Solar Incentives
State programs and $0-down PPA financing make solar approachable for Pennsylvania and Ohio homeowners. Eligibility and amounts are not guaranteed and depend on your situation.
See Your IncentivesIncentives are not guaranteed. What you qualify for, and how much it is worth, can change based on your system design and equipment, how you finance (cash purchase vs. PPA), your tax situation, utility rules and tariffs, program and law changes, timing, and other factors. This page is general information only; it is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Confirm details with a qualified professional and your written proposal.
$0-Down PPA Financing
A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) lets most of our customers go solar without paying anything upfront. About 95% of our customers go this route. A third-party owner (such as Lightreach) installs and maintains the system on your roof. You pay a fixed monthly rate for the electricity it produces, designed to be lower than what you currently pay your utility. No loan, no equipment to finance, and the system owner handles installation, monitoring, and any repairs over the life of the agreement.
- $0 upfront, no equipment purchase
- Fixed monthly rate designed to beat your utility bill
- System maintenance and monitoring handled by the owner
- Lock in predictable energy pricing for the contract term
Pennsylvania Incentives
Pennsylvania homeowners get a few programs that improve solar economics. The state offers net metering through Act 129, so excess energy flows back to the grid for credit on future bills. Pennsylvania also has an active Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) market. SREC income is only available to homeowners who own their system outright (cash purchase), not PPA customers.
- Net metering through Act 129
- SREC income for cash buyers (system owners)
- Sales tax exemption on solar equipment
- Local utility rebate programs may apply
Ohio Incentives
Ohio homeowners can use a few state programs that help solar economics. Ohio requires utilities to offer net metering, so excess power you generate earns credits. Ohio also provides a property tax exemption for the added value solar brings to your home, so your property taxes don't go up after installation. Ohio's SREC market is much weaker than Pennsylvania's, so don't count on big SREC income here.
- Net metering through utility programs
- 100% property tax exemption for solar value
- No sales tax on residential solar equipment
- Stable, regulated utility rates for grid power
Net Metering
When your solar system produces more electricity than your home uses, the excess flows back to the grid and you receive credits on your utility bill. These credits offset future electricity costs, lowering your overall bill. Both Pennsylvania and Ohio require utilities to offer net metering to residential solar customers.
- Earn credits for excess energy sent to the grid
- Credits apply to future monthly bills
- Available from all major PA and Ohio utilities
Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)
For every megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity your solar system produces, you earn one SREC. PA cash buyers can sell these credits on the open market for extra income on top of energy savings. SREC income only flows to homeowners who own their system outright. PPA customers don't earn SRECs. Ohio's SREC market is much weaker than Pennsylvania's.
- Earn one SREC per MWh of solar production
- Credits can be sold for additional income
- Pennsylvania has an established SREC market
Important to Know
- No incentive or savings amount on this page is a promise. Actual incentives depend on your system, financing, eligibility, and other factors beyond our control.
- SREC income is only available to homeowners who own their system outright (cash purchase). PPA customers do not earn SRECs. Those flow to the system owner.
- Incentive programs and amounts can change. We keep our proposals current with the latest available programs.
- Your free quote from Lifestyle Solar includes a full breakdown of applicable incentives and estimated savings.
See Which Incentives Apply to You
Get a free, personalized quote with an incentive overview for your home, subject to eligibility, financing, and program rules.