Charlottesville, VA Solar Panels

Switch Together Virginia offers group-purchase pricing for rooftop solar and optional battery storage. The state reports that solar discounts have averaged about 23%—roughly $6,300 on a typical system—but these are historical averages, not guaranteed savings or a cash rebate. Battery discounts are also available, with the amount depending on the project quote.

The 2026 campaign is available in more than 100 localities, and registration closes October 15, 2026. Registration and receiving a recommendation do not require you to buy; compare the final system design, full price, equipment, warranties, and contract terms with independent bids before accepting an offer.

Virginia law exempts specified qualifying solar facilities with a nameplate capacity of 25 kW DC or less from state and local property taxation. For a homeowner whose installation meets the statutory requirements, the exemption can prevent the qualifying solar equipment from increasing the property-tax assessment.

This is not an automatic exemption for every system: the law ties eligibility to specified residential or agricultural installations and other conditions. Confirm that your system qualifies and ask your locality how the exemption is applied to your property.

Under Virginia law, a county, city, or town may choose to exempt some or all of the assessed value of qualifying solar-energy equipment from local property tax. The statutory definition can also cover qualifying equipment used to store thermal or electric energy, so a battery may be eligible where the local rules allow it.

The exemption is not statewide or automatic. Your locality must have adopted an ordinance, and the owner must apply for certification through the local building department. The law requires an adopted exemption to last at least five years; contact your locality to confirm coverage, application steps, and the amount of tax relief.

Net metering can reduce a solar customer’s electric bill by crediting electricity exported to the grid. Credits and any rollover or annual settlement depend on the utility’s current tariff; there is no single statewide promise of a permanent one-to-one retail credit or a retail-rate payment for excess generation.

Eligibility, system-size limits, interconnection approval, and charges vary among investor-owned utilities and electric cooperatives. Dominion’s 2026 terms include a monthly administrative charge and a lower-value payment for surplus remaining at annual true-up. Before installing solar, ask your utility for its current tariff and written details on export credits, annual settlement, and applicable fees.

Shared solar lets a household receive bill credits from an off-site solar project without installing panels on its own roof. The financial benefit depends on the project’s generation credits, subscription charges, and contract terms; there is no guaranteed statewide savings amount.

You generally need to subscribe to a project serving your utility territory. Review the subscription fee, credit calculation, cancellation terms, and any minimum-bill requirement before enrolling. Virginia’s program includes low-income participation provisions; eligibility and any minimum-bill exception depend on the applicable utility program.

A solar system may generate renewable energy certificates (RECs) that represent the environmental attributes of its electricity production. Eligible owners may be able to register and sell certificates through a buyer or aggregator; Virginia Energy has reported certificate prices in a broad, variable range, so this is potential market revenue rather than a guaranteed rebate or fixed payment.

Check your solar contract before counting on REC income. A lease or power-purchase agreement may assign the certificates to the system owner or another party, and the value depends on generation, registration, buyer terms, and market prices. Ask the utility or a qualified REC buyer about current eligibility and offers.