Solar Panels in Union Market, DC: Cost, Payback & Savings
A typical 5.6 kW home solar system in Union Market costs about $20,160 and pays for itself in about 9.7 years, saving roughly $40,784 over 25 years at District of Columbia's average electricity price of 24.7¢/kWh.
Monthly solar production in Union Market
Estimated output of a 5.6 kW south-facing roof system. Jul is the strongest month (807 kWh); Dec the weakest (426 kWh).
Solar production (kWh) Typical home use, 639 kWh/month
Solar payback calculator for Union Market
Pre-filled with Union Market's sunshine and District of Columbia's average electricity price. Enter your own bill and an installer's price per watt to see your payback.
Leave export credit blank where the utility offers full net metering. Where exports earn less, solar used at home as it's produced is worth the full price and the rest earns the export credit.
How Union Market compares
- Each kW of panels here produces about 1,380 kWh a year — about the same as the District of Columbia median and about the same as the US median city (1,371 kWh).
- Payback ranks #28 of 35 District of Columbia places we cover.
- Sunshine varies little across a state; electricity price, installed cost and how utilities credit exported power drive most of the difference between states.
Net metering, tax credits and incentives in 2026
District of Columbia offers net metering: power you send to the grid is credited at or near the retail price, so every solar kWh is valued at 24.7¢ here.
There is no federal tax credit for buying home solar installed in 2026. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so the costs and paybacks on this page include no federal credit.
District of Columbia and local utilities may still offer rebates, performance payments, property-tax or sales-tax exemptions. Search the DSIRE incentives database for District of Columbia and ask installers which programs they apply for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it in Union Market, DC?
For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 9.7 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $40,784. Verdict: strong investment. Your own payback depends on your roof, your bill and the quotes you get.
How many solar panels do I need in Union Market, DC?
A home using 639 kWh a month (the District of Columbia average) needs about 14 panels of 400 W — a 5.6 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 1,380 to get the kW you need.
How much do solar panels cost in Union Market, DC?
At 3.60 dollars per watt, a 5.6 kW system costs about $20,160 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.
How much sun does Union Market get?
Union Market averages 4.9 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 1,380 kWh a year.
Does District of Columbia have net metering?
Yes. Power sent back to the grid is credited at or near the retail price (24.7¢ per kWh on average).
How much does electricity cost in District of Columbia?
Residential electricity in District of Columbia averages 24.7¢ per kWh, and a typical home uses 639 kWh a month (EIA).
Solar payback in nearby places
- NoMa9.6 yrs
- H Street NE9.7 yrs
- Northwest One9.6 yrs
- Mount Vernon Triangle9.6 yrs
- Brentwood Village9.7 yrs
- Shaw9.5 yrs
- Downtown DC9.6 yrs
- Barracks Row9.7 yrs