Solar Panels Cost $6.5k-$15k in Nevada | December, 2024

Contractors supervising the installation or repair of solar energy systems in Nevada should have the proper license from the state board. Valid licenses include C-37 and C-1 for solar water heating, C-2 for solar PV, C-21 for solar HVAC, and Classification A for large/utility-scale solar facilities. Workers performing the installation or repair of a solar energy system should have a photovoltaic installer's license. Applicants for this license will need to pass a state exam; if the applicant is a contractor, they will also need to present pertinent contracting licenses. Homeowners do not need a solar contracting license to install or repair their own solar devices.

NV Energy (Northern Nevada) operates a rebate and incentive program to support large commercial, industrial, and public-sector customers making energy efficiency improvements. Available rebate offers will vary from time to time; current offers may apply to both new and existing facilities. Additional information is available through the NV Energy website.

NV Energy (Southern Nevada) operates a rebate and incentive program to support large commercial, industrial, and public-sector customers making energy efficiency improvements. Available rebate offers will vary from time to time; current offers may apply to both new and existing facilities. Additional information is available through the NV Energy website.

SolarGenerations is a rebate and credit purchasing program for NV Energy's interconnected solar PV and thermal customers. Systems in northern and southern Nevada have equal opportunity to apply, though solar collectors must not exceed a maximum total capacity of 500 kW. Owners of participating small solar energy systems up to 25 kW will earn an up-front rebate of 50% of installation and interconnection costs. Larger systems will earn five years' worth of performance-based incentives (PBIs) in exchange for all renewable energy credits generated by the system through the period. PBI rates vary depending on the type of property and the rated capacity of the system. Additional information is available from the NV Energy website.

Residential and commercial renewable energy customers of the Valley Electric Association may be eligible to participate in net billing contracts. Generally, the net billing program only serves systems rated for less than 25 kW, but some special exceptions may be made for larger systems in the utility's interest. The utility will purchase net excess generation (NEG) from a customer's system at a rate of 75% of the average retail price. Payment takes the form of a credit on the customer's bill. Should credit amount exceed the customer's liability in any given month, credits can roll forward to subsequent cycles until the end of the year. At that time, the remaining excess credits cannot be claimed. Additional information is available from the VEA website.

Nevada first adopted a renewable portfolio standard in 1997 to plan for statewide renewable energy investment. Current goals require 50% of retail electricity in Nevada to be generated using renewable technology by 2030. Qualifying technologies include solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric, and "waste tires." Compliance is measured through a "portfolio energy credit" (PEC) system pegging one kilowatt of energy to a fluctuating dollar value. All renewable energy systems generate these credits, though utilities are expected to purchase some of their standard PEC quota from private customers using net billing contracts or other contractual agreements. Additional information is available through the Nevada Public Utility Commission website.

Since 1997, private utilities in Nevada have been required to offer net metering contracts to their renewable energy customers. Any system under one megawatt in capacity can qualify for net metering, with all associated fees waived for systems under 25 kilowatts. Under net metering, the utility will install a bidirectional meter onto a customer's system determining the amount of net excess generation (NEG) sent back to the grid. The customer will receive a bill credit for this NEG at a fixed avoided-cost rate. Should generation exceed consumption for a given billing cycle, credits can move forward to subsequent cycles. Utilities may limit the total number of customers under net metering or restrict access to systems that supply more electricity than a customer regularly consumes.

NOTE: This law only allows for the creation of PACE districts. There are currently no operational PACE programs in Nevada. Communities and counties in Nevada may form or join property-assisted clean energy (PACE) districts. With the usual exception of single-family homes or multi-family residential property under five units, any property will be able to apply for specialized energy efficiency loans through their local PACE program. Maximum available principal, interest rates, and other terms and conditions will vary from program to program. Repayment takes the form of a property tax lien senior to mortgages; this means should the borrower sell their property, the new owner will be responsible for continuing loan payments. Additional information is available from the Nevada State Office of Energy.

Residential, small business, public sector, and nonprofit customers of NV Energy (Northern Nevada) may be entitled to rebates on new solar water, space, or pool heating systems. The new equipment should replace a conventional electric or gas heating system. The available rebate amount for any given customer is equal to half of the purchase price and installation costs of the system. Single-family homeowners may earn up to $3,000, with higher caps of $7,500 and $30,000 for businesses and nonprofits/government organizations respectively. Additional information is available from the NV Energy website.

In Nevada, compliance with the state renewable portfolio standard is measured with Portfolio Energy Credits (PECs). In the absence of credit multipliers, one PEC represents the price of one kilowatt hour generated with renewable technology. Credit multipliers apply to different renewable technologies. Solar PV systems in use before January 2016 will generate 2.4 PECs per kilowatt hour. Systems after the date cutoff will generate a variety of smaller multipliers based on how the customer uses and maintains their system. NV Energy will buy credits from customers at an instantaneous fair market value. To begin generating and selling PECs, customers should register their energy system with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission.

In Nevada, businesses may qualify for a property tax abatement on large renewable energy systems or their respective components. Qualifying technologies include solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, fuel cell, and some biomass. The maximum possible abatement is 55% for 20 years. The taxpayer should be prepared to keep their system operational for a minimum of ten years. They must also create a minimum number of construction jobs, including providing workers with health insurance and a minimum benefits package. Additional information is available from the Nevada State Office of Energy.

In Nevada, state sales tax abatements are available for certain mid-sized commercial renewable energy systems. An abatement lasts for three years and will lower tax rates on energy a system generates to 2.6%. Qualifying systems should be rated for at least 10 MW in capacity. Solar/geothermal systems exporting energy for at least 25,840,000 BTU of heat may also qualify. As a condition of receiving the abatement, property owners may be required to create construction jobs for Nevada residents. New positions should include health insurance and minimum benefits packages. Additional information is available from the Nevada State Office of Energy.