HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
- Cost figure = “Average 6 kW home system after 30 % federal tax credit” (cash purchase).
- All $/W values are the net cash price after the 30 % ITC.
- Click any state name to open its full 1-page profile (rebate links, net-metering rules, local utility bonuses, etc.).
- Data sources: EnergySage marketplace quotes closed Feb-28-2025 , DSIRE, state agencies, and utility filings.
COST & KEY INCENTIVE TABLES
A. Lowest-cost states (after incentives, 6 kW system)
| Rank | State | Net Cost | $/W | Quick-hits (2025) | Code |
|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $18,799 | $2.07 | 25 % state tax credit (up to $1,000) + strong net-metering | AZ |
| 2 | Nevada | $18,939 | $2.17 | NV Energy upfront rebate $0.20/W | NV |
| 3 | California | $14,476 | $2.30 | NEM 3.0 but high TOU savings; SGIP battery rebates | CA |
| 4 | Texas | $20,308 | $2.06 | No statewide rebate but many utility rebates (CPS, Oncor, AEP) | TX |
| 5 | New Mexico | $18,594 | $2.86 | 10 % state tax credit + up to $6.50/ft² | NM |
B. Highest-cost states (after incentives, 6 kW system)
| Rank | State | Net Cost | $/W | Why it’s higher | Code |
|---|
| 46 | Indiana | $27,504 | $3.18 | Limited state incentives | IN |
| 47 | Iowa | $27,927 | $3.16 | No statewide rebate; modest net-metering caps | IA |
| 48 | Kansas | $25,732 | $3.08 | Small utility rebates only | KS |
| 49 | Wyoming | $27,919 | $3.54 | No state incentives; low competition | WY |
| 50 | West Virginia | $31,636 | $3.10 | Only federal credit + property tax exemption | WV |
C. Every state in alphabetical order
| State | Net Cost 6 kW | $/W | State-specific 2025 highlights (sample) | Code |
|---|
| Alabama | $30,427 | $3.12 | TVA “Green Switch” buy-back at avoided-cost only | AL |
| Alaska | — | — | Net-metering cap 25 kW; cold-climate install premium | AK |
| Arizona | $18,799 | $2.07 | $1,000 state tax credit; APS & SRP demand-based export | AZ |
| Arkansas | $23,164 | $2.50 | Net-metering ends new enrollments 2023; grandfathered 20 yrs | AR |
| California | $14,476 | $2.30 | NEM 3.0 reduces export value; add battery for best ROI | CA |
| Colorado | $20,321 | $2.82 | Xcel Solar*Rewards ~$0.03/kWh 10-yr PBI; sales-tax exempt | CO |
| Connecticut | $21,781 | $2.77 | CT Green Bank 10-yr loan 0–2.9 %; NEM 1:1 retail | CT |
| Delaware | $21,347 | $2.41 | Delmarva Power Green Energy Program $0.70/W | DE |
| Florida | $21,092 | $2.11 | Property-tax exemption; FPL net-metering @ retail | FL |
| Georgia | $22,787 | $2.57 | GA Power monthly net excess @ avoided-cost; $0.25/W rebate | GA |
| Hawaii | $20,138 | $3.39 | No net-metering; Customer Grid-Supply + battery incentives | HI |
| Idaho | $22,334 | $2.53 | Rocky Mountain Power upfront rebate $1,100-$2,400 | ID |
| Illinois | $24,666 | $2.99 | Illinois Shines SRECs + $300/kW Smart Inverter rebate | IL |
| Indiana | $27,504 | $3.18 | Net-metering phased to avoided-cost + 25 % adder | IN |
| Iowa | $27,927 | $3.16 | MidAm $0.20/W rebate; net-metering cap 1 MW | IA |
| Kansas | $25,732 | $3.08 | Westar $0.25/W rebate ending 2025; net excess @ wholesale | KS |
| Kentucky | $27,372 | $2.72 | Net-metering @ retail; TVA territory limited | KY |
| Louisiana | $20,813 | $2.44 | No state rebate; Entergy $0.50/W in select areas | LA |
| Maine | $24,385 | $3.02 | Net-metering restored 2024; Efficiency Maine $2,000 rebate | ME |
| Maryland | $25,665 | $2.69 | $1,000 state rebate; robust SREC market | MD |
| Massachusetts | $23,107 | $3.19 | SMART tariff $0.20-$0.30/kWh 10 yrs; 15 % tax credit up to $1,000 | MA |
| Michigan | $22,476 | $3.12 | Consumers Energy upfront $0.25/W; property-tax exempt | MI |
| Minnesota | $25,038 | $2.94 | Xcel Solar*Rewards $0.03/kWh 10 yrs + SolarSense rebate | MN |
| Mississippi | $22,261 | $2.79 | Net-metering @ avoided-cost; no statewide rebate | MS |
| Missouri | $25,265 | $2.82 | Ameren $0.25/W rebate; Columbia $500-$1,250 | MO |
