Syracuse, NY Solar Panels
Solar Power in Syracuse
If you live in Syracuse, NY, you’ve likely seen your electricity bills go up. New York electricity prices have risen 33% from 2020 to 2024 — and the state now ranks 7th highest in the nation for utility costs. More homeowners are turning to solar to better understand and manage their energy expenses.
This guide covers everything you need to know about home solar panels in Syracuse — from how installation works to what you can realistically expect to save.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Syracuse, NY?
Using real installation data from Syracuse and surrounding areas like Fayetteville, Manlius, and Cicero, this calculator gives you an honest, localized estimate of what solar panels could cost — and save — for your home.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- New York electricity rates have risen 25% in just three years — reaching 24.4¢/kWh — making solar a practical way for Syracuse homeowners to stabilize their energy costs.
- Syracuse homeowners can save an average of ~$90,000 over 25 years with solar, with a typical payback period of around 7–8 years after state incentives.
- New York’s 15-year property tax exemption means going solar won’t raise your tax bill — and leasing options like LightReach let you start saving with zero upfront cost.
Syracuse Electricity Prices
Electricity in Syracuse isn’t getting cheaper — and for many homeowners, that’s reason enough to explore alternatives.
New York residential electricity rates climbed from 19.5 cents per kWh in 2021 to 24.4 cents per kWh in 2024 — a roughly 25% increase in just three years. That’s well above the national average of 16.5 cents per kWh.
Solar panels allow homeowners to generate their own electricity, reducing how much they draw from the grid. As utility rates rise, producing your own power becomes an increasingly practical way to stabilize your monthly energy costs.
A solar system typically has a lifespan of 25–30 years. Over that period, locking in a lower cost of energy today can mean meaningful savings — especially in a state where electricity rates consistently rank among the highest in the country.
Price of Energy: New York vs National Average
Syracuse Area Utility Providers
Most Syracuse homeowners are served by two utility providers: National Grid and NYSEG. Based on the most recent available 2023 data, National Grid charged 17.0¢ per kWh and NYSEG charged 15.5¢ per kWh — both worth understanding as you consider solar panel installation in Syracuse.
New York’s 2023 state average of 22.20¢ per kWh was significantly higher than the national average of 16.0¢ per kWh. Factors like aging grid infrastructure, transmission costs, and regional energy demand all contribute to New York’s elevated electricity rates.
When local electricity costs are higher, the financial case for solar becomes clearer. More Syracuse homeowners are taking control of their electricity bills by generating their own power — reducing long-term exposure to utility rate increases.
Syracuse Utilities Electricity Rates
New York Solar Incentives
New York state offers several solar incentives in New York that can help reduce the overall cost of solar installation in Syracuse, NY.
The most broadly applicable incentive for Syracuse homeowners is the New York State Property Tax Exemption (RPTL Section 487), which prevents your property tax bill from rising after a solar installation for 15 years.
For homeowners who choose solar leasing through Palmetto’s LightReach program, Palmetto handles the commercial tax credit directly and passes the savings along through lower monthly payments — simplifying the process.
| 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. As one of the five largest cities, Syracuse homeowners benefit from this exemption automatically — no local opt-in is required.
To claim the exemption, residents of Syracuse 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 QuoteSyracuse 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.
Syracuse gets cold, snowy winters, but solar still works well here. Longer summer days and reflective snow can actually boost production. The right system makes Syracuse a solid solar city.
Solar Production in Syracuse 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 Syracuse
We’ve mapped every solar installation across the U.S. — right down to the address level. Explore the heatmap below to see how many of your Syracuse neighbors have already made the switch to solar. Click any hexagon to see the number of installations in that area!
Leasing Solar Panels
Not everyone wants to pay for solar panels upfront — and that’s completely understandable. Palmetto’s LightReach program offers a solar lease option for homeowners in Syracuse served by National Grid or NYSEG (New York State Electric & Gas), the two primary utilities in the area. With a lease, you pay a fixed monthly amount — for example, around $92/month for a medium-sized home — while Palmetto owns and maintains the system.
