Net metering customers
22,531
69.4 per 1,000 homes
Capacity
207.9 MW
9.2 kW per customer
Efficiency incentives per home
$14.97
20th of 50
Average price
21.92 cents
27% above the US average
Net metering in DC
Utilities in DC reported 22,531 residential customers on net metering in 2025, with 207.9 megawatts of capacity, which averages 9.2 kilowatts per customer. That is 69.4 customers per 1,000 homes. Among the 51 places that reported, DC ranks 9th, and the national ranking is on the net metering by state page.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data), net metering schedule, residential. The count covers net metering only. Solar homes on other export arrangements are tracked separately by EIA.
What an exported kWh is worth in DC
The value of a solar export depends on the credit your utility pays. As an illustration, take 7,000 kWh of solar power in a year, a made-up figure and not a forecast for any home. At the 2025 DC average price of 21.92 cents per kWh, that power is worth $1,534 if the utility credits it at the full retail price. If the utility credits exports at half that rate, it is worth $767.
The gap shows why the export credit matters so much. Ask the utility which applies to you, and use the solar savings calculator to set the retail and export prices separately.
Utility efficiency rebates in DC
In 2025, 1 DC utility reported efficiency programs to EIA. Together they paid about $4,861,600 in incentives to residential customers, or $14.97 per home, which ranks 20th of 50. The programs reported 9,227 megawatt hours of first year residential savings, about 1.9 kWh for each dollar of incentive.
| Utility | Paid to residential customers |
|---|---|
| DC Sustainable Energy Utility | $4.9 million |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data), energy efficiency schedule. Paid incentives show what a utility spent, not what you can get. See efficiency rebates by state for the national ranking.
What the federal credits mean in DC
The IRS says the residential clean energy credit, which covered solar panels, does not apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2025, and the home improvement credit does not apply to property placed in service after that date. That is true in every state. What remains are state and utility offers, and the federal home energy rebates that states run. See solar incentives and home energy rebates.
Source: IRS FS-2025-05, read October 10, 2026. This is not tax advice.
Where to look for current DC offers
- Search the DSIRE database for DC incentives and net metering rules.
- Enter your ZIP code in the ENERGY STAR rebate finder.
- Ask your electric company about its net metering, export credit and rebate programs. Find it in the DC utility list.
- Read the rules at the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, which oversees investor-owned utilities.
DC solar and rebate questions
Does DC have net metering?
DC utilities reported 22,531 residential net metering customers and 207.9 megawatts in 2025. The credit for exports depends on the utility and the state rules, so ask yours.
Is there a federal solar tax credit in DC?
The IRS says the residential clean energy credit does not apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so it does not apply in any state for new installs.
How much do DC utilities pay in efficiency rebates?
In 2025, DC utilities that reported to EIA paid about $4,861,600 in efficiency incentives to residential customers, about $14.97 per home.
Where do I find DC solar and rebate offers?
Search the DSIRE database and the ENERGY STAR rebate finder, then ask your electric company and your state energy office before you sign anything.