Solar FAQ
Solar Installation Questions From Northern Virginia Homeowners
Short answers to the questions homeowners ask us most about solar: cost, credits, permits, net metering, panels, batteries, and what happens in an outage. Each answer points to the page that covers it in full.
Reviewed 2026-09-24
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1,463 across four profiles
Family-owned
Since 1996
Licensed and insured
VA 2705031092
On every install
Master electrician on site
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Workmanship warranty
Answer first
The five answers people want first
A typical 8 to 12 kW rooftop array in Northern Virginia runs $19,000–$34,000 at our published $2.40–$2.85/W cash rate. The homeowner federal credit is zero for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. Fairfax County waives the solar permit fee and offers a five-year equipment tax exemption. Grid-tied solar alone shuts off in an outage. Roof studies and written quotes are free.
- Many older panels need work before solar; the 120% rule decides.
- Dominion and NOVEC each run their own net metering program; your address decides which applies.
- Production figures in any proposal are modeled estimates.
Cost, credits, and paying for it
How much does solar cost? Our published cash planning rate is $2.40–$2.85/W. As planning examples, 8 kW runs $19,200–$22,800, 10 kW runs $24,000–$28,500, and 12 kW runs $28,800–$34,200. Panel upgrades, batteries, and roof work are extra and itemized.
Is there still a 2026 federal tax credit for homeowners? No. The IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Rental and business property may qualify for the Section 48E credit; confirm with a CPA.
What local incentives are there? Fairfax County waives the permit fee for solar applications and its Department of Tax Administration offers a five-year solar equipment exemption. Neighboring counties and cities run their own programs.
Does the estimate cost anything? No. Roof studies and written quotes are free.
Your roof, your panel, your home
Is my roof good for solar? Fairfax County's guidance is six or more hours of direct sun, a roof under five years old, and ideally a south or west face. East and west roofs still work; heavy shade and an aging roof are the usual deal-breakers.
Should I replace my roof first? If the roof has only a few years left, usually yes. Removing and reinstalling an array later costs more than doing the roof first.
Do I need a new electrical panel? Not always. The 120% rule limits the solar breaker your panel can accept. On a 200A busbar with a 200A main, the limit is a 40A solar breaker. Larger systems need a different connection or a new panel.
Can my HOA stop me? Virginia law limits how far an association can restrict rooftop solar, though many require an application first.
Permits, the utility, and net metering
Who handles the permit? We do. In Fairfax County one residential solar permit covers the solar equipment, and a service upgrade gets its own electrical record.
What is net metering? Your meter runs both ways and the utility credits the energy you send back. Dominion requires the system be sized so it does not reasonably produce more than 150% of your expected annual use, and Virginia law caps residential net metering at 25 kilowatts.
When can I turn it on? After the utility grants permission to operate, which comes after the county inspection and the meter work.
Is it Dominion or NOVEC? It depends on the address, not the town name. Check the bill.
Batteries, outages, and EV charging
Do solar panels work in a power outage? A grid-tied system without a battery shuts off when the grid goes down, so line workers are not exposed to power from your roof.
Do I need a battery? Only if backup power or storing your own production matters to you. Whole-home battery installs run $6,000–$15,000+.
Can solar charge my EV? Yes. An EV charger can go in the same design and the same load calculation.
Working with AJ Long Electric
Who installs the system? Our in-house crew. A master electrician is on site for every solar project. We do not use a commissioned sales team or subcontracted electricians.
Do you fix systems another company installed? Yes, including systems whose installer went out of business.
Is there a service fee? Estimates are free. A $99 dispatch fee applies to booked service visits, is waived for members, and never applies to an estimate. Troubleshooting is priced separately.
Are you licensed? Yes. AJ Long Electric holds Virginia Class B contractor license 2705031092 and has been family-owned since 1996.
Straight answers
Questions
- How much does solar cost in Northern Virginia?
- Our published cash planning rate is $2.40–$2.85/W. A typical 8 to 12 kW rooftop array runs $19,000–$34,000. Panel, battery, and roof work are itemized separately.
- Is the 2026 federal solar tax credit still available for homeowners?
- No. The IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Rental and business property may qualify for Section 48E; confirm with a CPA.
- Does Fairfax County charge for a solar permit?
- No. Fairfax County Land Development Services waives the permit fee for solar permit applications.
- Is there a property tax break for solar in Fairfax County?
- Yes. The Department of Tax Administration offers a five-year solar energy equipment exemption, applied for after the permits pass.
- How many hours of sun does my roof need?
- Fairfax County's guidance calls six or more hours of direct sunlight a day ideal, with south or west faces getting the most exposure.
- How old can my roof be?
- Fairfax County suggests a roof less than five years old, because a solar installation can last 20 to 25 years. We check the roof during the study.
- Will I need a panel upgrade?
- Sometimes. It depends on the busbar rating, main breaker, open spaces, and service size. A 200A panel upgrade runs $3,500–$7,500 when it is needed.
- What is the 120% rule?
- An electrical code limit: for a backfed breaker at the opposite end from the main, the main breaker plus the solar breaker may not exceed 120% of the busbar rating.
- How big can a residential solar system be in Virginia?
- Virginia law caps residential net metering at 25 kilowatts, and Dominion requires the system not reasonably produce more than 150% of expected annual use.
- Do I need Dominion's approval before installing?
- Yes. Dominion reviews the interconnection notification and grants contingent approval before installation, then permission to operate after inspection and metering.
- What if I am a NOVEC customer?
- NOVEC runs its own net metering program. We confirm your utility from the bill and follow that utility's process.
- Do solar panels work during a power outage?
- Grid-tied solar without a battery shuts off when the grid goes down. A battery with the right transfer equipment keeps chosen circuits on.
- Can I add a battery later?
- Yes. We plan the panel space and wiring for it in the original design so a later battery is simpler.
- Do you use subcontractors?
- No. Installation is in-house and so is the electrical work. A master electrician is on site for every solar project.
- Do you work on solar systems you did not install?
- Yes. We service systems other companies installed, including orphaned systems whose installer is gone.
- Can my HOA ban solar panels?
- Virginia Code 55.1-1820.1 limits association restrictions on rooftop solar. Most associations can still require an application and reasonable conditions.
- Are production numbers in a proposal certain?
- No. Production figures are modeled estimates based on the roof, shade, and weather data. Actual output varies year to year.
- Do door-to-door solar sellers need a license in Fairfax County?
- Fairfax County tells residents to ask door-to-door solar sellers for their county-issued license before engaging.
Sources
- IRS, Residential Clean Energy Credit
- Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, Going Solar
- Fairfax County Land Development Services, Solar (SOLARR) Residential
- Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration, Solar Energy Equipment Tax Exemption
- Dominion Energy Virginia, Net Metering
- Code of Virginia 56-594, Net energy metering provisions
- Code of Virginia 55.1-1820.1, Installation of solar energy collection devices
- NFPA 70, National Electrical Code
- NOVEC, Net Metering
Next step
Ask the question about your house
General answers only go so far. Send a bill and your address and we will answer the questions that depend on your roof, your panel, and your utility.
Solar energy company
AJ Long Electric Solar
AJ Long Electric
7138 Little River Turnpike #305
Annandale, VA 22003
Serving Annandale, Fairfax County, and Northern Virginia.