On April 30, 2026, the Virginia State Corporation Commission settled a question that had left homeowners across Chesterfield County waiting on the sidelines: whether full retail-rate net metering would survive for new residential solar customers. It did. So is now the right time to install solar panels in Midlothian?
For homeowners who’ve been watching utility bills climb and wondering if they missed their window, that ruling, paired with a state-backed group-buying program that launched just months ago, changes the math.
Is now the right time to install solar panels in Midlothian? The short answer is yes, for most Midlothian homeowners, now is a reasonable time to install solar because Virginia’s net metering protections just got confirmed for new customers, utility rates keep climbing, and the state is actively subsidizing group-buying discounts through October 2026.
The exceptions are homes with unsuitable roofs or those still comparing financing options, for everyone else, waiting mainly means paying more for the same system. That verdict comes with real evidence behind it. Here’s what’s actually changed, what solar costs today, and how to think through the decision.
Electricity Prices Continue to Increase
The case for waiting used to be simple: maybe rates stay flat, maybe a better incentive shows up next year. That’s not the environment Midlothian homeowners are in anymore.
- Virginia’s largest utility has an average residential rate of roughly $0.16/kWh, with average monthly bills around $161
- The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) surcharge, reinstated on utility bills, adds an estimated $10–13/month, based on the utility’s own SCC rate filing
- These are recurring, compounding costs. A solar system, by contrast, locks in your generation cost at installation
The reframe is worth remembering here: the federal tax credit disappearing doesn’t matter nearly as much as people assume, because utility rates aren’t standing still while homeowners wait for a better deal. Every year of delay is a year of paying the higher number.
What Has Changed for Virginia Homeowners in 2026
Three developments over the past few months directly affect anyone in Midlothian considering solar right now.
1. Net metering protection was confirmed and extended.
The SCC’s April 30, 2026 ruling (Case No. PUR-2025-00079) protects full retail-rate, 1:1 net metering for new residential solar customers going forward. There’s a $1/month administrative fee, and any year-end surplus is credited at $0.05829/kWh, the core benefit, getting full retail credit for the power you send back to the grid during the day, is locked in for new customers.
2. SREC demand just increased.
HB 628, signed April 13, 2026, raised Virginia’s distributed solar carve-out from 1% to 4.5% between 2026 and 2030 (rising to 5% through 2045). That pushes annual SREC demand from roughly 740,000 up toward 3.4 million for the utility serving the Richmond area, which is part of why market pricing for SRECs has been climbing.
3. The federal tax credit is gone, but that’s old news by now.
The Section 25D federal residential solar tax credit and the federal battery credit both expired on December 31, 2025. If you’re weighing a 2026 decision against “waiting for a better federal deal,” there isn’t one coming. The economics from here forward run on Virginia’s net metering rules, utility rate trends, and the fact that solar panel maintenance requirements are generally minimal compared with the long-term savings a system can provide.
4. The state is actively subsidizing group-buying discounts.
In July 2026, Virginia became the first state in the country to launch Switch Together statewide through a partnership between the Governor’s office and the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors. The program uses a reverse auction, allowing installers to compete on price, and reports an average discount of about 23%, or roughly $6,300 off a 9.0 kW system. For homeowners considering residential solar Suffolk VA, programs like Switch Together may provide an opportunity to reduce upfront installation costs while working with a qualified solar installer.
It’s free to join, with no purchase obligation, and while the general 2026 enrollment window closes on October 15, residents participating through Fairfax County have until November 18 to sign up. This isn’t a reason to rush a decision you’re not ready for, but it is a real, time-limited savings opportunity that didn’t exist a year ago.
Solar Costs vs. Waiting
What Solar Panels Cost in Midlothian, VA
The current Virginia average install cost, per EnergySage’s data, is $2.65 per watt before incentives. On a typical residential system, that puts most Midlothian installations in a predictable range. Your exact price depends on your specific usage and roof complexity. This is why Convert Solar sizes every proposal to your actual 12-month electricity usage.
Here’s what’s verified and what isn’t, laid out honestly:
| Today (2026) | Cost of Waiting 12 Months | |
| Install cost per watt | $2.65/watt (EnergySage, Virginia data) | No confirmed 2027 pricing change is publicly available yet, equipment costs have historically moved only modestly year over year |
| Known utility cost pressure | RGGI surcharge ~$10–13/month (Dominion SCC filing) | Same surcharge continues to accrue with no offset if you haven’t installed |
| Net metering status | Full retail-rate 1:1, confirmed for new customers (Apr 2026 SCC ruling) | Rule applies to whoever is a “new” customer at time of interconnection, no guarantee today’s terms extend indefinitely |
| Group-buying discount available | Switch Together Virginia is open statewide through October 15, 2026, with select regions extended to November 18, 2026, offering an average of 23% savings on solar installations. | Program window and participating-installer terms are not guaranteed to repeat in the same form next year |
This table reflects currently verified figures. The clearest, most defensible case for the cost of waiting isn’t a speculative future price, it’s the utility costs you keep paying every month you don’t have a system offsetting them.
One real example: Suffolk homeowner John Harrison installed a 9.9 kW system that now offsets 95% of his electricity usage, with a projected $55,390 in savings over 30 years based on his system’s production and his household’s usage pattern.
That 30-year figure assumes his historical usage, his local utility rate, and standard degradation. It illustrates what “waiting means paying the old bill for longer” actually looks like in dollars.