The biggest advantage of leasing over a cash purchase is simplicity. When you buy a system outright, you’re responsible for maintenance, repairs, and monitoring performance over a 25–30 year lifespan. With a LightReach lease, Palmetto handles all of that. There’s no upfront investment, and your panels come with a 90% production guarantee and a comprehensive protection program. If something goes wrong, it’s Palmetto’s responsibility — not yours.
It’s also worth noting that leasing and a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) are often confused. With a lease, you pay a fixed monthly amount regardless of how much energy your panels produce. With a PPA, you pay per kilowatt-hour generated — so your bill may be higher in summer (when panels produce more) and lower in winter. Annual savings are typically similar between the two. In New York, the LightReach lease option is available for select partners. To understand which option fits your situation, learn more about buying vs. leasing solar.
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 sense in Syracuse. New York electricity rates have risen 25% in just three years to 24.4¢/kWh — well above the national average. Syracuse homeowners can expect to save around ~$90,000 over 25 years, with a typical payback period of 7–8 years after state incentives like New York’s 15-year property tax exemption.
If upfront cost is a concern, Palmetto’s LightReach lease program removes that barrier entirely — you can go solar with no money down and start saving from day one, with Palmetto handling all maintenance and system monitoring.
Yes, Syracuse homeowners have access to net metering. Most Syracuse residents are served by National Grid or NYSEG, both of which offer 1:1 net metering. Each month, the solar energy you export to the grid is netted against your total consumption. Any unused credits roll over month to month and year to year for up to 20 years.
Note that both utilities charge a monthly Contribution Benefits Charge (CBC) — $1.45/kW-DC for National Grid and $1.16/kW-DC for NYSEG. No check is issued for remaining credits at the end of the 20-year period.
Yes, solar panels can increase your home value in Syracuse. According to a Zillow study, homes with solar panels sell for approximately 4.1% more than comparable homes without them. For a $250,000 home in Syracuse, that could mean roughly $10,000 in added value.
New York’s 15-year property tax exemption (RPTL Section 487) means that added home value won’t raise your property tax bill — making solar a practical upgrade for Syracuse homeowners looking to build long-term equity.
With Palmetto’s LightReach lease, Syracuse homeowners can go solar for a low fixed monthly payment — starting around $74–$125/month depending on home size — with no upfront cost. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, and passes tax credit savings directly to you through lower payments.
For a cash purchase, a typical 8.5 kW system in Syracuse runs approximately $20,448 after New York’s state incentives. Note that the federal 30% tax credit is no longer available for residential cash purchases. Use the calculator above for a personalized estimate.
For Syracuse homeowners, solar can make strong financial sense — especially with leasing. With New York electricity rates at 24.4¢/kWh (well above the national average), your utility bill is already high. Through Palmetto’s LightReach lease, you can start saving from day one with no upfront investment required.
The monthly lease payment is typically less than your current electricity bill, meaning most Syracuse homeowners see immediate savings. Over 25 years, the average Syracuse homeowner can save approximately ~$90,000.
Palmetto is a top choice for solar installation in Syracuse, NY. As a national company with a strong local install network, we’ve served 20,000+ customers across 31 states with an approval rating over 85%. We offer some of the most flexible financing options available, including our LightReach lease — no upfront cost, no maintenance responsibilities, and a 90% production guarantee.
Syracuse homeowners benefit from our transparent process, dedicated support, and competitive pricing. A typical 8.5 kW system runs approximately $20,448 after New York state incentives, or as low as $92/month with a lease.
With Palmetto’s LightReach lease, Syracuse homeowners pay one simple monthly payment that covers everything — the system, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee. There is no upfront cost. Palmetto owns the system and passes commercial tax credit savings through to you via lower payments.
For a typical 8.50 kW system in Syracuse, the estimated monthly lease payment is approximately $92/month — often less than your current electricity bill, so many homeowners start saving from day one.