Solar Installation in Charlottesville & Central Virginia
Charlottesville is our home base. We've been designing, permitting, and installing solar on homes across Central Virginia for over a decade.
Our Home Base
Charlottesville is our home! (And where we install the most solar)
Virtue Solar was started in Madison, Virginia in 2015, but has called Charlottesville home for several years now. The surrounding area is where the majority of our installations happen. We know the local permitting offices, the utility representatives, and the neighborhoods.
When you work with us here, you're working with a team that has years of experience navigating the specific requirements of your area.
We generally handle installations within 1.5 hours of Charlottesville with our in-house crew, so you get a consistent team from sales through installation and follow-up service.
Areas we serve in Central Virginia
- Charlottesville & Albemarle County
- Crozet, Ivy & Western Albemarle
- Scottsville & Southern Albemarle
- Keswick, Gordonsville & Eastern Albemarle
- Earlysville, Free Union & Northern Albemarle
- Lake Monticello & Fluvanna County
- Zion Crossroads & Louisa County
- Greene County, Ruckersville & Stanardsville
- Orange, Barboursville & North Garden
- Esmont, Dyke & Nelson County
$0 Down Solar
Third-Party Ownership (TPO): Go solar with no upfront cost
The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) ended on December 31, 2025. But that doesn't mean affordable solar is out of reach. Through third-party ownership (TPO), a solar company installs and maintains the system on your roof, and you pay a flat monthly rate — typically much less than what you'd pay your utility.
TPO works especially well in Dominion territory, where homes have sunny, mostly south-facing roofs. You lock in a predictable energy rate for 25 years, with guaranteed production and no maintenance costs. As utility rates continue to rise, your locked-in rate looks better every year. Learn more about our TPO financing options.
For CVEC customers, TPO is also available and can be a great fit depending on your roof's sun exposure. See how locking in your energy rates works.
Local Solar Incentives
Installing solar won't increase your property taxes. Virginia law (§ 58.1-3661) requires a full property tax exemption for any solar system rated at 25 kW or less — which covers nearly all residential installations. This applies statewide, regardless of locality. Before 2022 this was optional; now it's automatic.
Virginia homeowners also earn Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) — roughly $27 each for every 1,000 kWh your system produces. On a typical 10 kW system, that's an extra $324–$378 per year. We handle SREC registration for you.
For cash purchases, Virginia offers a sales tax exemption on solar equipment as well.
Permitting in Central Virginia
We handle all permitting and paperwork for you. Our team has extensive experience with the building departments across Central Virginia, including Albemarle County, Charlottesville City, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Orange counties.
Permitting timelines vary by locality, but we typically see 3–5 weeks for permit approval in the Charlottesville area. We manage the entire process — county building permits and utility interconnection applications — so there are no headaches on your end.
Utilities in Central Virginia
Two utilities serve the Charlottesville area — and they each work differently
One of the most important factors in how solar works for your home is which utility company serves your address. In the Charlottesville area, you're likely on one of two utilities: Dominion Energy or Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC). Each has different rates, different net metering rules, and different system sizing limits — and we have deep experience working with both.
Virginia's Largest Utility
Dominion Energy
Dominion is our bread and butter. They cover Charlottesville proper, most of Albemarle County, and the majority of our service area. They're generally easy to work with, and their policies make solar a strong investment for most homeowners.
Rates & recent increases
Dominion residential rates currently run approximately 15¢/kWh, all-in. After years of relatively stable pricing, the SCC approved Dominion's first base rate increase since 1992 in November 2025, adding $11.24/month for a typical customer effective January 2026, with another $2.36/month increase coming January 2027.
Net metering: 1-to-1 credits
Dominion offers full 1:1 retail rate net metering with 12-month annual netting. When your panels produce more than you use, you earn credits at the same rate you'd pay for electricity. Credits roll over month to month within a 12-month cycle, resetting on your interconnection anniversary date. Learn more about how net metering works.
Interconnection anniversary date: an important detail
Dominion has a bit of a cat-and-mouse design with their net metering credits. If you have billed usage over the course of a year, they will increase your allowable generation cap. If you have excess credits, they'll lower it. Crucially, credits reset to zero on your net metering anniversary date, so it's important to set this to the right time of year.
For most customers, we recommend a March or April anniversary. Winter tends to eat up any banked credits, and spring is when your system starts earning them again. An anniversary date in September or October is especially rough — your credits could get wiped out right before winter, when you need them most (though the following year's allowable cap should adjust to compensate).
System sizing: the 150% rule
Dominion allows the 150% sizing rule — your solar system can be designed to produce up to 150% of your expected annual electricity consumption. This is particularly helpful if you're planning to add an EV, upgrade your HVAC system, or expect increased usage in the future. It gives us flexibility to design a system that grows with your needs.
