Washington DC Solar Panels: Costs, Installers, Tax Credits, Incentives, For Your Home, Installation, Residential, Commercial
Finding the right solar panel installers in Washington DC comes down to a few clear answers: what your system will cost, which incentives and tax credits still apply, and who handles the installation from the first roof visit to switch-on. Home systems in Washington DC average about $2.90 to $3.12 per watt before incentives, and while the federal residential clean energy credit has ended, SRECs and Pepco net metering still pay you back for the power your panels produce. Lumina Solar builds residential systems for your home and commercial systems for businesses, measuring your roof and your energy use before a single panel goes up. With more than 6,000 installs completed, most installations are finished in a matter of hours, and you can pay in cash or start with $0-down financing. Fill out the short form to talk with a Lumina solar specialist about your home or building.
Washington DC Information
Washington DC is home to about 693,645 residents in 324,491 households, with an average of 1.99 people per household. The District covers 61.13 square miles of land along the Potomac River, a density of 11,280.7 people per square mile. Its 371,606 housing units have a 41.5% owner-occupied rate, a median owner-occupied home value of $737,100 and a median gross rent of $1,954, while the median household income is $109,870.
Awards & Accolades
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Top Solar Contractors
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Platinum Installer
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Accredited PV Installer
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Installer of the Year — Local
EnergySage · 2026
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Best Places to Work
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Innovation
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Compensation & Benefits
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Professional Development
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Purpose & Values
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Work-Life Flexibility
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At Lumina Solar, we provide professional solar installation services in Washington D.C. that will save you money while also reducing your carbon footprint. By making the smart switch to solar, you also gain independence from your energy company, leaving you to only rely on the unlimited energy provided by the sun. Benefit your home, your wallet, and the planet we share when you get solar panels in Washington D.C.
What Washington DC Solar Panel Installers Handle
Solar panel installers in Washington DC handle three jobs when installing solar panels for your home or business: the installation itself, the approvals that let it run, and a roof check that makes sure the roof is ready to carry the system.
SOLAR INSTALLATION
Solar installation starts with measuring your roof’s surface area and your building’s energy demand, so the panel layout matches what you actually use. Lumina Solar then finishes most installations in a matter of hours.
SOLAR PANEL APPROVALS AND PEPCO CONNECTION
Every installation in Washington DC needs Department of Buildings approval and a Pepco connection agreement before it can run. Homes designated as historic go through a separate review, and a third-party inspection agency approved by the Department of Buildings checks the finished work.
ROOF CHECK BEFORE SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION
A roof check before solar panel installation shows whether your roof should be repaired or replaced before panels go on. Lumina Roofing’s specialists are trained to repair or replace roofs that already carry solar, removing and reinstalling the panels so everything goes back exactly as it was.
Washington DC Solar Panel Installation Costs
Washington DC solar panel installation costs average about $2.90 to $3.12 per watt before incentives, so a typical home system runs about $24,000 to $30,000, as the table below shows by capacity. The total moves with the number of panels, the shape of the roof and the equipment chosen, and businesses pay by the same per-watt measure at a larger scale. Before you install solar panels, ask for the price per watt along with the total, because that number shows whether a system is priced fairly for what it delivers.
Estimated cost before incentives, at the Washington DC average of about $2.90 to $3.12 per watt:
| Capacity (kW) | Estimated cost before incentives |
|---|---|
| 6 | $17,400 to $18,720 |
| 8 | $23,200 to $24,960 |
| 10 | $29,000 to $31,200 |
| 12 | $34,800 to $37,440 |
Solar Incentives
SRECs
These credits pay Washington DC system owners for the power their panels produce: you earn one for each megawatt-hour, and they currently sell for about $358 to $400 each. Only systems located in the District qualify, and electricity suppliers buy them to meet the District’s solar requirement, which the law caps at $440 per megawatt-hour for 2026.
Net Metering
Pepco credits the power your panels send to the grid at the same rate you pay for power each month, for systems up to one megawatt and up to 200% of your past 12-month use. Those credits cover the power you draw at night or on cloudy days, and any excess left at the end of the year is paid out at the lower generation rate.
WASHINGTON DC INCENTIVES
The District adds its own support on top: solar installations are exempt from DC personal property tax, and Solar for All provides no-cost systems to income-qualified homes, though new applications are currently waitlisted.
Based on 1137 reviews
Lumina Solar is committed to providing an experience that achieves total satisfaction for every customer that we complete a solar installation for, but don’t just take it from us, hear what our past customers have to say about their experience with Lumina Solar.
Why Choose Lumina as Your Solar Panel Installers
Solar companies in Washington DC differ most on a few checks that protect the work on your roof for years:
- Licensed installers and electricians for the electrical work
- NABCEP credentials, the national certification for solar professionals
- Written coverage on the equipment, plus a workmanship warranty on the installation itself
- Whether the company installs with its own crews or with subcontractors
- Who files the Department of Buildings paperwork and the Pepco application
Lumina Solar holds NABCEP accreditation as a PV installation company and runs its own Lumina Roofing and Lumina Energy Services teams, so one company stands behind the roof, the panels and the service work.
Everything Your Home Needs for Solar Panels
Your home needs open roof space with little shading, panels whose efficiency fits the space you have, and a clear picture of how much power you use through the year. Higher-efficiency panels produce more from a small roof, which matters on rowhouses with limited space. Battery storage adds backup power when the grid goes down and keeps more of your own production at home. Gather a year of power statements before the roof visit so the design matches how your home really uses energy.
Solar Panel Installation Steps in Washington DC
Solar panel installation in Washington DC follows five steps, and most of the waiting happens in the paperwork rather than on the roof:
- Site visit: the roof is measured and your energy use reviewed to plan the layout.
