New York has among the highest rates in this set plus an active NYSERDA storage incentive and VDER value-stack compensation, so both bill savings and backup can pencil out. Confirm the current NY-Sun block value for your region before assuming a specific dollar amount.
✓ Verified 2026-07-01
New York at a glance
Average residential rate
29 cents per kWh
Net metering
Transitioned from retail net metering to VDER (Value of Distributed Energy Resources, the Value Stack); most residential mass-market solar customers are on Phase One NEM plus a Customer Benefit Contribution charge rather than legacy 1-to-1. Confirm with NYSERDA / your utility.
State battery incentive
NY-Sun / NYSERDA offers residential retail energy storage incentives (declining block, $ per kWh, region-dependent). Amount varies by region and block; confirm current block value with NYSERDA.
Time-of-use plans
Common and relevant here
What drives battery value here
Winter storms and aging grid infrastructure in parts of the state; downstate summer peak stress. Outage frequency varies widely by region. Backup matters in storm-prone and rural areas, but the stronger 2026 case is bill value: high rates plus VDER and NY-Sun storage incentives.
The federal picture in 2026
The federal residential purchase credit (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025, so a 2026 cash buyer gets nothing federal. The only surviving federal pathway is Section 48E, which a company claims on a lease or PPA. State and utility programs, where they exist, now do the heavy lifting.