| Montana | $22,787 | $2.61 | Net-metering @ retail; NorthWestern Energy $0.50/W | MT |
| Nebraska | $21,266 | $2.24 | No state rebate; LES $0.375/W | NE |
| Nevada | $18,939 | $2.17 | NV Energy $0.20/W upfront; net-metering @ 75 % retail | NV |
| New Hampshire | $22,468 | $3.16 | Net-metering @ retail; state rebate $0.20/W | NH |
| New Jersey | $22,728 | $2.56 | Transition Incentive (TREC) $152/MWh 15 yrs | NJ |
| New Mexico | $18,594 | $2.86 | 10 % state tax credit; PNM $0.10/W | NM |
| New York | $23,279 | $2.83 | NY-Sun $0.20/W + 25 % state tax credit to $5,000 | NY |
| North Carolina | $21,298 | $2.30 | Duke Energy $0.40/W; net-metering @ retail | NC |
| North Dakota | — | — | Net-metering @ avoided-cost; small co-op rebates | ND |
| Ohio | $23,024 | $2.58 | ECO-Link loan 3 % below market; SREC $40-$60 | OH |
| Oklahoma | $23,245 | $2.33 | Net-metering @ avoided-cost; OG&E $0.25/W | OK |
| Oregon | $20,992 | $2.64 | Solar + Storage rebate $0.20-$0.50/W; net-metering @ retail | OR |
| Pennsylvania | $23,422 | $2.71 | SREC $35-$45; PA Sunshine $0.75/W (closed 2023) | PA |
| Rhode Island | $22,135 | $3.26 | REGrowth tariff $0.27-$0.34/kWh 15 yrs | RI |
| South Carolina | $22,495 | $2.52 | 25 % state tax credit up to $3,500; net-metering @ retail | SC |
| South Dakota | — | — | Net-metering @ avoided-cost; no state incentives | SD |
| Tennessee | $27,325 | $3.34 | TVA limited programs; low installer competition | TN |
| Texas | $20,308 | $2.06 | No statewide rebate; strong utility programs (CPS $2,500) | TX |
| Utah | $21,020 | $2.61 | Rocky Mountain Power $400-$1,200 rebate; net excess @ avoided-cost | UT |
| Vermont | $21,460 | $2.89 | Green Mountain Power $0.06/kWh adder; net-metering @ retail | VT |
| Virginia | $26,126 | $2.85 | Net-metering @ retail; $1,000 state rebate | VA |
| Washington | $22,646 | $2.58 | No state rebate; net-metering @ retail; sales-tax exempt | WA |
| Washington, D.C. | $19,921 | $2.90 | Solar For All income-qualified free installs; SREC $400+ | DC |
| West Virginia | $31,636 | $3.10 | No state rebate; property-tax exempt only | WV |
| Wisconsin | $24,133 | $3.00 | Focus on Energy $0.20/W; net-metering @ retail | WI |
| Wyoming | $27,919 | $3.54 | No state incentives; net excess @ avoided-cost | WY |
UNIVERSAL 2025 INCENTIVES THAT APPLY IN ALL 50 STATES
| Incentive | Value | Key Notes |
|---|
| Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) | 30 % of total system cost (including batteries) | Applies to systems placed in service 2022-2032. Credit steps down to 26 % in 2033 and 22 % in 2034, then expires unless extended . |
| MACRS accelerated depreciation | Up to 15 % additional benefit for businesses | 5-year depreciation schedule for commercial solar installations . |
| Utility & local rebates | $0.10–$2.50 per installed watt | Always stackable with federal credit but will reduce the basis for the ITC . |
| Net-metering or successor tariffs | Varies | 38 states currently mandate retail-rate or near-retail credits; others use avoided-cost or time-of-use export rates . |
GET YOUR CUSTOM QUOTE & FULL STATE PAGE
- Click any state link above to view: exact rebate forms, interconnection rules, financing programs (PACE, low-interest loans), and installer rankings.
- Need an apples-to-apples quote for your roof? Use the EnergySage portal (filtered to your ZIP code) or your state energy office solar map.
QUICK TAKEAWAYS FOR 2025
Cheapest solar (after incentives): Arizona, Nevada, California, Texas, New Mexico.
Most generous state stack: New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Colorado.
Act before 2033: the 30 % federal credit is scheduled to drop to 26 % and then 22 % before disappearing .
Batteries now qualify for the 30 % ITC—hybrid and off-grid systems jumped in popularity.
Utility rebate deadlines—many expire at year-end (CPS Energy TX, Oncor TX, ComEd IL, NV Energy, etc.).
Data last updated 15-Jul-2025.
