Sunwise Energy installs residential and commercial solar across Pittsburgh’s 90 neighborhoods, from Squirrel Hill and Shadyside to the South Side, Lawrenceville, and the North Hills. With Duquesne Light rates at 20 cents per kWh and back-to-back rate increases, Pittsburgh homeowners can lock in energy costs with solar, backed by PA SRECs, net metering, and $0-down financing.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Utility | Duquesne Light |
| Rate Trend | Rising: 15% increase June 2025, 10.6% increase Dec 2025, ~20 cents/kWh all-in |
| PA Incentive 1 | SRECs ($25-$40/credit, sold on open market) |
| PA Incentive 2 | Retail-rate net metering (Duquesne Light) |
| Sales Tax | 6% state sales tax applies to solar equipment |
| Property Tax | No solar property tax exemption in PA |
| Equipment | Premium panels + microinverters |
| Permitting | Pittsburgh PLI via OneStopPGH portal (BDA application) |
| Installer | Sunwise Energy, in-house crews, licensed in DE/PA/NJ |
Duquesne Light’s all-in residential rate sits at approximately 20 cents per kWh after consecutive increases of 15% and 10.6% in 2025, driven by surging PJM capacity costs. For Pittsburgh homes using 800 to 1,100 kWh per month, that translates to $160 to $220 in monthly bills. PA SRECs add $25 to $40 per credit in ongoing income for every megawatt-hour produced, and net metering credits your excess energy at full retail rate. Pennsylvania does not offer property tax or sales tax exemptions for solar, but SRECs and Duquesne Light net metering create strong long-term value that makes solar a smart investment for Pittsburgh homeowners.
From Squirrel Hill brick homes to Strip District warehouses, Sunwise designs systems for Pittsburgh’s actual built environment.
Pittsburgh’s housing ranges from brick rowhomes and Victorians in Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, and the South Side to mid-century homes in Mt. Lebanon and the North Hills to newer construction in East Liberty and the South Side Works area. Sunwise uses premium panels and microinverters designed for Pittsburgh’s compact and varied roof types.
Pittsburgh’s tech-driven economy, world-class healthcare systems, and university campuses create massive commercial electricity demand. UPMC facilities, Strip District and Lawrenceville commercial buildings, and industrial sites across the city are ideal for solar. The 30% federal ITC (available through July 4, 2026), accelerated depreciation, and PA SRECs make commercial solar a high-return investment.
Pittsburgh’s aging grid infrastructure and severe weather events create real outage risk, and a grid-tied solar system shuts down during outages by default. A battery keeps critical systems running. For older Pittsburgh homes needing a new roof, Sunwise bundles both into a single project.
A Sunwise Energy Specialist assesses your roof, reviews your Duquesne Light usage, and models projected production and savings based on your actual energy consumption.
Pittsburgh’s PLI department handles solar permits through the OneStopPGH online portal. The Building and Development Application (BDA) combines building and zoning review. Electrical permits are also required. Sunwise manages the full application from submission through final inspection.
Our in-house crews install your system in less than a day. Every project uses premium panels and microinverters, installed to Pennsylvania building and electrical code.
Sunwise coordinates your Duquesne Light interconnection and meter setup. Once Duquesne Light grants Permission to Operate, your system goes live, earning net metering credits and SRECs.
During your visit, a Sunwise Energy Specialist will:
A consultation is free, pressure-free, and designed to help you understand whether solar makes sense for your home.
Sunwise Energy installs solar across all 90 of Pittsburgh's neighborhoods. From the city's historic East End to its revitalized riverfronts, our team knows the local housing stock, permitting process, and solar conditions.
Established residential neighborhoods with a mix of brick colonials, Tudors, and larger homes on wooded lots. Higher energy consumption and strong property values make these neighborhoods excellent solar markets. Shade assessment is important due to mature tree canopy.
