Solar in Sterling, VA
With Dominion Energy Virginia's electricity at about 16.3¢ per kWh and 1,353 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Sterling home today: about a 12.7-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 12.7 yrsVirginia: 12.3 yrs
- 25-year net
- $34,709after paying $26,040
- Sun
- 1,353kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 16.3¢10% below U.S. average
A typical Sterling home, by the numbers
| Utility | Dominion Energy Virginia |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 1,038 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 9.2 kW, about 21 panels, 12,446 kWh a year (100% of use) |
| Cost | $26,040 |
| First-year savings | $1,952 |
| Payback | 12.7 years |
| Exported power | 15¢/kWh (Dominion Energy Virginia) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.0% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Sterling
- Owner-occupied homes
- 72%
- Single-family detached
- 50%
- Median home value
- $526k
- Median year built
- 1982
- Population
- 32,411
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 84%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 4,072 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Sterling
Public installation records for Virginia don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Virginia.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Sterling
Is solar worth it in Sterling, VA?
For a typical home in Sterling, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 9.2 kW system costs about $26,040 after state incentives, saves about $1,952 in year one and pays back in about 12.7 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Sterling?
About 1,353 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 2% less than the Virginia average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Sterling?
Most homes in Sterling are served by Dominion Energy Virginia, at about 16.3¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative.
How much do solar panels cost in Sterling?
A fair cash price is around $2.95 per watt before incentives, so about $26,040 for a 9.2 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Ashburn 12.8 yrs
- Reston 12.7 yrs
- South Riding 15 yrs
- Oakton 12.8 yrs
- Fair Oaks 12.8 yrs
- Leesburg 12.6 yrs
- Tysons 12.6 yrs
- Centreville 15.1 yrs
- All of Virginia
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.