Free Guide โ€” 2026 Edition

The 2026 DC Solar Incentives Guide

Every DC-specific incentive in one place. DC SRECs (the highest-value SRECs in the country), Solar for All, the DC property tax exemption, the commercial ITC (still available through 2027 for TPO/lease structures), and exactly how they stack now that the residential federal credit has expired.

  • How DC SRECs actually work โ€” and why a $400 SREC matters more than you think
  • What happened to the federal 30% credit (expired 2025-12-31) โ€” and what still applies for commercial / TPO buyers under the ยง48E ITC through 2027
  • Solar for All eligibility (no upfront cost, no income disqualifier you might think)
  • Cash purchase vs loan vs PPA โ€” what each path actually returns over 25 years
  • The 6 mistakes most DC homeowners make when getting solar quotes

Updated for 2026. Written for DC homeowners by City Renewables โ€” 1,400+ DC installs to date.

What's inside

01

Federal Tax Credit Status in 2026

The residential ยง25D credit expired 2025-12-31 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. We cover what that means for owned residential systems, and why the commercial ยง48E ITC (still available through 2027) keeps lease/PPA structures attractive.

02

DC SRECs Demystified

The DC SREC market is a goldmine most homeowners don't understand. We walk through SREC II, registration, brokerage, and 10-year payout math.

03

Solar for All

DOEE's Solar for All program covers many DC households outright. Real income limits, property requirements, and the realistic timeline.

04

Property Tax Exemption

DC exempts your home's added solar value from property tax assessments. We show how to confirm it on your assessment.

05

Cash vs Loan vs PPA

A side-by-side of the three financing paths over 25 years, including who keeps the SRECs and who claims the federal credit.

06

Six Common Quote Mistakes

Things we see on competitor proposals that cost DC homeowners thousands. Specific things to look for line by line.

Want to estimate your savings while you wait for the guide? Try the DC solar savings calculator โ†’

Already know you want a real proposal? Skip the guide and run the 30-second roof check โ†’