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You have two options for powering your home or business with solar

Rooftop Solar

Install solar on your property

Family standing in front of house with solar panels on the roof

Purchase or finance a solar panel system and save thousands over the 25+ year life of the equipment. Add batteries for backup power.

  • Maximize financial savings from solar

  • Reduce or eliminate electricity bills

  • Enjoy tax credits and other incentives

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  • Pay 20% less than market average prices

  • Compare up to seven local offers

  • Get expert advice from a dedicated Energy Advisor

Community Solar

Subscribe to a local Community Solar Farm

Many rows of solar panels

Purchase energy from a local solar project at a discount. You don't need to own property or install equipment to save with community solar.

  • Save 5-15% on your annual electricity bills

  • Sign up for free, cancel at no cost

  • Support local renewable energy jobs & development

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  • Compare price discounts and subscription terms

  • Learn and subscribe all in one place

  • Get expert advice from a dedicated Energy Advisor

We help you go solar with confidence

The District's Department of Energy & Environment has partnered with EnergySage to help you consider rooftop and community solar options!

The Government of the District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) has teamed up with EnergySage to help District residents learn about and comparison-shop for your solar options.

The District is committed to a clean and equitable energy transition. As established in the Climate Commitment Amendment Act of 2022, the District pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by no less than 60% (relative to 2006 levels) by 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2045. The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018 mandated
100% of the District’s energy supply come from Tier 1 renewable energy sources by 2032 and the Local Solar Expansion Act of 2022 raised the solar energy carve out in the District from 10% to 15% by 2041.

That's why we are working with EnergySage, the country's largest online solar marketplace, to help you easily learn about the rooftop and community solar options available to you here in the District.
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Why EnergySage

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    Unmatched, free educational resources that empower you to go solar with confidence

  • Easy-to-use calculators for quick solar estimates

  • Online comparison-shopping to help you secure the best deal possible

  • Support from unbiased Energy Advisors, available to answer all your energy questions

  • 100% free and online - no calls unless you want them!

  • Transparent information and numbers to guide smarter energy decisions

Testimonial portait
“The Solar Marketplace was really easy to use and saved me money! I received quotes from five installers, was able to make an apples‑to‑apples comparison and selected the one that most appealed to me. They answered common questions in a non-technical way."
Jack G., EnergySage Customer

FAQs

Community Solar

  • How does community solar work?

    Community solar allows you to subscribe to a share of a local solar farm. As the solar farm generates clean electricity for the grid, you buy energy from your share at a discount. The credits you receive for this energy help lower your monthly utility bill, allowing you to save 5-10% on your annual electricity costs.

  • How much can I save with community solar?

    Electricity bill savings differ from program to program, and also vary by month. On average, most community solar subscribers save 5-10% on their annual electricity costs.

  • What happens if I move?

    It depends – if you’re moving to a location that’s still in the same electricity service territory as your current home, you may be able to transfer your community solar subscription to your new address. However, if you’re moving further away, you may need to cancel your subscription or transfer your contract to another utility customer (whether that be the new homeowners or someone else in the project’s service territory). Cancellation and transfer terms and applicable fees vary by project and provider, so confirm these policies with your provider prior to signing up.

  • How do I choose the right community solar program for me?

    Before signing a contract with a community solar provider, it’s important to compare estimated savings, cancellation terms, project location, payment model, subscription fees, and more. Using the Community Solar Marketplace, you can compare multiple local options and find the best project for you.

Rooftop Solar

  • How many solar panels do I need?

    Probably more than 10 and fewer than 40. We know that’s quite a range, but with solar, there’s really no one-size-fits-all solution: the number of panels you should install depends on how much sun hits your property, your energy needs, and the amount of space you have available for the installation. Most people install a system large enough to generate as much of their electricity needs as possible (that’s how you’ll save the most money!)

  • Do I need a solar battery?

    Need? No – most people who go solar remain connected to the grid, meaning you can pull electricity from the grid when your solar panels aren’t producing enough to meet your needs. However, even though you don’t need one, solar batteries have some pretty great benefits: if you live in an area that experiences frequent power outages, a battery will help keep your solar-powered home running when the grid goes down. Also, if your utility company has demand charges or time-of-use rates, installing a solar battery can help you save money.

  • How much do solar batteries cost?

    Like solar, you can think of the costs as both a gross price and a price per relative capacity. Solar batteries range from $5,000 to $7,000+ and from $400 dollars per kilowatt hour (kWh) to $750/kWh. Note that these prices are only for the battery itself, not for the cost of installation or additional necessary equipment. The installed cost of a battery is closer to $11,000 to $18,000+, and $800/kWh to $1,300/kWh.

  • How much can I save with a rooftop solar panel system?

    Most people can save tens of thousands of dollars on electricity costs over the lifetime of a solar panel system (25+ years). The exact amount you can save depends on many factors, including how much you spend on electricity bills, how much electricity your solar panel system generates, incentives available in your area, and more. The best way to get accurate savings estimates is to compare custom solar quotes on our Marketplace – your quotes will take all these factors and more into account.

Not ready yet? Discover more

Solar Savings

Instantly see how much you can save with solar

Estimate Your Savings

Benefits of Solar

Explore the benefits of Solar beyond environmental and financial savings

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Video Library

Learn about key solar topics in our series of short, animated videos

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Solar is Beautiful

Today’s solar systems are quite attractive, check out our solar gallery

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Solar Financing

Finance a solar panel system with a loan, lease, or cash

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Solar Batteries

A solar battery allows you to store excess solar electricity

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