Rhode Island solar 101: must read before you buy solar panels
Rhode Island State 51 solar panels available
- $2.32 / W Average gross price of a solar power system as of February 2023
- 6 years Average system payback period
- $54 780 Average savings from going solar in Rhode Island
- 10 ¢ / kWh Levelized cost of solar energy
- 3.79 kW Recommended system size
Benefit from a PV system
in Rhode Island
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4.62 hours of peak sunlight
Rhode Island is a reasonably sunny state â a PV system can substantially cut your electricity bills
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6 years payback period
A solar power system in Rhode Island pays for itself a couple of times during its lifespan
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Save money with Net Metering
The electricity you canât consume can be put to good use. The utility will pay for it if you export it to the grid
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Reduce the cost of your system by 26%
Get a quarter of the PV system cost off your taxes with the Federal Solar Tax Credit
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Recover your solar installation costs
Receive 28.75¢ for each kWh your system produces for its first 15 years through the RE Growth program
Rhode Island #35 in the US
Solar Ranking
- $54 780 Average savings from going solar in Rhode Island
- 6 720 kWh/year Average electricity consumption of a FL household
- 7 136 kWh/year AC energy output of a 5 kW solar system installed in Rhode Island
- 22 ¢ /kWh The cost of electricity today in Rhode Island
- 46 ¢ /kWh The forecast average utility price over the next 25 years
- $2.32/WAverage gross price of a solar power system as of February 2023
What our happy customers say


and I contacted A1. Everything was processed, packed and delivered to Fresno, CA
in under a week. We kept in contact during the installation and I got a few additional
parts from them. A1SolarStore deserves a solid five stars!


Price was reasonable even with shipping added. Actually, it was the best I could find with the panels I wanted.
Customer service was beyond expectations. I received a phone call after the order to verify everything. The rep also went over receiving instructions. I got an email with recieving procedure. I got a follow up call the day before the panels were to be delivered. The day of delivery, the FedEx call also called. I got a follow call afterwards verifying everything was good.I had 8 350 watt panels shipped. They arrived via FedEx on a pallet. Recieving instructions said to not sign the recieving doc until I inspected everything. I am half paralyzed so I asked my neighbor ahead of time to help unpack the panels to inspect for physical damage. The FedEx guy dropped the pallet in my driveway and handed me the package list and then he very quickly left before I was able to inspect the panels. He said he did not need a signature. My mindset immidiately turned negative since fraud, burglary, murders, etc are now legal, encouraged, and even rewarded in the US. To my relief, the panels turned out to be in good shape.
I have had several different panels prior to ordering from A1 Solar. I am used to solar panels outputting 70% or less of the rated output.I hooked up one panel yesterday and I was getting over 85% at 9:30 AM in direct sun output which really suprised me. This number is what the charge controller reported while charging a 12 volt battery bank. My current project that these panels will be used for is my second offgrid system.
Next year after I have my house electrical panels rebuilt to allow for a whole house battery bank, I will be ordering another 7KWH in panels and I plan to order those from A1 Solar Store.


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Solar laws, incentives and rebates in Rhode Island you need to know
Save 30% of your PV system cost with Federal Solar Tax Credit
The US government wants more people to go solar: itâs a modern and green way of getting energy. This is why the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) program was developed. It allows American citizens to claim 30% of the cost of their installation as an income tax deduction. The cost here is not only solar panels, but also shipping, installation expenses and more. For example, if your system overall made you spend $10,000, the government returns you $3,000. To claim the ITC, complete all the necessary forms and submit them when filing your taxes.
Sell excess electricity with Net Metering Program

The Net Metering policy in Rhode Island has made it easier for the customers to sell unused electricity back to the grid instead of storing the energy in batteries. Your PV system will pay for itself primarily through the Net Metering program. You gain credits by selling solar energy that you havenât used into the commercial grid. The credit value in Rhode Island is equal to the full retail electricity price of your provider. Unused credits have no expiration date, they will roll over to the next month and can help offset future electricity usage.
Renewable Energy Growth Program
If you are installing a new solar energy system in Rhode Island, you can get some of the costs back by applying for the Renewable Energy Growth (RE Growth) Program. RE Growth offers financial benefits to National Grid customers which depend on the amount of electricity their systems generate. Those participating in the REG incentive receive 28.75 cents for each kilowatt-hour their solar panel system produces during the first 15 years. National Grid provides bill credits and monthly cash payments. The value of this offer certainly stands out when compared to the regular retail rate of about 19 cents per kWh. This program is not compatible with Net Metering since it uses a feed-in tariff.
Raise your property value but not your taxes

Rhode Island property owners will not have to pay any additional property taxes on the added value their solar system brings to their home due to the property tax exemption for renewable energy systems. Rhode Island ensures any new PV system installed will not be part of your property tax. However, any such home improvement will definitely make it about 4% more valuable on the property market, says the 2019 Zillow report.
Protect your solar panels from shade with Solar Easements

A solar easement contract is a written agreement between you and another party, for example, your neighbor. This type of contract helps to ensure that your PV system will always have adequate sun exposure, protecting you from potential obstacles. It is voluntary, but can not be canceled unless a specific clause is included in the document. Once signed, it is tied to the land, not the owner.
Install your solar panels in Rhode Island with no worries
It is legal to install solar panels on your house in Rhode Island. However, you may face some restrictions when installing a solar PV system. Itâs best to contact your homeownerâs association (HOAs) or community organizing body to be certain of any regulations that may be in your area. HOAs in Rhode Island define a neighborhoodâs aesthetic rules. You may have to submit your project for approval before changing the exterior of your house. The board may ask you to hide the system from view, reduce the number of panels or just reject your proposal.
Solar panels help Rhode Island survive hurricanes
Storm activity is typical from June 1st through November 30th. Located right on the east coast, Rhode Island residents should always be prepared for a hurricane. Â Solar panels are manufactured to withstand most hurricanes, and in any power outage solar panels will help you survive a blackout. In 2011, Hurricane Irene left 256,000 out of 480,281 customers without power across Rhode Island. As stated by the Environmental Protection Agency, our climate is changing and natural disasters are becoming more frequent, but by powering your home with solar energy you will no longer have to worry about blackouts.