Solar Atlas · District of Columbia
Is solar worth it in Washington, DC?
A 7 kWdc rooftop array in Washington makes about 9,876 kWh a year (NLR PVWatts, modeled) and pays back in 10.4 years at Potomac Electric Power Co’s 22.9¢/kWh residential rate (Aug 2025–Jul 2026), with no federal credit. Exports follow District of Columbia net metering.
38.91°N · 9.3–14.7 h daylight · site signature
- Production
- 1,411 kWh per kWdc per year · capacity factor 16.1% AC
- Residential rate
- 22.9¢/kWh · Potomac Electric Power Co
- Exported solar
- District of Columbia net metering · credited at retail
- Climate
- humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa) · 15.2 °C mean, 1,062 mm/yr
Source: NLR PVWatts v8.5.0 (NSRDB PSM V3 GOES tmy-2020 3.2.0) — 1 kW, tilt 20°, azimuth 180°, roof mount, 14% losses · fetched 2026-09-24 · modeled, not metered
Source: EIA-861M utility average · Aug 2025–Jul 2026 · EIA District of Columbia average Jan–Jul 2026 24.7¢ · utility’s EIA-861 2024 average 16.6¢
Potomac Electric Power Co customers who buy supply from a competitive supplier or community choice aggregator pay delivery plus their supplier’s price; the average shown is the utility’s default (bundled) service.
Source: Pepco standard-offer-service customers with net metering facilities ≤ 100 kW · checked 2026-09-25
Source: NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020, WASHINGTON REAGAN AP, VA US (6.9 km away) · fetched 2026-09-24
No federal credit: the homeowner credit (§25D) ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31. A lease or PPA price may reflect the lessor’s §48E credit. 26 U.S.C. §25D(h) and (e)(8)(A) · policy as of 2026-09-24
Make it your answer
Start from your bill. Everything else is prefilled from this page and can be changed.
Your exact roof, or a business
The payback calculator runs hourly PVWatts at your address. The Modeler opens a grid-tied home at Washington. A business goes to the Quote Studio with the 24.8¢/kWh commercial rate.