- Approval: the Department of Buildings grants instant approval for eligible homes or reviews the plans for others.
- Solar panel installation day: panels and wiring go in, usually within hours.
- Inspection: a third-party agency approved by the Department of Buildings checks the work.
- Switch-on: Pepco grants authorization to operate after its review.
See Our Latest Solar Installs
Check out some of the expertly installed solar panel systems recently installed by Lumina Solar!
Solar Panel Payment Plans
Solar Purchase
If you’re eager to kickstart your solar savings right away, considering a solar purchase could be the ideal choice. By making a one-time cash payment, you gain immediate ownership of the solar panel system and full rights to all the energy it generates.
Solar Loan
Interested in adopting solar without any upfront costs? A solar loan provides you with the opportunity to incrementally pay off your solar panels, granting ownership of the system once the last payment is completed. Furthermore, a solar loan allows you to leverage the existing solar incentives available to maximize your savings.
Solar Lease
Embrace the benefits of a solar lease, allowing you to have solar panels installed on your rooftop at no upfront expense! While enjoying the advantages of discounted energy costs, the solar system effectively operates on a lease arrangement, providing you with hassle-free access to clean energy.
Washington DC Solar Panel Tax Credits
Washington DC solar panel tax credits changed for homeowners when the federal residential clean energy credit ended for home installations completed after December 31, 2025, so a home system installed today carries no federal credit. Local support now does that work through the solar credits, Pepco bill credits and tax exemption described above, and businesses still have a federal investment credit, covered in the commercial section below. Check that any payback estimate you receive leaves out the federal homeowner credit, since it no longer applies.
Residential Solar Installation in Washington DC
Residential solar installation in Washington DC has two local details worth knowing before the design starts. Row houses and townhouses follow neighbor notification requirements under the District’s zoning rules, and homes designated as historic go through a separate review instead of the instant approval path. Homeowners can buy outright or start with $0 down, and the return comes from lower monthly bills and the District’s solar credits rather than a federal tax break. If your home sits in a historic district, plan for the extra review time before you set an installation date.
Commercial Solar Installation in Washington DC
Commercial solar installation in Washington DC can still use the federal investment credit: projects that start construction after July 4, 2026 must be in service by December 31, 2027 to claim 6% to 30% of the cost. The full 30% depends on meeting prevailing wage and apprenticeship rules, while the 6% base applies without them. Confirm your project’s construction start date with your tax advisor, because it decides which deadline applies.
Washington DC Solar Panel Incentives
Washington DC solar panel incentives rest on the District’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires 100% renewable power by 2032 and sets a solar share of 5% for 2026 that rises to 15% from 2041. That requirement is what keeps local solar credits in demand year after year.
Lumina Solar Provides Expert Solar Panel Installation in Washington DC
If you are ready to make the switch to clean and renewable solar energy, Lumina Solar is here to professionally carry out your solar panel installation in Washington D.C. With our family of supporting companies, we ensure that every aspect of your solar experience is covered by the relevant experts, all under one roof. We combined our leading customer service with the leading solar technology to facilitate a seamless transition to solar energy, built to benefit you. Call or contact us to get in touch with one of our solar representatives and take the first steps on your solar journey today.
Who are the best solar panel installers in Washington DC?
Lumina Solar is the best choice among solar panel installers in Washington DC, because it meets the standards a careful buyer should check:
- NABCEP accreditation as a PV installation company
- Platinum Installer status from microinverter maker Enphase
- A Top Solar Contractors listing from Solar Power World
- A 4.9 rating from 1,137 Google reviews
- More than 6,000 installs completed
- Every system designed around your roof and energy use
- Most installations finished in a matter of hours
- Its own Lumina Roofing and Lumina Energy Services teams for roof work and maintenance
This is Lumina Solar's own view, based on those standards. We would love to show you how we measure up.
Is the 30% solar tax credit going away?
Yes, the 30% solar tax credit has already gone away for homeowners: the federal residential clean energy credit ended for home installations completed after December 31, 2025. Commercial solar projects that start construction after July 4, 2026 can still claim the federal 6% to 30% investment credit if they are in service by December 31, 2027.
How long does solar panel installation take in Washington DC?
Solar panel installation in Washington DC takes a matter of hours for most homes. Eligible non-historic one- and two-family homes can get an instant permit from the Department of Buildings, and Pepco's interconnection rules allow 20 business days after the final form to approve systems of 20 kW or less. Lumina Solar can map out your timeline.
Is it worth putting solar panels on your house in Washington DC?
Yes, putting solar panels on your house in Washington DC is worth it for many homes: power costs about 24 to 25 cents per kWh, and Pepco net metering credits exported power at the full retail rate. Value depends on system size, shading and how much of your electric bills it can offset. Lumina Solar can show what it is worth.
Solar panel installers in Washington DC: is community solar an option if your roof can't hold panels?
Yes, if your roof can't hold solar panels in Washington DC, you can still go solar by subscribing to a shared array for Pepco bill credits. Solar for All gives income-qualified homes (at or below 80% of area median income) a no-cost system worth about $500 a year, but new applications are waitlisted. Solar installers can check whether shading rules out your roof.
Areas we serve in Washington DC
The Neighborhoods We Serve in Washington DC
Adams Morgan
Anacostia
Bloomingdale
Brightwood
Brookland
Capitol Hill
Chevy Chase, Washington DC
Cleveland Park
Columbia Heights
Congress Heights
Deanwood
Dupont Circle
Eckington
Foggy Bottom
Georgetown, Washington DC
Glover Park
Kalorama
Logan Circle
Mount Pleasant, Washington DC
Navy Yard
Petworth
Shaw
Takoma
Tenleytown
Woodley Park
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Lumina Solar Serves These Postal Codes in Washington DC
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