Shadyside's Victorian and Edwardian homes sit alongside East Liberty's rapidly redeveloping commercial and residential landscape. Solar works on both older renovated homes and newer mixed-use construction in this corridor.
Pittsburgh's hottest redevelopment neighborhoods. Lawrenceville's rowhomes and converted warehouses and Bloomfield's Italian-heritage brick homes create compact roof footprints ideal for high-efficiency panel layouts. Commercial solar potential on Butler Street corridor buildings.
The South Side's Victorian rowhomes along East Carson Street and the steeper terrain of the Slopes create varied solar conditions. South-facing Slopes properties often have exceptional sun exposure despite the hillside topography.
Revitalizing neighborhoods across the river from downtown. Housing ranges from Victorian rowhomes in Manchester and the Mexican War Streets to newer construction near the stadiums. The North Side's ongoing redevelopment is adding solar-ready housing stock.
South Hills neighborhoods with panoramic city views. Mt. Washington's hillside homes, Brookline's established rowhomes and twins, and Dormont's residential neighborhoods offer varied solar potential. South-facing orientation on the hillside is a significant advantage.
East End neighborhoods with a mix of single-family homes, duplexes, and older apartment buildings. Highland Park's larger homes near the reservoir have strong solar viability. Morningside and Stanton Heights offer more affordable entry points with solid roof exposure.
We also provide solar installation throughout Pennsylvania. → View all PA locations
Duquesne Light serves all of Pittsburgh at an all-in residential rate of approximately 20 cents per kWh as of early 2026, including supply, distribution, transmission, and all riders. Duquesne Light’s Price to Compare rose over 15 percent in June 2025 and another 10.6 percent in December 2025, driven by surging PJM capacity costs, and further adjustments are expected. For Pittsburgh homes using 800 to 1,100 kWh per month, monthly bills now range from $160 to $220 or more.
Pittsburgh’s Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (PLI) handles solar permits through the OneStopPGH online portal using a Building and Development Application (BDA) that combines building and zoning review into a single process. Electrical permits are also required. Sunwise manages the full PLI application on your behalf, from submission through final inspection.
Yes, solar works well on Pittsburgh’s older homes as long as the roof is in good condition and has adequate sun exposure. Pittsburgh has one of the oldest housing stocks of any major U.S. city, with brick rowhomes, Victorian-era homes, and early 20th century frame houses throughout its 90 neighborhoods. Sunwise performs a full roof and shade assessment, and if the roof needs replacement, we bundle both projects together. Premium high-efficiency panels are designed to maximize production on compact and varied roof geometries.
Pittsburgh homeowners benefit from two primary Pennsylvania solar incentives: Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) worth $25 to $40 per credit, and Duquesne Light retail-rate net metering for excess production. Pennsylvania does not offer a property tax or sales tax exemption for solar, which differs from neighboring New Jersey where both exemptions are available. The combination of SRECs, net metering, and long-term Duquesne Light bill savings still makes solar a strong investment for most Pittsburgh homeowners.
Yes, Pittsburgh’s commercial and institutional landscape offers strong solar potential across UPMC and Allegheny Health Network facilities, university campuses, Strip District and Lawrenceville commercial buildings, office towers downtown, and industrial sites across the city. Business owners can capture the 30 percent federal Investment Tax Credit (available through July 4, 2026), accelerated depreciation, Pennsylvania SRECs, and net metering to reduce operating costs.
The cost of a solar system in Pittsburgh depends on your home’s energy usage, roof size, layout, and complexity, so there is no single price. Pennsylvania SRECs and Duquesne Light net metering reduce the effective cost over time, and $0-down financing options make solar accessible without upfront investment. The best way to get an accurate number is to schedule a free consultation with a Sunwise Energy Specialist, who will design a custom system based on your actual Duquesne Light usage and provide a detailed savings projection.
Schedule a free consultation with a Sunwise Energy Specialist. Our in-house crews install across Pittsburgh and the surrounding region.
$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.
