Incentives
Westchester Solar Incentives 2026: Con Edison + Battery
Westchester County sits inside Con Edison's territory but outside NYC's boundary, which means a Westchester solar project gets Con Edison's premium retail rate and time-of-use rate plans without access to the NYC property tax abatement.
That trade-off shapes the right project. Con Edison's ~$0.28-0.30/kWh residential rates are nearly 40% higher than PSEG Long Island's, so each exported kWh is worth more. Time-of-use rate plans add peak/off-peak spread that pairs well with battery storage. Backup-power resilience matters in Westchester because of tree-related storm outages on the local grid.
The right Westchester proposal models Con Edison rate plan, time-of-use eligibility, battery storage case (TOU + backup), roof condition, and the full federal + state incentive stack — without claiming the NYC abatement that does not apply.
The numbers, with sources
1:1 retail
Con Edison residential net metering credit ratio (current rules)
Con Edison — Net Metering for Solar~$0.28–0.30/kWh
Westchester Con Edison residential retail rate (high, makes solar payback fast)
U.S. Energy Information Administration — NY State ProfileTOU
Voluntary residential time-of-use rate plans available (peak / off-peak spread)
Con Edison — Time-of-Use Rates30%
Federal Residential Clean Energy Credit on solar + qualifying battery storage ≥ 3 kWh
IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit25%
NY State solar tax credit (capped at $5,000) — applies to Westchester
NY Department of Taxation and Finance — Form IT-25515-yr exemption
NY Real Property Tax Law §487 — exempts solar value from added assessment (where adopted)
NY Real Property Tax Law §487
The Westchester incentive stack — without the NYC abatement
Westchester solar gets four incentive components: 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit on qualifying solar + battery, 25% NY State solar tax credit (capped at $5,000), NYSERDA NY-Sun installer passthrough (declining-block incentive), and Con Edison 1:1 retail net metering on exported kWh.
Westchester does NOT get the NYC solar + electric storage property tax abatement. That program is restricted to the five NYC boroughs. Any Westchester quote that includes the NYC abatement is wrong.
| Westchester incentive | How it applies | Approx. value |
|---|---|---|
| Federal 30% credit | Reduces federal income tax owed | 30% of qualifying solar + battery cost |
| NY State 25% credit | Reduces state income tax owed | Up to $5,000 |
| NY-Sun installer passthrough | Reduces contract price upfront | Declining-block, varies |
| NY RPT §487 exemption | Excludes solar value from added property tax assessment (where adopted) | 15-year window |
| Con Edison 1:1 net metering | Bill credit on exported kWh | ~$0.28-0.30/kWh credit value |
The Con Edison time-of-use opportunity
Con Edison offers voluntary residential time-of-use (TOU) rate plans where peak-hour electricity (typically afternoon and early evening) costs more than off-peak. Without a battery, solar customers under TOU still benefit from net metering, but production timing matters more.
With a battery, a Westchester homeowner can charge during low-cost solar production or off-peak hours and discharge during peak hours — capturing arbitrage on top of net metering credit. That spread is much larger than under PSEG Long Island's flat residential rate, which is why battery storage economics are stronger in Westchester than on Long Island.
Battery storage — backup and TOU together
Westchester homeowners often value backup power because storm outages are common. A battery sized for whole-home backup (Tesla Powerwall 3 at 13.5 kWh, or multiple Enphase IQ Battery 5P units) can carry essential loads plus moderate appliances through a typical outage.
Pair that with TOU arbitrage and the battery economics start to make sense as a combination of resilience and bill savings, not either-or.
Roof condition and shade — the Westchester realities
Westchester roofs are mostly pitched asphalt or metal. Tree cover is heavier than on Long Island, which means shade analysis and panel-level optimization (microinverters or power optimizers) often matter more.
If the roof is past year 15-18 of its 20-30 year service life, plan roof-first or as a coordinated bundle. Solar on a tired roof costs more later when remove-and-reinstall is required.
EnergiSense — the Westchester playbook
For Westchester homeowners, EnergiSense pulls 12 months of Con Edison usage by rate component, evaluates TOU plan eligibility, models battery storage as TOU + backup, runs the roof review, and shows the federal + NY State + NY-Sun stack separately — never the NYC abatement, because it does not apply.
The proposal that wins is the one that shows utility math, incentive math, battery math, and roof math separately so the homeowner can compare three quotes honestly.
FAQs
Does the NYC property tax abatement apply in Westchester?
No. The NYC solar + electric storage property tax abatement is restricted to properties in the five NYC boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island). Westchester homeowners do not receive it. Westchester relies on federal 30%, NY State 25%, NY-Sun, and the §487 property tax exemption instead.
Are Con Edison rates higher in Westchester than NYC?
Roughly similar — both are Con Edison territory and pay residential rates around $0.28-0.30/kWh including supply and delivery. Long Island PSEG rates are noticeably lower (~$0.20-0.24/kWh), which is why solar payback is faster in Westchester / NYC than on Long Island, all else equal.
Is a battery worth it in Westchester?
Often yes, for two reasons stacked: Con Edison voluntary time-of-use rate plans create real peak/off-peak spread that batteries can arbitrage, AND tree-related storm outages make backup-power resilience meaningful. The combination supports the battery cost in a way that flat-rate territories do not.
How does Con Edison residential net metering work?
Under current Con Edison rules, residential solar systems credit exported kWh at the full retail rate. Credits roll month to month, with annual true-up settling remaining excess at the avoided-cost rate.
What size system should I install in Westchester?
Size to your actual annual usage, typically 95-105% of the last 12 months. Add for planned EV charging or heat-pump load. Westchester homes often have larger annual usage than Long Island due to longer heating seasons and more electrical equipment.
Can I install a battery without solar?
Yes, but the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit applies to qualifying battery storage at least 3 kWh regardless of whether solar is co-installed. Standalone battery (without solar) does not benefit from net metering or solar production savings, so the case typically rests on backup-power value plus TOU arbitrage if applicable.
About the author
Alex Lubin
Founder, EnergiSense — Independent Solar Advisor
- NABCEP PV Installation Professional
- GAF Master Elite (top 2% of US roofing contractors)
- Long Island, NY since 2021
Alex Lubin founded EnergiSense on Long Island in 2021 to give New York homeowners one person — not a call center — who covers both the roof and the solar system end-to-end. He holds the NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification (the industry credential that separates trained installers from unlicensed operators) and his roofing crew is GAF Master Elite certified, the top 2% of US roofing contractors. Every install carries Alex's name and a 5.0 Google rating across 17 reviews.
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