Solar Companies in Altoona, Pennsylvania

What Altoona homeowners actually pay for power

Altoona homeowners in Blair County, including Hollidaysburg, Duncansville and Tyrone, are typically served by Penelec. Penelec customers pay about 21.1¢ per kilowatt-hour all-in — supply plus delivery plus riders, not the supply rate alone. That number is the reason most Altoona homeowners start comparing solar: every kilowatt-hour your roof produces is one you stop buying at that price.

See the full breakdown on our Penelec rate page, read why Penelec bills are so high, or compare every utility in the state on Pennsylvania electric rates.

Penelec raised its default price on June 1

Penelec’s residential default-service price went up by about 11.9% on June 1, 2026. At about 21.1¢ all-in, Altoona homeowners pay more per kilowatt-hour than customers of most other Pennsylvania utilities. Why Penelec bills are so high →

Pennsylvania net metering credits your exports at the full retail rate, so summer production banks credit at the same price you pay in winter.

Altoona rowhomes and older roofs

Altoona has a lot of early-1900s housing, including rowhomes with shared walls and flat or low-slope rear roofs. Those can still take solar with the right racking. Older shingle roofs near the end of their life should be replaced first, and we will tell you if yours is one. Replace the roof first? →

Why Pennsylvania rates keep climbing

Every Pennsylvania utility buys wholesale power from the same regional grid operator, PJM. Its capacity auctions have cleared at record prices for 2025/26 and 2026/27, and that cost passes straight into the default-service price Penelec customers pay. Data-center demand is arriving faster than new generation is being built, and that gap is what shows up on your bill — it is not something Penelec sets on its own.

Solar changes the arithmetic because it fixes part of your cost. A power purchase agreement in Altoona means no upfront payment: a licensed partner installs and owns the system, you buy the power it produces at a set rate, and you keep buying the rest from Penelec as normal.

What solar costs in Altoona

There is no single answer, and any site giving you one without seeing your roof is guessing. What decides it is your usage, your roof’s orientation, shading and condition, and the 21.1¢ rate you pay Penelec today. If your roof does not work, we say so on the first call rather than after you sign.

The federal residential purchase credit ended for systems bought after December 31, 2025, so anyone still advertising it is running an old ad. What remains in Pennsylvania is net metering at the full retail rate and SRECs — and for leases and PPAs, the commercial credit stays with the system owner, which is what makes $0 down possible.

Common questions from Altoona homeowners

Who is my electric utility in Altoona?

Most of Blair County, including Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Duncansville, Bellwood and Tyrone, is Penelec territory. Your bill names your utility at the top; if it does not match, call us at (832) 263-8055 and we will check your address against the service map.

Does solar still make sense now that the federal credit ended?

For a lease or PPA, yes — the credit belongs to the system owner, not you, and that is what makes $0 down possible. For a purchase, the math changed in 2026 and we will show you the honest version.

What happens if I sell my house?

A lease or PPA transfers to the buyer. The new owner takes over the same rate, and the paperwork is handled for you.

How long does an install take in Altoona?

Installation is typically one to three days. Permits with your township or borough and interconnection with Penelec take longer, and both are handled for you.