Newburgh, NY Solar Panels
Solar Power in Newburgh
Electricity bills in New York have never been higher — rates have climbed 33% since 2020, leaving Newburgh and Hudson Valley homeowners searching for answers. With New York’s residential rate sitting at 24.37 cents per kWh, well above the national average, it’s no surprise that more Orange County residents are turning to solar to take control of their energy costs.
Palmetto has helped homeowners across the country navigate this shift, and this guide is built specifically for Newburgh. Here, you’ll find clear, honest information about solar panels for your home — from how the technology works to what the installation process looks like in your neighborhood.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Newburgh, NY?
Using real installation data from Newburgh and surrounding areas like New Windsor, Beacon, and Middletown, this calculator gives you an accurate estimate of what solar panels would cost for your home — no guesswork, just local numbers.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- New York electricity rates have risen 25% since 2021 — Newburgh homeowners now pay 24.4¢/kWh, well above the national average, making solar a smart way to stabilize costs.
- A typical Newburgh home can save around $96,000 over 25 years with solar, with a payback period of roughly 7 years and monthly savings starting immediately.
- New York offers strong solar incentives, including a 25% state tax credit (up to $5,000) and a 15-year property tax exemption, helping reduce the cost of going solar in Newburgh.
Newburgh Electricity Prices
Newburgh homeowners are paying more for electricity than ever — and the numbers tell a clear story.
New York electricity rates rose from 19.5 cents per kWh in 2021 to 24.4 cents per kWh in 2024 — a 25% increase in just three years. That’s well above the national average of 16.5 cents per kWh in 2024.
Solar can help reduce your dependence on the grid. By generating your own electricity at home, you’re less exposed to rate increases that are outside your control — a growing concern for Orange County households.
Over time, that stability adds up. Homeowners who go solar lock in more predictable energy costs for decades, making solar one of the most practical long-term responses to rising utility rates in the Hudson Valley.
Price of Energy: New York vs National Average
Newburgh Area Utility Providers
In Newburgh, NY, electricity is supplied primarily by Central Hudson and Orange & Rockland. Based on 2023 data — the most recent available — their rates are 25.1¢ and 23.5¢ per kWh, well above the national average of 16.0¢.
These elevated rates reflect regional factors common to the Hudson Valley: aging grid infrastructure, high transmission costs, and the expense of maintaining service across a mix of dense and rural terrain. New York’s 2023 state average of 22.20¢ per kWh also exceeds the national norm for similar reasons.
When local electricity rates run this high, generating your own power through solar installation in Newburgh, NY can meaningfully offset what you pay the utility. The greater the rate, the more each kilowatt-hour your panels produce is worth to your household.
Newburgh Utilities Electricity Rates
New York Solar Incentives
Newburgh homeowners have access to meaningful solar incentives in New York that can help reduce the upfront and long-term costs of going solar.
New York State offers a 25% solar income tax credit (up to $5,000), a 15-year property tax exemption under RPTL Section 487, and per-watt installation incentives through the NYSERDA NY-Sun program — all available to eligible Orange County residents.
Note that the federal 30% residential solar tax credit was eliminated by the Big Beautiful Bill. For homeowners exploring leasing, options like LightReach handle commercial incentives and pass savings through lower monthly payments.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York State Property Tax Exemption for Solar (RPTL Section 487) | Property Tax Exemption | New York’s Real Property Tax Law Section 487 exempts the added assessed value from a solar installation from property taxes for 15 years, preventing your tax bill from rising after going solar. | Learn More |
Under Real Property Tax Law (RPTL) Section 487, any increase in your home’s assessed value resulting from the installation of a solar energy system is fully exempt from property taxes for 15 years. This means that even if your solar installation adds $20,000–$30,000 in value to your home, your property tax bill will not increase during that 15-year period. The exemption also covers battery storage systems approved by NYSERDA. New York City has additionally confirmed it will not require a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for energy storage systems seeking benefits under RPTL 487.
The exemption is available statewide, but with an important caveat: outside of the five largest cities (New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers), each county, city, town, village, and school district has the authority to opt in or out of offering the exemption. Before installation, residents of Newburgh should confirm with your local assessor’s office that the exemption is available in your jurisdiction.
To claim the exemption, you must complete Form RP-487 (Application for Tax Exemption of Solar, Wind, or Certain Other Energy Systems) and submit it to your local assessor on or before the taxable status date (typically January 5 for most municipalities). One copy goes to NYSERDA and one to your local Department of Finance. An application filed by January 1, 2025, for example, would result in an exemption effective July 1, 2025. There is no cost to apply, and the savings over 15 years can be substantial.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with New York incentives.
Get a Free QuoteNewburgh Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.
Newburgh gets about 200 sunny days yearly, with cold winters reducing output but not eliminating it. Like Boston or Seattle, the right solar system makes Newburgh a surprisingly strong candidate for solar energy.
