Sunwise Energy installs residential and commercial solar across Northampton County, serving Easton, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Palmer Township, Forks Township, Bangor, and communities throughout the eastern Lehigh Valley. Met-Ed and PPL serve the county, with all-in rates ranging from 17 to 19 cents per kWh and climbing. Pennsylvania SRECs, retail-rate net metering, and $0-down financing make solar a strong investment for Northampton County homeowners and businesses.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Utility | Met-Ed (most of county), PPL (Bethlehem area, western portions) |
| Rate Trend | Rising: Met-Ed ~19¢/kWh, PPL ~17¢/kWh all-in |
| PA Incentive 1 | SRECs $25-$40/credit per MWh produced |
| PA incentive 2 | Retail-rate net metering (Met-Ed and PPL) |
| Net Metering | 1:1 retail rate (Met-Ed, PPL) |
| Sales Tax / Tax Status | PA charges 6% sales tax on solar equipment.No property tax exemption |
| Equipment | Premium panels + microinverters |
| Permitting | 38 individual municipal construction offices |
| Installer | Sunwise Energy, in-house crews, licensed in DE/PA/NJ |
Residential, commercial, and battery storage for the eastern Lehigh Valley.
Northampton County homes range from Easton’s historic neighborhoods and Bethlehem’s South Side rowhomes to suburban colonials and newer construction in Bethlehem Township. Met-Ed and PPL customers can offset most or all of their utility bill with a system using premium panels and microinverters.
Northampton County’s economy has transformed since the Bethlehem Steel era into logistics, healthcare, education, and technology. The federal Investment Tax Credit is available through July 4, 2026.
Pairing solar with a battery keeps your home running during grid outages and maximizes every kilowatt-hour your system produces. If your roof needs work first, Sunwise bundles roofing and solar into a single project.
Northampton County is served by Met-Ed and PPL, with all-in residential rates ranging from approximately 17 to 19 cents per kWh as of early 2026. Both utilities have seen steady rate increases driven by rising PJM capacity costs, and further adjustments are expected. Northampton County’s mix of established suburban homes, historic boroughs, and a growing logistics and commercial sector creates strong solar opportunity for both homeowners and businesses. Pennsylvania SRECs generate ongoing income at $25 to $40 per credit, and net metering credits excess production at the full retail rate. For business owners, the federal Investment Tax Credit remains available through July 4, 2026.
A Sunwise Energy Specialist reviews your Met-Ed or PPL billing history, roof condition, and sun exposure to design a system sized to your actual consumption.
We create a custom system design and handle all permitting. Northampton County’s 38 municipalities each manage their own building and electrical permits. Sunwise coordinates every submission and inspection.
Our in-house crews complete residential systems in under a day on roof using premium panels and microinverters, handling all electrical work, racking, and wiring to meet Pennsylvania code.
Sunwise coordinates your interconnection and meter swap with Met-Ed or PPL. Once your utility grants Permission to Operate, your system goes live: producing power, earning net metering credits, and generating SRECs.
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.
Sunwise Energy installs solar across all 38 municipalities in Northampton County, from the Delaware River communities in the east to the Bethlehem area in the west and the Slate Belt region in the north. Our team knows the local permitting process, housing stock, and utility landscape across the entire county.
The county seat, located at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers. Easton features a mix of historic neighborhoods, revitalized downtown properties, and surrounding suburban development in Palmer and Williams townships. Home to Lafayette College and a growing arts and food scene, Easton's diverse housing stock supports both rowhome and detached-home solar installations.
The eastern and southern portions of Bethlehem fall within Northampton County, including the historic South Side and the redeveloped Bethlehem Steel campus. Residential neighborhoods feature a mix of rowhomes, twins, and detached single-family homes. PPL serves the Bethlehem area. Solar installation in Lehigh County → covers the western portion of Bethlehem.
Two of the county's most populated townships, located east of Easton with suburban developments, commercial corridors along Route 248 and Route 611, and a mix of established and newer housing stock. Both townships offer excellent solar conditions with strong roof exposure.
A historic borough known as the home of C.F. Martin Guitars, surrounded by growing suburban development. Nazareth's mix of older borough homes and newer township construction supports a range of residential solar installations.
The northern part of the county, historically known for slate quarrying, features smaller boroughs with older housing stock and surrounding rural townships with larger properties and minimal shading. Excellent solar exposure on open lots makes this area a strong candidate for residential systems.
Suburban townships west of Easton with a mix of residential developments, commercial centers, and proximity to Lehigh Valley International Airport. Both residential and commercial solar opportunities are strong here.
Southern Northampton County communities bordering Bucks County, with a mix of established suburban homes and newer construction. PPL serves this area, and the combination of suburban lot sizes and rising utility rates supports strong solar economics.
Central Northampton County communities with a mix of older borough homes and surrounding township developments. These areas are well served by Met-Ed and offer straightforward residential solar installations.
Communities adjacent to Easton proper, with a mix of compact borough homes and residential neighborhoods well suited for solar. High-efficiency panel layouts maximize production on tighter roof areas.
We also provide solar installation throughout the broader Pennsylvania service area. → View all PA locations
Solar cost in Northampton 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), Met-Ed or PPL net metering, and $0-down financing options reduce the effective cost significantly. Commercial property owners can also take advantage of the federal Investment Tax Credit through July 4, 2026. Schedule a free Sunwise consultation for a custom quote based on your actual home and utility usage.
Northampton County is served by two utilities: Met-Ed (~19¢/kWh all-in) covering most of the county including Easton, Nazareth, Bangor, Palmer, Forks, and Wilson, and PPL (~17¢/kWh all-in) serving the Bethlehem area, Hellertown, Lower Saucon, and portions of the western part of the county. Both utilities support net metering for solar customers. Sunwise will confirm your provider during your consultation.
Northampton County homeowners can earn Pennsylvania SRECs ($25-$40 per credit for every MWh produced) and receive retail-rate net metering from Met-Ed or PPL 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. However, the combination of SRECs, net metering, and long-term utility bill savings makes solar a strong financial investment. Business owners can also claim the federal Investment Tax Credit through July 4, 2026.
Solar permits in Northampton County are managed at the municipal level, with each of the county’s 38 municipalities handling its own building and electrical permits independently. Requirements and timelines vary between Easton, Bethlehem, Palmer Township, Forks Township, Nazareth, and other jurisdictions. Sunwise handles all permit applications, inspections, and coordination with local building departments on your behalf.
Yes, older homes are excellent solar candidates as long as the roof is in good condition and has adequate sun exposure. Northampton County has a wide range of housing stock, from Easton’s historic neighborhoods and Bethlehem’s South Side rowhomes to mid-century ranches in Palmer and Forks townships. Sunwise performs a full roof and shade assessment before designing your system, and if the roof needs replacement first, we bundle both projects together to save time and money.
Yes, Northampton County offers strong commercial solar potential across its diversified economy of logistics, healthcare, education, and technology. The Route 33 corridor, Bethlehem’s former Bethlehem Steel campus, and distribution hubs throughout the county are ideal candidates. Businesses can take advantage of the 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (available through July 4, 2026), accelerated depreciation, Pennsylvania SRECs, and net metering.
Schedule a free consultation with a Sunwise Energy Specialist. We’ll assess your home, design a custom system, and walk you through your savings with a dedicated in-house team from start to finish.
$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.
