Solar in Rochester, NY
With RG&E's electricity at about 24.7¢ per kWh and 1,199 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Rochester home today: about a 8.6-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 8.6 yrsNew York: 6.8 yrs
- 25-year net
- $51,372after paying $17,400
- Sun
- 1,199kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 24.7¢37% above U.S. average
A typical Rochester home, by the numbers
| Utility | RG&E |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 703 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 7 kW, about 16 panels, 8,394 kWh a year (99% of use) |
| Cost | $22,400, or $17,400 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,938 |
| Payback | 8.6 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (RG&E) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.6% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Rochester
- Owner-occupied homes
- 38%
- Single-family detached
- 44%
- Median home value
- $140k
- Median year built
- 1938
- Population
- 208,772
- Solar installs, last 3 years*
- 406
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 72%
Census ACS 2020–2024. *Installations in public records for this area's ZIP codes. †Share of 45,206 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 Rochester
Companies with the most installations in Rochester's ZIP codes over the last 3 years, from public records. We don't take payment for placement.
- 3Rd Roc Solar 183 installs
- Sustainable Energy Developments 103 installs
- Nys Essential Power 30 installs
- Solar Liberty Energy Systems 28 installs
- Plugpv 16 installs
- Wiltshire Renewable Energy Systems 13 installs
- Cir Electrical Construction 13 installs
- Gaf 6 installs
- Geotherm 6 installs
- Halcyon 4 installs
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Rochester
Is solar worth it in Rochester, NY?
For a typical home in Rochester, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 7 kW system costs about $17,400 after state incentives, saves about $1,938 in year one and pays back in about 8.6 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Rochester?
About 1,199 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 10% less than the New York average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Rochester?
Most homes in Rochester are served by RG&E, at about 24.7¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in Rochester?
A fair cash price is around $3.20 per watt before incentives, so about $22,400 for a 7 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Irondequoit 8.6 yrs
- Brighton 8.8 yrs
- Auburn 8.8 yrs
- Cheektowaga 8.8 yrs
- West Seneca 8.7 yrs
- North Tonawanda 9.5 yrs
- Tonawanda Town 9.4 yrs
- Buffalo 9.7 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.