Solar Production in Newburgh by Month
What Can Your Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
In July, your 10 kW system could power:
- 3.6 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Run central AC for 18 hours AND power all other appliances
- or Fully charge 5.4 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Winter Production (December)
In December, your 10 kW system could power:
- 2 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Keep your home heating system running for 15 hours
- or Fully charge 3 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Annual Production
Over a year, your 10 kW system could:
- Offset 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 175 trees
- or Save approximately $4,234 in electricity costs
Want to know exactly how much solar can power your home?
Get a personalized solar analysis based on your actual home, energy usage, and roof characteristics.
Get My Custom EstimateSolar Panel Systems in Newburgh
We’ve mapped solar installations across the U.S. down to the address level — and we’re excited to share what’s happening right here in Newburgh. Explore the map below to see which neighborhoods and communities have already made the switch to solar!
Leasing Solar Panels
Newburgh homeowners served by Central Hudson Gas & Electric or Orange & Rockland have access to Palmetto’s LightReach solar lease through select partners. With a lease, you pay a fixed monthly amount — for example, around $92/month for a medium-sized home — rather than purchasing the system outright.
Leasing has a few clear advantages over a cash purchase. There’s no large upfront cost, and Palmetto owns and maintains the system throughout the agreement. That means no out-of-pocket repair bills, no monitoring headaches, and a 90% production guarantee built in. With a cash purchase, those responsibilities fall on you.
It’s worth noting that the federal 30% solar tax credit is no longer available for homeowners who buy. Because Palmetto owns a leased system, it can still access commercial incentives and pass those savings through to you via lower monthly payments. If you’d like to understand the full comparison, this guide on buying vs. leasing solar walks through the key differences in plain terms.
Go solar without the investment
With LightReach, there are no investment costs to recoup, loan payments to manage, or maintenance needs to take on. As soon as your panels are active, your solar savings are too!
Explore LightReach LeasingFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, solar makes strong sense for Newburgh homeowners. With New York electricity rates at 24.4¢/kWh — well above the national average — and about 200 sunny days per year, a typical Newburgh home can save around $96,000 over 25 years with a payback period of roughly 7 years. New York also offers a 25% state tax credit (up to $5,000) and a 15-year property tax exemption.
If upfront cost is a concern, Palmetto’s LightReach lease removes that barrier entirely — Newburgh homeowners can go solar with no money down and start saving from day one.
Yes, Newburgh has net metering. Newburgh is served by Central Hudson Gas & Electric and Orange & Rockland, both of which offer 1:1 net metering. Each month, any excess solar energy you export to the grid is credited against your total consumption at the full retail rate.
Unused credits roll over indefinitely — month to month and year to year — for up to 20 years. Note that there is a monthly solar fee called the Contribution Benefits Charge (CBC): $1.37/kW-DC for Central Hudson customers and $1.39/kW-DC for Orange & Rockland customers.
Yes, solar panels can increase your home’s value in Newburgh. According to a Zillow study, homes with solar panels sell for about 4.1% more than comparable homes without them. For a median-priced home in the Newburgh area, that could translate to a meaningful increase in resale value.
New York also offers a 15-year property tax exemption under RPTL Section 487, meaning the added home value from your solar installation won’t raise your property tax bill during that period — making solar a smart long-term investment for Orange County homeowners.
With Palmetto’s LightReach lease, Newburgh homeowners can go solar for as little as $92/month with no upfront cost. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, so there are no repair bills or monitoring headaches.
For those preferring a cash purchase, a typical Newburgh system runs around $20,448 after New York’s $5,000 state incentive. Note that the federal 30% tax credit is no longer available for residential purchases following the Big Beautiful Bill. Use the calculator above for a personalized estimate.
For many Newburgh homeowners, solar can make strong financial sense — especially with electricity rates at 24.4¢/kWh, well above the national average. With a LightReach lease, there’s no upfront investment required. Your monthly lease payment is typically less than your current electric bill, meaning you can start saving from day one.
A typical Newburgh home could save around $96,000 over 25 years. New York’s 25% state tax credit (up to $5,000) and a 15-year property tax exemption further strengthen the financial case for going solar.
Palmetto is a strong choice for solar installation in Newburgh, NY. We’re a national company with a local focus, serving 20,000+ customers across 31 states with an approval rating over 85%. Our vetted install network ensures quality workmanship right here in Orange County.
We also offer some of the best financing options available, including our LightReach lease — no upfront cost, no maintenance responsibilities, and a 90% production guarantee. For Newburgh homeowners, that means a straightforward path to lower energy bills from day one.
With Palmetto’s LightReach lease, Newburgh homeowners can go solar for approximately $92/month for a typical 8.50 kW system — with no upfront cost. That single monthly payment covers the panels, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee.
Because Palmetto owns the system, it qualifies for the commercial Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and passes those savings to you through lower monthly payments. Since the monthly lease payment is typically less than your current electric bill, most Newburgh homeowners start saving from day one.