Sunwise Energy installs residential and commercial solar across Allegheny County, including Pittsburgh, Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park, Monroeville, Ross Township, and Penn Hills. With 130 municipalities spanning the river valleys, hillside neighborhoods, and suburban communities of southwestern Pennsylvania, the county offers a wide range of rooftop profiles, and Sunwise has the installation experience to handle all of them.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Utility | Duquesne Light |
| Rate Trend | Rising: ~21.5¢/kWh all-in (PJM capacity auction driving increases |
| PA Incentive 1 | SRECs: $25-$40/credit per MWh produced |
| PA Incentive 2 | Retail-rate net metering (Duquesne Light) |
| Net Metering | 1:1 retail rate up to 50 kW residential |
| Sales Tax | PA charges 6% sales tax on solar equipment. No property tax exemption. |
| Equipment | Premium panels + microinverters |
| Permitting | 130 individual municipal permitting offices |
| Installer | Sunwise Energy, in-house crews, licensed in DE/PA/NJ |
From Pittsburgh’s urban rooftops to the suburban homes of the South Hills and North Hills, Sunwise delivers solar solutions matched to the way Allegheny County is actually built.
The average Allegheny County home is over 70 years old, with brick colonials, Cape Cods, craftsman bungalows, and mid-century ranches. Sunwise designs systems sized to each home’s roof geometry, orientation, and Duquesne Light usage profile.
Allegheny County’s commercial landscape includes major corridors in Robinson Township, Monroeville Business Park, and the Strip District. The commercial Investment Tax Credit (Section 48E) remains available for businesses that begin construction by July 4, 2026.
Western Pennsylvania’s winter ice storms, summer thunderstorms, and occasional extended grid outages make battery storage a practical addition to any solar installation. If your roof needs attention before solar goes on, we handle that too.
Allegheny County homeowners are served by Duquesne Light Company, where total residential electricity costs have reached approximately 21.5¢/kWh when supply and delivery charges are combined. The primary driver behind years of steady increases is PJM Interconnection’s capacity auction, which spiked over 800% in 2025 and continues to push costs higher across all of southwestern Pennsylvania. Solar offers Allegheny County homeowners a path to predictable energy costs and real annual income from their rooftop.
A Sunwise Energy Specialist assesses your home’s energy usage, roof condition, shading, and electrical panel to determine the right system size. We use your Duquesne Light usage data to model production and savings specific to your household.
We create a custom system design and handle all permitting. In Allegheny County, solar permits are managed at the municipal level. Sunwise coordinates directly with whichever one your home falls under.
Our in-house crews handle every project with no subcontractors. A typical residential install is completed in under a day on the roof using premium panels and microinverters.
After installation, we coordinate final inspection with your municipality and submit the interconnection application to Duquesne Light. Once they grant Permission to Operate (PTO), your system goes live.
During your visit, a Sunwise Energy Specialist will:
A consultation is free, pressure-free, and designed to help you understand whether solar truly makes sense for your home and your Duquesne Light bill.
Sunwise Energy provides solar installation services across every municipality in Allegheny County, from the urban neighborhoods of Pittsburgh to the suburban communities of the North Hills, South Hills, and Mon Valley. Here are some of the communities we serve:
The county's largest city, with rooftop solar opportunities across neighborhoods from Squirrel Hill to the North Side. Learn more about solar installation in Pittsburgh (link to sibling page).
One of the South Hills' most established communities, with a dense mix of colonials and brick homes ideal for rooftop solar.
A home rule municipality south of Pittsburgh with a strong residential base of single-family homes built in the 1950s through 1970s.
Eastern Allegheny County's commercial and residential hub, with both suburban homes and significant commercial rooftop potential along the Route 22 corridor.
One of the largest North Hills townships, with a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial development along McKnight Road.
A large eastern suburb with diverse housing stock ranging from mid-century ranches to newer construction
An affluent South Hills community with larger homes and higher energy usage, making it strong solar ROI territory.
A North Hills township with established residential neighborhoods and growing interest in energy independence.
A Mon Valley city with revitalization underway and solar opportunities for both homeowners and commercial properties.
Home to Pittsburgh International Airport and a growing commercial corridor along University Boulevard, with both residential and commercial solar demand.
A major western commercial hub anchored by The Pointe at North Fayette and Robinson Town Centre, with significant commercial rooftop potential.
A North Hills township with established residential neighborhoods and growing interest in energy independence.
We also provide solar installation throughout Pennsylvania. → View all PA locations
Solar cost in Allegheny County depends on your home’s energy usage, roof size and condition, system capacity, and whether you add battery storage. Pennsylvania SRECs ($25-$40/credit) and Duquesne Light net metering reduce the effective cost over time, and $0-down financing, solar lease, and PPA options make solar accessible without any upfront investment. Schedule a free Sunwise consultation for a custom quote based on your actual home and Duquesne Light usage.
Yes, Duquesne Light offers net metering at the full retail rate for all residential solar customers in Allegheny County. When your system produces more electricity than you use, the excess is sent to the grid and credited on your bill at the full retail rate. Credits roll over monthly and are trued up annually. Residential systems up to 50 kW qualify.
Allegheny County homeowners can earn Pennsylvania SRECs ($25-$40 per credit for every MWh produced) and receive retail-rate net metering from Duquesne Light for energy sent back to the grid. Pennsylvania does not offer property tax or sales tax exemptions for solar, and PA charges 6% sales tax on solar equipment. The federal residential tax credit expired December 31, 2025 and is no longer available to homeowners. The commercial Investment Tax Credit (Section 48E) is still available to business owners through July 4, 2026.
Yes, solar permits in Allegheny County are handled at the municipal level, not by the county itself. With 130 municipalities across the county, permitting processes vary by location. Pittsburgh has its own permitting office, while boroughs like Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park, and Monroeville each have their own requirements. Sunwise handles all permitting coordination with whatever municipality your home is in.
Yes, solar is a strong financial decision for Duquesne Light customers paying approximately 21.5¢/kWh all-in. Rates have climbed steadily since 2020, driven largely by PJM capacity auction spikes. A properly sized solar system locks in your energy cost and protects against continued rate increases. With SREC income and net metering credits, most Allegheny County homeowners see meaningful long-term savings. Pennsylvania does not offer property tax or sales tax exemptions for solar, but SRECs and Duquesne Light net metering create strong long-term value.
Yes, the average home in Allegheny County is over 70 years old, and Sunwise regularly installs solar on older homes throughout the Pittsburgh region. During your consultation, we assess roof condition, structural integrity, shading, and electrical panel capacity. If your roof needs replacement before solar installation, we can coordinate or perform the roof work so your system is installed on a sound structure. Older homes with asphalt shingle roofs, slate roofs, or flat roofs can all accommodate solar with the right mounting approach.
Schedule a free consultation with a Sunwise Energy Specialist to see exactly what solar looks like for your home, your Duquesne Light bill, and your budget. Our in-house team handles every step: design, permits, installation, and utility interconnection.
$0-down financing, loan, and lease options available. NJ's SuSI program ($85/MWh for 15 years), property tax exemption, and sales tax exemption make going solar more affordable than ever.
