Wilkes-Barre, PA

Pennsylvania’s Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) program allows homeowners who own solar panel systems to earn additional income from the electricity they generate. For every 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of solar electricity your system produces—approximately 1 megawatt-hour (MWh)—you earn one SREC that can be sold to utility companies through the PJM Generation Attribute Tracking System (GATS).

As of January 2025, Pennsylvania SRECs are valued at approximately $31.25 each, though market prices fluctuate based on supply and demand. An average Pennsylvania home using about 10,000 kWh annually could potentially earn around 10 SRECs per year, creating a valuable additional revenue stream that helps maximize your solar investment.

To qualify for the program, you must own your solar system (not lease it), and your system must be installed and operating within Pennsylvania state lines. You’ll need to apply to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s Alternative Energy Credit Program and register with the GATS trading platform to begin earning and selling credits.

It’s important to note that Pennsylvania SRECs have a three-year useful life—any credit earned today can be sold within the next three years before it expires. This gives homeowners flexibility in timing their sales to potentially maximize returns. Working with a trusted broker like SRECTrade can simplify the process of selling your credits at the best possible rates.

Pennsylvania’s Net Metering program is a valuable incentive that allows solar homeowners to receive full credit for the excess electricity their systems generate. Under this program, when your solar panels produce more electricity than you’re using, that excess power flows back to the grid, and you receive a credit on your utility bill at a 1:1 rate. This means for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) you send to the grid, you get a full retail-value credit to offset the electricity you draw from the grid when your system isn’t producing enough power.

All major Pennsylvania utilities participate in this program, including PECO, Duquesne Light, West Penn Power, Penn Power, PPL, MetEd, and Penelec. Your unused credits roll over from month to month, allowing you to build up credits during sunny months to use during periods of lower solar production. Each year, any remaining credits are paid out (or “trued-up”) at a rate of approximately 8-12 cents per kWh, depending on your utility provider. This true-up typically occurs in May or June, after which your credit balance resets to zero for the new annual cycle.

To be eligible for net metering in Pennsylvania, you need to have a grid-connected solar system that meets your utility’s interconnection requirements. There are no specific deadlines to enroll in net metering, but you’ll need to complete an interconnection agreement with your utility before your solar system can be activated. When planning your solar system, it’s worth noting that sizing your system to closely match your annual electricity usage will maximize your financial benefits under net metering, as the end-of-year payout rate is typically lower than the retail rate you receive throughout the year.