 | $3,888 | ~15 yr |
* 9 kW highlighted as the Lewiston-Auburn average. All costs before incentives. NEB based on CMP $0.27/kWh. Payback assumes cash purchase with no federal tax credit.
10,800
kWh/year (9 kW system)
$2,916
Annual NEB credits
~16 yrs
Payback (cash purchase)
System cost: $27,135
Year 1 NEB value: $2,916
Rate increase (est): 4-5%/year
Payback (cash): ~16 years
25-year savings: $55,000-$80,000+
ROI after 25 years: 100-195%
A cash purchase takes ~16 years to pay back. With Propel financing or a Section 48E PPA, you save from month 1 — $0 down, fixed payment below your CMP bill. See Propel Solar or Section 48E PPA below.
About 65% of Lewiston homes heat with oil — among the highest rates in the nation. At $3.82 per gallon in 2026, a typical Lewiston household spends $3,200+ per year on heating oil alone. The Franco-American neighborhoods in downtown Lewiston have some of the oldest housing stock in Maine, with aging oil furnaces that are expensive to run. Pairing solar with a heat pump is the most powerful cost-cutting strategy available to Lewiston homeowners right now.
$3,247
Current oil cost/year
$0-$500
Net heating cost with solar + HP
$2,700+
Annual heating savings
Learn more about heat pump economics for Lewiston: Maine Heat Pump vs. Oil Guide | Solar + Heat Pump Bundle | Maine Incentives After ITC
The residential 25D tax credit is gone, but the Section 48E commercial ITC (30%) is still available for projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026. Here is how Lewiston homeowners can benefit.
A third-party financing company (not you, not the installer) owns the solar system on your roof.
The third-party owner claims the 40% Section 48E ITC (FEOC) on the system cost — a credit homeowners cannot claim since 25D expired.
The ITC savings are passed to you as a below-retail electricity rate (PPA) or a fixed monthly payment below your CMP bill (Propel).
You pay $0 upfront, save from day 1, and avoid the 16-year cash payback entirely.
Section 48E requires projects to begin construction before July 4, 2026. For Lewiston homeowners interested in a PPA or Propel financing, this means signing an agreement and having equipment ordered by early summer 2026. After that date, the 30% credit may no longer be available — and the $0-down math changes significantly.
Full guide: Section 48E Homeowner Guide for Maine | Maine Solar Lease and PPA Options 2026 | Maine Incentives After ITC
Maine's Net Energy Billing program gives Lewiston homeowners 1:1 retail-rate credits for every kilowatt-hour of solar electricity exported to the CMP grid. This is one of the most favorable net metering policies in New England.
Learn more in our Maine NEB Guide.
The 16-year payback on a cash purchase is too long for many Lewiston homeowners — especially in a community where median household income is below the state average. Propel Solar solves this — $0 down, a fixed monthly payment lower than your CMP bill, and ownership via 25-year Concert Loan. It leverages the Section 48E ITC that individual homeowners can no longer claim.
A third-party owner installs solar on your roof and captures the 40% Section 48E (FEOC) ITC — a credit no longer available to homeowner purchases.
Your monthly solar payment is ~$184/mo — 25% less than the average $245/mo CMP bill. Fixed for the life of the agreement. No escalators.
Full ownership — 25-year loan, $0 down, 8.99% APR. American-made Silfab 440W panels (FEOC compliant). Free maintenance during the lease period.
Cash purchase: $27,135 upfront, 16-year payback, $0 federal credit.
Propel: $0 down, save ~$61/mo from day 1, own the system (25-year loan), 40% built-in discount via Section 48E (FEOC panels).
Lewiston, Auburn, Lisbon, Sabattus, Greene, Mechanic Falls, Turner, Minot — all CMP territory and eligible for Propel financing.
$27,135
$0 Down
$0 Down
Compare all options: Maine Cash vs Loan vs Lease Guide
Lewiston-Auburn is Maine's second-largest metro (~110,000 people). Multiple solar installers actively compete for business, keeping pricing at $2.91-$3.12/W -- slightly below Portland.
About 65% of Lewiston homes heat with oil at $3.82/gallon. Pairing solar with a heat pump can eliminate $3,200+/year in oil costs. Solar offsets the heat pump electricity through NEB credits.
Lewiston's Franco-American neighborhoods feature many pre-war triple-deckers and Cape-style homes with pitched roofs and good southern exposure -- ideal for solar panels.
Slightly lower labor and overhead costs than Portland, but the same CMP rate ($0.27/kWh) and 1:1 NEB credits. The solar economics work better here because the system costs less.
Lewiston is Maine's second-largest city with approximately 37,000 residents, separated from Auburn (24,000) by the Androscoggin River. Together the Lewiston-Auburn metro area has about 110,000 people. Lewiston's strong Franco-American heritage is reflected in its architecture — older multi-family homes, triple-deckers, and mill-era buildings that define many neighborhoods.
All Lewiston-Auburn area communities are in CMP territory with the same rates and NEB credits. Solar costs are similar across the metro area.
CMP | $0.27/kWh
Twin city with Lewiston. Same utility, same rates, same solar economics.
CMP | $0.27/kWh
CMP territory. Adjacent to Lewiston, served by same installers.
CMP | $0.27/kWh
CMP territory. Rural area with good roof exposure.
CMP | $0.27/kWh
CMP territory. Rural homes with larger roof areas.
CMP | $0.27/kWh
CMP territory. Growing suburban community.
Lewiston has a straightforward permitting process for residential solar. Your installer handles all paperwork as part of the installation.
Building permit
Required. Covers structural and roof modifications.
Electrical permit
Required. Covers inverter and panel wiring.
Processing time
2-3 weeks typical for residential systems.
CMP interconnection
Application filed by installer. Approval 2-4 weeks.
Older homes
Pre-war housing stock may need structural assessment. Many Lewiston homes have strong pitched roofs suitable for solar, but verify with your installer.
Multi-family
Triple-deckers and multi-unit buildings: owner-occupied units are eligible. Each meter gets separate NEB credits.
Maine Solar Hub
Complete Maine solar guide
Maine Solar Costs
Statewide cost data
Solar Without ITC
Post-25D strategies
Maine Incentives After ITC
What is left in 2026
Section 48E Guide
Third-party ITC explained
NEB Guide
Net Energy Billing explained
Cash vs Loan vs Lease
Financing compared
Heat Pump vs Oil
Oil displacement economics
Solar + Heat Pump
Bundle savings guide
Portland Solar
$2.95-$3.19/W
Bangor Solar
$2.91-$3.15/W (Versant)
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