Solar in Ithaca, NY
With NYSEG's electricity at about 24.6¢ per kWh and 1,147 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Ithaca home today: about a 9-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 9 yrsNew York: 6.8 yrs
- 25-year net
- $53,778after paying $19,560
- Sun
- 1,147kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 24.6¢37% above U.S. average
A typical Ithaca home, by the numbers
| Utility | NYSEG |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 747 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 7.8 kW, about 18 panels, 8,946 kWh a year (100% of use) |
| Cost | $24,560, or $19,560 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $2,081 |
| Payback | 9.0 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (NYSEG) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.6% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Ithaca
- Owner-occupied homes
- 30%
- Single-family detached
- 31%
- Median home value
- $343k
- Median year built
- 1956
- Population
- 32,814
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 84
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 66%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 3,866 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Older housing stock. Many homes here were built before 1975. Have the roof and electrical panel checked before signing; a roof or panel upgrade can add thousands. Roof first?
Installers working in Ithaca
Companies with the most installations in Ithaca's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- Renovus Energy 42 installs
- Halcyon 10 installs
- Bashing Panels 9 installs
- My Solar 7 installs
- Plugpv 5 installs
- Alternative Power Solutions Ny 3 installs
- Finger Lakes Renewable Energy 2 installs
- Solar Liberty Energy Systems 2 installs
- Infinity Solar Systems 1 installs
- Nickels Energy Solutions 1 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Ithaca
Is solar worth it in Ithaca, NY?
For a typical home in Ithaca, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 7.8 kW system costs about $19,560 after state incentives, saves about $2,081 in year one and pays back in about 9 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Ithaca?
About 1,147 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 14% less than the New York average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Ithaca?
Most homes in Ithaca are served by NYSEG, at about 24.6¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in Ithaca?
A fair cash price is around $3.20 per watt before incentives, so about $24,560 for a 7.8 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Elmira 8.7 yrs
- Auburn 8.8 yrs
- Binghamton 8.8 yrs
- Syracuse 9.8 yrs
- Brighton 8.8 yrs
- Rome 9.9 yrs
- Rochester 8.6 yrs
- Irondequoit 8.6 yrs
- All of New York
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.