West Virginia solar rebates and incentives: 2026 guide

West Virginia doesn't offer the strongest solar incentive programs out there. But that doesn't mean solar isn't worth it—especially if your electric bills are eating up a big chunk of your monthly budget.

Solar's real value isn't about rebates. It's about taking control of your electricity costs for the next 25-30 years. As utility rates continue their steady climb, locking in lower energy costs now can deliver substantial savings over time. Even without robust state programs, many West Virginia homeowners with decent sun exposure and moderate to high electric bills find that solar still pays for itself. Here's how you may be able to lower your solar costs in West Virginia—and whether it makes sense for your home.

Unfortunately, West Virginia doesn't offer many incentives for solar. But if your electric bills are high, going solar can still make sense.

If you connect your solar panel system to the grid in 2025, you can benefit from net metering—the ultimate solar power incentive. 

Under net metering, the sun doesn’t need to shine all the time to get massive value from your solar panels. Your utility company (typically Appalachian, Monongahela, or Potomac Edison) essentially works like a bank account for all the energy your solar panels produce in a given month.

When the sun shines, your home’s electrical system first takes as much power as it needs from the solar panels. If the panels make any excess energy that your home doesn’t need, it gets sent back onto the grid. The utility company gives you a credit for that electricity.

When the sun isn’t shining and you need grid electricity to power your home, your utility draws against those credits. At the end of the monthly billing cycle, your credits will be settled up.

There are a few nuances to keep in mind about West Virginia’s version of net metering.

• Credits are calculated in kWh, not dollars (for now). Depending on the weather and your solar array, you could pay very, very little on your electric bill every month—but it won’t be $0, because you will still need to pay cash every month for any fixed fees, like meter connection costs. 

• Net metering credits changed in 2025 after a utility settlement. Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison customers installing solar beginning January 1, 2025,  will earn 9.3 cents per kWh for excess solar credits at the end of your billing cycle. This credit is less than the full retail rate you pay for electricity. Anyone who signed up before December 31, 2024, is grandfathered into the current, more favorable rates for 25 years. Currently, this change does not apply to Appalachian Power customers.

• Your credits can roll forward indefinitely. That is, they never expire. This is a great policy for solar owners, because it allows you to rack up hundreds or thousands of kWh of credits during the sunny months, and then use them up over the wintertime.

• The net metering rules may change in 2025. There is currently a bill in progress aiming to eliminate net metering from all utilities in West Virginia. This could significantly increase your payback period or the time it takes to recoup your solar investment. We will keep you updated on the status of this bill.

West Virginia doesn't offer any state-specific battery incentives.  

Solar batteries can boost your energy independence and provide backup power during an outage. Since the future of net metering policies in West Virginia is uncertain, adding a battery to your system might help you get more value out of your solar panels.

If you're looking for solar installers in West Virginia, here are some popular suggestions: