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New York · Updated August 2026
NYSERDA solar incentives and the NY-Sun program
How NYSERDA and the NY-Sun Megawatt Block actually work, why the rate changes quarter to quarter, and what to ask before you sign a contract in New York.
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The numbers
What New York actually offers in 2026
| Measure | Current | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Program | NY-Sun Megawatt Block | Administered by NYSERDA |
| Standard residential incentive | Upstate | Open in NYSEG, RG&E and National Grid territory |
| Affordable Solar (income-eligible) | $0.80/W | Con Edison and upstate; $0.40/W on Long Island |
| Who receives it | Your installer | Required by law to pass it through as a price reduction |
| Regions | Three | Con Edison, Upstate and Long Island run separate block schedules |
| Structure | Declining blocks | Each filled block steps the rate down for the next |
| EmPower+ | Income-eligible | No-cost efficiency upgrades and solar for qualifying households |
| NYSERDA battery rebate | Per usable kWh | Also on a declining block structure |
Figures as published August 2026. Utility rates change on published schedules — check your own bill for the rate that applies to your account.
Why the number is what it is
Blocks decline. Timing decides your rate.
NYSERDA allocates NY-Sun incentives in megawatt blocks, split across three regions — Con Edison, Upstate and Long Island. Each region has its own block schedule, and every time a block fills, the rate steps down for the next one.
That means the incentive you receive depends on when your application lands, not when you first started looking. Rates can change quarter to quarter, and a block can close between your quote and your contract.
It reduces your federal credit basis, if you have one
Historically the NY-Sun rebate reduced the basis on which the federal credit was calculated — a $3,500 rebate on a $30,000 system meant the credit applied to $26,500, not $30,000.
That interaction matters less now that the federal residential credit under Section 25D has ended for homeowner purchases. But it still applies to third-party-owned systems, where the system owner claims Section 48E.
What NYSERDA does not do
NYSERDA does not pay you directly, does not require paperwork from you, and does not stack indefinitely. The program is explicitly designed to phase down as New York’s solar market becomes self-sustaining.
The 25% New York State tax credit is separate, capped at $5,000, and unlike NY-Sun it goes to you — including on a qualifying lease or PPA.
The federal residential credit ended. Here is what that actually means.
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit under Section 25D ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. If you buy a system with cash or a loan in 2026, you cannot claim it. Any site still advertising "30% federal tax credit" for a homeowner purchase is running outdated information.
What remains is Section 48E, the commercial investment credit. It applies to third-party-owned systems — leases and power purchase agreements — where the system owner claims it rather than the homeowner. That is precisely what makes $0-down possible: the credit stays with whoever owns the equipment, and under a PPA that is not you.
We would rather tell you that plainly than let you find out at tax time.
Two ways to pay for solar, and they are very different
If you buy the system
You own the equipment, you keep any renewable energy credits, and you carry the maintenance responsibility. Installed pricing varies by roof, shading and system size.
If you use a PPA
$0 upfront. We install and own the system; you buy the power it produces at a rate set in your agreement, and you only pay for what it actually generates. The system owner carries maintenance for the life of the agreement.
How $0-down solar works in New York → · What solar costs in New York →
The residential federal tax credit (25D) ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
You will still see ads promising a 30% credit that “ends December 31.” Read the date on them. If you buy a system today as a homeowner, you cannot claim that credit. What remains applies to the owner of the system — which, under a PPA, is us. SolarAmerica does not provide tax advice; talk to your tax professional about your situation.
NY-Sun for income-eligible homes
Affordable Solar: $0.80 per watt off the system
NYSERDA’s Affordable Solar incentive is the NY-Sun incentive for income-eligible households. It pays $0.80 per watt in Con Edison and upstate territory and $0.40 per watt on Long Island, through your installer, as a reduction in your price. On a 7 kW system at $0.80 per watt, that is $5,600.
Qualify by income
Household income below 80% of the area median or 80% of the state median income, whichever is higher.
Or by program
An award letter from EmPower+, HEAP, SNAP, TANF or SSI dated within the last 12 months.
Sized to your home
The system is sized to your household’s usage, and the installer handles the paperwork.
Source: NYSERDA NY-Sun incentive dashboards and Program Manual (April 2026), checked October 2026.
New York battery incentives
New York pays toward the battery, then pays you to use it
Up front: NYSERDA’s residential storage incentive
NYSERDA’s residential energy storage incentive is open to homeowners for batteries up to 25 kWh, with or without solar, installed by a NYSERDA participating contractor. It is paid per kilowatt-hour of storage through your installer and taken off your price. It launched at $250 per kWh in Con Edison territory and $200 per kWh in the rest of the state, and NYSERDA’s Inclusive Storage Incentive adds a higher rate, $450 per kWh at launch, for income-eligible homes and disadvantaged communities. Rates step down as funding blocks fill, so your installer confirms the open block for your address.
Every summer: your utility pays your battery to help at peak times
| Utility | Program | Payment |
|---|---|---|
| National Grid | ConnectedSolutions: summer peak events, May–September | $50 per kW |
| NYSEG and RG&E | Energy Storage Solutions: up to 20 summer events, May–September | $50 per kW |
| Orange & Rockland | Smart Savers Battery Program: summer events, May–September | $50 per kW |
| Con Edison | Bring Your Own Battery: summer performance, May–September | $100 per kW |
Sources: NYSERDA Energy Storage Program and its April 2026 program manual; National Grid; NYSEG / RG&E; Orange & Rockland; Con Edison. Checked October 2026.
Who you would be working with
SolarAmerica
We design your system and manage the project; installation is performed by vetted licensed partners in your area.
New York questions
The things people actually ask
How do I apply for NYSERDA solar incentives?
You do not apply on your own. NY-Sun incentives are reserved and paid through your installer as a reduction in your price, and SolarAmerica handles the application.
Is NYSERDA the same as my utility?
No. NYSERDA runs the NY-Sun incentive program, which is paid through your installer as a reduction in your price. Your utility connects your system and credits the power you send back. SolarAmerica handles the paperwork for both.
Do New York solar incentives apply with $0 down?
Yes. The 25% state tax credit also applies to leases and PPAs of 10 years or more, so a $0-down agreement can still qualify. SolarAmerica does not provide tax advice; talk to your tax professional about your situation.
Who qualifies for Affordable Solar in New York?
Households with income below 80% of the area or state median income, whichever is higher, or with an EmPower+, HEAP, SNAP, TANF or SSI award letter from the last 12 months. It pays $0.80 per watt in Con Edison and upstate territory and $0.40 per watt on Long Island, through the installer.
Does New York pay for home batteries?
Yes. NYSERDA's residential storage incentive pays per kWh of battery storage through the installer, and National Grid, NYSEG, RG&E, Orange & Rockland and Con Edison pay battery owners for output during summer peak events.
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