Is Solar Worth It on Long Island in 2026?
The federal tax credit is gone and everyone has an opinion. Here's the honest answer, from someone who has helped more than 1,300 New York homeowners go solar since 2013.
By Steve Maroney, founder of Power House Home Energy · Updated October 2026
For most Long Island homeowners with a sound, mostly sunny roof and a typical PSEG Long Island bill, yes. Fully burdened electricity here, with every charge on the bill included, runs about 27–31¢ per kWh in 2026, among the highest costs in the country, and solar replaces most of that rising cost with a fixed one you control. The 30% federal credit ended for homeowners after 2025, but New York's 25% solar tax credit (up to $5,000) and our Participate Energy program, an incentive that lowers your investment by 25–35%, still make the numbers work.
Why Long Island is one of the best places in the country for solar
Solar's value comes down to one number: what each kilowatt-hour from your roof is worth. On Long Island it's worth a lot, because PSEG Long Island customers pay about 27–31¢ per kWh once every charge on the bill is included, well above the national average, and rates have risen steadily for years. Time-of-Day plans vary more widely. The higher your rate, the more every panel saves.
Your panels power your home first. When they produce more than you're using, the extra goes to the grid and is credited on your PSEG Long Island bill, so you can draw it back at night and in winter. For most homeowners we recommend staying on PSEG's standard flat-rate plan (Rate 180) with solar; here's why.
What changed in 2026, and what's still available
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit expired for homeowner-owned systems at the end of 2025. That was a real change, but it didn't erase the case for solar. Here's what Long Island homeowners can still use:
What our customers actually see
Bills don't usually go to zero, because PSEG Long Island keeps a small monthly connection charge, but they often come close:
“My PSEG bill went from over $300 a month to a $17 connection charge!”
Brittany · Kings Park, NY · Google review“Electric bill went from $250/month to $12. Still hooked up to the grid, so no need to worry about a rough patch of weather.”
Ben · Islip, NY · Google reviewAcross our featured projects, from an 18-panel system in Amityville to a 60-panel system in Saint James, customers' proposals project $145,000 to $290,000+ in lifetime savings. Those are projections based on each home's usage and rate assumptions, not guarantees, but they show the scale. See them on the Smithtown, Brookhaven, Islip and Babylon pages.
When solar isn't worth it, and we'll tell you
Solar isn't right for every home, and saying so is part of the job. It usually doesn't make sense if:
Based on our 2026 pricing, most properly sized systems pay for themselves in about 4 years after Participate Energy and the New York tax credit (illustrative; results vary). See cost and savings by bill size.
How to find out for your home
The only real answer is your own numbers. Send us a recent PSEG bill and we'll model your roof, shade, usage and rate plan, then show you the system size, the cost after incentives and the projected savings, with no pressure to sign anything.
Common questions
Is the federal solar tax credit still available on Long Island?
No. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit expired for homeowner-owned systems at the end of 2025. New York's 25% solar tax credit (up to $5,000) is still available, and our Participate Energy program lowers your investment by 25–35%.
How much can solar save on Long Island?
It depends on your usage, roof and rate plan. Many of our customers' bills drop to the small monthly PSEG connection charge, and our featured customers' proposals project $145,000 to $290,000+ in lifetime savings. We model your exact numbers from a recent PSEG bill.
Does solar still work in Long Island winters?
Yes. Panels produce less on short winter days, but the credits you build up in sunnier months carry forward on your PSEG Long Island bill to cover the difference.
Should I wait for better technology or new incentives?
Waiting means paying full PSEG rates in the meantime, and rates have risen steadily for years. Today's panels carry 25–30 year warranties. If your roof and usage make sense now, waiting usually costs more than it saves.