How Financing Makes Solar More Affordable
Most Convert Solar customers in Virginia, roughly 60%, finance through a solar lease. Both paths are available:
- Solar lease: SREC rights remain with Convert Solar as system owner under the lease agreement, meaning lease customers do not receive SREC income.
- Purchase: Homeowner owns the system and its SRECs outright
- Not offered: Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are not available in Virginia
Neither path is inherently “better”, it depends on your cash position and how you weigh ownership against zero upfront cost. What’s consistent across both:
- 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty covering parts and workmanship, handled by Convert Solar’s in-house service team
- 6–8 week average timeline from signed agreement to installation
- Panel options from Silfab, REC, or Mission Solar, Enphase inverters, and battery options including Tesla Powerwall (generally preferred), FranklinWH, or Enphase IQ Battery 5P/10C if you’re adding storage.
If you’re also considering the Switch Together group-buying program, it’s worth understanding as a separate track from financing through your installer directly; it’s a state-facilitated discount mechanism. Ask your installer how (or whether) the program interacts with the financing option you’re leaning toward.
Should You Install Solar Now?
So, is now the right time to install solar panels in Midlothian? Based on what’s actually changed, including confirmed net metering, rising SREC demand, a live group-buying discount window, and utility rates that aren’t reversing, waiting doesn’t set most Midlothian homeowners up for a better deal next year. It mostly means paying today’s utility rates for longer. For homeowners asking are solar panels worth it in Virginia, these factors suggest that evaluating your options sooner rather than later may help you make a more informed long-term energy decision.
The most common objection is cost, so it’s worth answering directly: a solar lease requires no large upfront payment, and system sizing is based on your actual usage, which is what keeps a proposal grounded in real numbers.
The second most common question is about roofs and community associations. Since Midlothian is an unincorporated community in Chesterfield County, all solar permits route through the county’s Enterprise Land Management (ELM) portal, there’s no separate Midlothian permitting office, so the process follows standard Chesterfield County review. Two points of Virginia law matter here:
- Va. Code § 15.2-2288.7 protects roof-mounted residential solar as a by-right use statewide, subject to height, setback, and historic-district rules
- Va. Code § 55.1-1820.1 prevents a community association from banning solar outright unless the community’s recorded declaration explicitly prohibits it, associations can impose reasonable placement restrictions (like rear-facing only), but those restrictions become unenforceable if they raise installation cost by more than 5% or cut energy production by more than 10% versus the original proposed design
If your roof gets good sun exposure and your association doesn’t have an outright prohibition in its recorded declaration, the legal and procedural path is clear.
Still weighing whether now is the right time to install solar panels in Midlothian? As a solar company serving Midlothian, VA and the greater Richmond area, Convert Solar bases every no-obligation assessment on your home’s real electricity usage and a drone-based roof survey.
Request your no-obligation quote →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is now the right time to install solar panels in Midlothian?
Yes, for most homeowners. Net metering protection for new customers was just confirmed in April 2026, utility rates keep rising, and the Switch Together group-buying discount is guaranteed through October 15, 2026. Homeowners participating through the Fairfax County Switch Together program have until November 18 to enroll. The exceptions are homes with unsuitable roofs or homeowners still comparing financing terms; for everyone else, the case for waiting is weak.
Is it better to get solar now or wait in Midlothian, Virginia?
For most homeowners, the time is now. Net metering protection for new customers was just confirmed in April 2026, utility rates keep rising, and the Switch Together group-buying discount is only guaranteed through October 15, 2026. Homeowners participating through Fairfax County have until November 18 to enroll. Waiting doesn’t currently point to a better deal; it mainly extends the time you’re paying full utility rates.
How much does a solar system cost in Midlothian, VA?
The current Virginia average is $2.65 per watt (EnergySage data). Your exact cost depends on system size, roof condition, and your household’s actual electricity usage. Convert Solar sizes every proposal around your real 12-month usage.
What can a community association legally regulate about panel placement, versus blocking installation outright?
Under Va. Code § 55.1-1820.1, a community association cannot ban solar installation outright unless the recorded declaration explicitly prohibits it. Associations can require reasonable placement (such as rear-facing panels), but those restrictions become unenforceable if they increase installation cost more than 5% or reduce energy production more than 10% compared to the original design.
What is the Switch Together program?
Switch Together is a state-backed group-buying program launched statewide by the Governor’s office in partnership with the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors in July 2026. Through a reverse auction, qualified installers compete to offer discounted pricing, with participants saving an average of about 23% (roughly $6,300 on a 9.0 kW system).
Enrollment is free, carries no purchase obligation, and the general 2026 enrollment period runs through October 15. Homeowners participating in the Fairfax County Switch Together program have until November 18 to enroll.
Will solar panels increase my property taxes?
Property tax treatment of solar installations is set at the state and local level and depends on specific exemptions that may apply to your property. Confirm current details with Chesterfield County’s assessor’s office or a tax professional before assuming either outcome.
Do solar panels work during a power outage, and what happens to them in winter?
A standard grid-tied solar system shuts off during a utility outage for safety, unless it’s paired with battery storage (like a Tesla Powerwall, FranklinWH, or Enphase IQ Battery) that can provide backup power. In winter, panels continue producing electricity from daylight, shorter days and occasional snow cover reduce output temporarily, but panels aren’t damaged by cold and typically resume full production once cleared.
