Is Solar Still Worth It in Westchester County in 2026?
If you own a home in Westchester County, you already know the feeling of opening your Con Edison bill and bracing for impact. Electricity here runs around 31 cents per kilowatt-hour, roughly 59% higher than the national average. That single number is the reason solar panels in Westchester County continue to pencil out for homeowners in 2026.
At Infinity Energy, we have completed more than 10,000 installations across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut since 2008. This guide walks through the honest math for Westchester homeowners right now: what your bill is doing, which incentives are available, and how the payback actually works.
What Con Edison Rate Hikes Mean for Your Bill
Con Edison asked the state for a steep double-digit increase in early 2026. After pushback from elected officials and ratepayer advocates, the Public Service Commission approved a much smaller settlement instead: about 3.5% in 2026, 3.2% in 2027, and 3.1% in 2028.
That is better news than the original proposal, but the direction is still up. Con Edison rates have climbed steadily for years, driven by property taxes, grid upgrades, and other infrastructure costs that are not going away.
Here is the part most people miss. When you own solar, rising rates work in your favor. Every time Con Edison raises prices, the electricity your panels produce becomes more valuable. A system that offsets $1,800 in year one might offset over $2,200 a few years later, with no extra cost to you.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Westchester County?
As of 2026, installed solar in Westchester County averages about $2.68 to $2.70 per watt before incentives. A typical 12 kilowatt system lands around $33,000 before any credits are applied.
The average payback period in the county is about 7.8 years. Over the 25-year life of the panels, many Westchester homeowners save well over $80,000 on electricity. Your exact numbers depend on your roof, your usage, and how much shade you deal with, which is why we model every home individually rather than quoting a flat figure.
Infinity Energy also offers $0 down financing, so going solar does not require writing a large check up front.
Which New York Solar Incentives Can You Use in 2026?
New York offers one of the more generous solar incentive stacks in the country. Here is what Westchester homeowners can use right now:
New York State tax credit. You can claim 25% of your system cost as a state income tax credit, up to $5,000. This is one of the clearest benefits on the table.
Property tax exemption. Under Real Property Tax Law Section 487, the added home value from your solar system is exempt from property taxes for 15 years. Your home is worth more, but your tax bill does not jump.
Sales tax exemption. Residential solar equipment is exempt from New York State sales tax, which trims thousands off the total.
Battery storage rebate. NYSERDA offers a rebate of about $250 per kilowatt-hour in Con Edison territory. For a 13.5 kWh battery, that is roughly $3,375 back.
One honest note: the standard NY-Sun upfront rebate for typical-income homeowners in Con Edison territory has largely closed. The tax credit and exemptions above are where the real savings now live for most Westchester households.
Net Metering vs. VDER: Which Should You Pick?
New York gives solar homeowners a choice in how their excess power is credited, and it matters.
Net metering is the simple option. For every kilowatt-hour your panels send to the grid, you get a 1-to-1 credit at the full retail rate. Because Con Edison rates are so high, those credits are worth more here than in almost any other market. When you go solar in 2026, you can lock into net metering for 20 years.
VDER, the Value Stack, credits you based on when and where your power hits the grid. For most homeowners with a normal roof and normal usage, plain net metering wins. VDER tends to make more sense when you pair solar with a battery and can export during high-value peak hours.
The right answer depends on your home. We model both so you can see the difference in dollars before you decide.
Why Westchester Homeowners Choose Infinity Energy
We serve homeowners across the county, from White Plains and Yonkers to Scarsdale, New Rochelle, Cortlandt Manor, and Yorktown. As an EnergySage Elite+ installer, we rank in the top 4% of installers nationally and were named EnergySage Installer of the Year.
We are a NYSERDA Gold installer with an A+ BBB rating. Our panels carry a 25-year warranty, and because we run our own in-house roofing division, we can handle a roof replacement and solar as one clean project. We are also a Tesla Powerwall certified installer and can add EV charging when you are ready.
The Bottom Line for 2026
Con Edison rates are not coming down. New York’s state tax credit, tax exemptions, and battery rebate are all in place, and high local rates mean solar offsets more value here than in most of the country. For a lot of Westchester homeowners, the math works.
Want to see your real numbers? Get a free, no-pressure quote from Infinity Energy and we will model your roof, your usage, and every incentive you qualify for.