Standby charges: what to watch for
Systems larger than 15 kW AC trigger Dominion's standby charges — an additional monthly fee that can add $40–$110/month depending on system size and usage. These charges can seriously damage the economics of solar if you're not careful, which is why we are meticulous in our system design to keep systems below this threshold. Read our full breakdown of Dominion's standby fees.
As of July 1, 2026, new legislation will bump the standby charge threshold up to 20 kW AC, which is great news for homeowners with larger energy needs. This allows bigger systems with no standby penalty in Dominion territory.
Cooperative Utility
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC)
CVEC serves the rural areas surrounding Charlottesville — parts of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Nelson, Greene, and several other counties. Many homeowners in "Charlottesville area" zip codes are actually CVEC customers, not Dominion. If your address is outside city limits, there's a good chance you're on CVEC.
Easy net metering process
CVEC is the easiest cooperative in the state for net metering. In many ways, the easiest utility we work with, period. While some of the bigger utilities have moved to proprietary online portals, CVEC still uses a straightforward net metering form — one document covers both the initial approval and the final permission to operate. They typically process both approvals within a week, which is remarkably fast.
System sizing
Like all Virginia cooperatives, CVEC limits system size to 20 kW AC and generally caps production at 100% of past annual usage. However, they will allow oversizing with documented justification — for example, if you're adding an EV or upgrading to a heat pump. No standby charges apply.
Rates are rising
CVEC's rates are approximately 13–15¢/kWh, with the highest fixed monthly charge in the state at around $34/month. PJM capacity costs have spiked dramatically, driving rate increases through 2025 and into 2026. These rising costs make solar economics particularly compelling for CVEC members right now.
Get a free solar quote for your Central Virginia home
We'll create a custom model of your home, and show you how solar looks, what it will cost, and what incentives are available.
- Industry leading shade analysis
- Full system cost breakdown
- Solar incentives for your area
- Estimated savings & payback period
- 3D model of solar on your home
- Utility-specific net metering details
Solar in Charlottesville: Frequently Asked Questions
What utility company serves my home in the Charlottesville area?
It depends on your exact address. Homes within Charlottesville city limits are typically on Dominion Energy. Outside the city, you may be on CVEC, depending on your location. Many areas in western and southern Albemarle are CVEC. We'll confirm your utility during the solar assessment — just share a recent electric bill and we'll take it from there.
Will solar increase my property taxes?
No. Virginia law (§ 58.1-3661) requires a full property tax exemption for residential solar systems rated at 25 kW or less. This applies statewide and has been automatic since 2022. Your solar system won't increase your property tax assessment, even though it adds value to your home.
How much does solar cost in the Charlottesville area?
In Virginia, residential solar systems typically cost $2.75 to $3.50 per watt before incentives. A typical 8–10 kW system for a Charlottesville-area home runs $22,000–$35,000 before incentives. With TPO, you can go solar with $0 down and a monthly payment that's typically less than your current electric bill. Every home is different, so get a free assessment for an accurate quote.
What's the payback period for solar in Central Virginia?
For cash purchases, most homeowners in the Charlottesville area see a payback period of 8–12 years, depending on their utility, system size, and energy usage. After that, it's essentially free electricity for the remaining 15–20+ years of the system's life. With rising utility rates, the payback period has been getting shorter over time.
Can I install solar if I'm on CVEC?
Absolutely. We install solar for customers on both Dominion and CVEC. The process and economics differ slightly — for example, CVEC has a stricter 100% sizing cap compared to Dominion's 150% rule — but solar works well on both utilities. We'll tailor your system design to your specific utility's requirements.
What about Dominion's standby charges?
Dominion charges additional monthly fees for solar systems larger than 15 kW AC. These standby charges can add $40–$110/month and significantly hurt your solar savings if you're not aware of them. We design every Dominion system with this threshold in mind to protect your investment. Starting July 1, 2026, the threshold will increase to 20 kW AC, giving more flexibility for larger systems.
Are there HOA restrictions for solar in Charlottesville?
In Virginia, HOAs cannot prohibit solar installations, though they may have reasonable restrictions on panel placement. We work with your HOA to ensure compliance and handle any required approval paperwork. In our experience, most HOAs in the Charlottesville area approve solar without issue.
Rate information is based on publicly filed tariff schedules with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and is believed accurate as of March 2026. Rates are subject to change through regulatory proceedings. Virtue Solar is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any utility company. For current rate information, contact your utility provider directly.
What our customers say
“I looked at several solar providers but chose Virtue because they were low pressure, responsive, honest and local.”
“I recommend Virtue, without reservation, as the best of all the local solar companies I've dealt with, by far.”
“Peter and Matt were very helpful in getting my system designed for my needs. I can't stress enough how happy I am that a local company did such a superb job.”
