What Vermont home solar earns in 2026
We re-read Burlington Electric's solar page, Green Mountain Power's net metering page and Efficiency Vermont's solar listing on October 5, 2026. None of them lists an upfront dollar rebate.
Green Mountain Power net metering
Unused solar power goes to the grid, and a month with more generation than use leaves a credit toward your next bill. Credits older than one year expire. Net metering is meant to cover your own use, not exceed it.
Burlington Electric net metering
Needs a grid connection and a separate generation meter (about $150 for a home) installed by BED. Systems over 15 kW need BED interconnection approval before state registration.
Efficiency Vermont solar listing
Efficiency Vermont's solar page offers a contact form and advice that solar works alongside efficiency upgrades. It lists no amount, though its eligibility tab did not load for us, so call to confirm.
Federal residential clean energy credit
The 30% credit ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
Battery add-on
If you add a battery and are a Green Mountain Power customer, its Bring Your Own Device program pays by the kW enrolled. See our Vermont battery page.
The honest summary is that Vermont solar today is a bill-credit project. If you were counting on a rebate or a tax credit, neither is there for 2026 installs.
What a system costs and makes, by Burlington Electric's numbers
Burlington Electric says solar systems range from $3 to $7 per watt, or $3,000 to $7,000 per kW, and advises getting at least three bids. At those prices a 6 kW system costs $18,000 to $42,000. BED also says a well-oriented fixed system with 100 square feet of panels (about four or five panels, roughly 1,000 watts) produces about 1,100 kWh a year with no seasonal shading. Scaled up, 6 kW would make about 6,600 kWh a year under the same ideal conditions. A real roof with trees or a bad angle makes less.
BED adds that for the average BED residential customer a PV system will produce 35% to 50% of annual energy needs, and that customers with lower bills typically see a payback of more than twenty years while larger bills may pay back sooner. Those are BED's statements, and we have not checked them against Green Mountain Power's rates.
How net metering works in Vermont
Green Mountain Power says net metering lets Vermonters generate their own electricity and send what they do not use to the grid. If you use more than you make you pay for the difference. If you make more than you use in a month you get a credit toward your next bill, but credits more than a year old expire, and net metering is intended to let you generate enough for your own use, not more. We did not read Green Mountain Power's tariff, so we do not state a per-kWh credit. Read it before you size a system.
The approvals that take the time
BED lists the steps. Share your design with BED early, get city permits, file a Registration or Application for a Certificate of Public Good with the state Public Utility Commission, and submit a Service Application to BED. Under Public Utility Commission rule 5.100, effective March 1, 2024, systems over 15 kW need BED interconnection approval before the state registration, while systems of 15 kW or less treat the registration as the interconnection application. BED will not energize a system without a passed inspection from the City of Burlington electrical inspector. Most installers handle the paperwork, but ask who files what.
Power cuts and solar
BED notes that a grid-tied inverter shuts off within milliseconds of an outage so that it does not feed power back into lines. A solar system alone does not keep your lights on. If outages concern you, a battery is what provides backup, which is the subject of our Vermont battery page.
Do the cheap things first
BED says including efficiency improvements with a solar project helps the system cover a higher share of your usage. Weatherization and a heat pump or a heat pump water heater change your load. For rebates on those, read our city guides, such as the Burlington insulation guide, or the appliance page.
How to get started with Vermont solar
- Check your last twelve months of kWh use on your bill.
- Collect at least three installer bids, as BED recommends, and ask each for expected annual kWh.
- Ask which utility's net metering rules apply and who files the state registration.
- If you are in Burlington, share the design with BED before you start.
- Plan for a separate generation meter if your utility requires one.
More for Vermont homes
- Vermont home rebates: every program in one place
- Vermont battery rebates: Green Mountain Power pays $850 to $950 per kW
- Burlington heat pump rebates: big BED rebates for ducted systems
- Vermont rebate calculator: add up what applies to your home
Common questions
Is there a Vermont solar rebate in 2026?
We found no upfront rebate from Efficiency Vermont, Burlington Electric or Green Mountain Power. The federal 30% credit ended for systems placed in service after 2025.
How does Vermont net metering pay?
Surplus generation in a month becomes a credit toward your next bill. Credits older than a year expire.
How much does solar cost in Vermont?
Burlington Electric says $3 to $7 per watt, so a 6 kW system is about $18,000 to $42,000. Get at least three bids.
Will solar power my house during an outage?
Not by itself. A grid-tied inverter shuts off in an outage, so you need a battery for backup.
Does a system over 15 kW need extra approval?
In BED territory, yes: BED interconnection approval before state registration, under rule 5.100 effective March 1, 2024.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 5, 2026: Burlington Electric Department: solar FAQ, Green Mountain Power: what is net metering, Efficiency Vermont: solar PV, IRS: energy efficient home improvement credit.