Guides
By No BS Clean Energy ยท Every number sourced and dated
Start here
- Is solar worth it in Rhode Island?Run your own numbers: grant, power, bill credit and payback, with REG side by side.
- Rhode Island's solar grant (REF)How much it pays, how it is figured, who qualifies and the deadlines.
- How net metering works in Rhode IslandWhat each kWh earns, what stays on your bill, and the cut that does not apply to rooftops.
- The REG programHow REG pays per kWh, for how long, and why it replaces net metering.
- Rhode Island solar incentivesEvery incentive that is real in 2026, in one place.
- The federal solar tax creditIt ended for home systems finished after 2025. What that means here.
- What solar costs in Rhode IslandMarketplace prices, what changes them, and what the grant takes off.
- Own or leaseWho owns the panels, who gets the grant, and what to ask.
- How to check a solar installerThe state registrations to look up before you sign.
- Solar words, in plain EnglishkW, kWh, TSRF, REG, PPA and the rest.
- Every number we useThe full fact list with sources, sections and dates.
Latest answers
- Can I get the REF grant if I lease my panels?No. The Rhode Island REF grant is for systems you own, not leased panels or PPAs. A company-owned system has different incentives. Oct 28, 2026
- Do I still pay Rhode Island Energy if I have solar?Yes. Solar can cut the per-kWh parts of your bill, but RI Energy still bills the fixed monthly charge and any power your credits do not cover. Oct 28, 2026
- How long does the REF grant take to come through?There is no fixed public wait time. The next REF round is not posted yet, and your installer must get approval before installing. Oct 28, 2026
- REF vs REG: which Rhode Island solar program pays more?REG can pay more over time, but REF cuts the contract price up front. Pick based on ownership, bill treatment and cash flow. Oct 28, 2026
- Do solar panels raise your property taxes in Rhode Island?It depends on your town. Rhode Island lets each town decide by ordinance whether home solar is exempt from property tax. Here is how to check yours. Sep 28, 2026
- What happens to extra solar power in Rhode Island?Extra solar power first becomes bill credit. Past your own use, it earns the wholesale price, not the home credit. Sep 28, 2026