H1 2026 Home Electrification Marketplace Report

Overview

EnergySage Intel is our market insights and data division, providing one of the most comprehensive looks at residential clean energy adoption in the U.S.

The 23rd EnergySage Intel: Home Electrification Marketplace Report covers quote data from January through June 2026, alongside results from our annual 2026 Electrification Contractor Survey.

This is the first edition since the 30% federal tax credit for purchased residential solar systems expired at the end of 2025. Six months in, the data shows a market that is adapting: pricing is normalizing, installers are turning to new financing tools like pre-paid TPO, and homeowner interest in savings and storage remains strong.

 Executive Summary of Report

• Pricing is normalizing: The median quoted solar+storage price rose 3.2%, but solar-only pricing held flat at $2.62/W. The gap between high and low quotes narrowed from $0.72/W to $0.56/W.
• Price isn't everything: 65% of EnergySage shoppers did not choose the lowest-priced quote they received.
• TPO is filling the gap left by the tax credit: The share of installers quoting TPO on EnergySage nearly tripled, from about 14% to 41%. Pre-paid PPAs and leases were 57% and 39% cheaper than a cash purchase.
• Storage interest hit a new high: 76% of shoppers expressed interest in storage, even as battery pricing rose 5% to $1,130/kWh. Attachment fell to 31%, with cost cited as the main barrier.
• Labor costs are climbing: 74% of contractors reported higher hourly labor rates over the past year.
• Systems are getting smaller: System sizes fell in 7 of the 10 top solar states as homeowners right-size without the tax credit.
• Diversification is the top growth strategy: 58% of contractors plan to add services adjacent to solar and storage. Main panel upgrades (25%) and EV chargers (24%) carry the highest reported margins.

• Full Report: download it here
• Press Release
• Blog: H1 2026 Home Energy Market Highlights
• LinkedIn Post

Messaging Themes

Share data and insights with your audiences using the following suggestions for commentary:

1. A Market Adapting, Not Retreating

The expiration of the 30% federal tax credit marked a major turning point. Six months in, the data shows the market is finding new ways to make solar work.

Sample framing:

"The tax credit is gone, but demand for solar savings isn't. The market is adapting, and homeowners are still moving forward."

2. New Ways to Pay for Solar

Pre-paid TPO options are emerging as a bridge for homeowners who want solar's savings but can't afford the upfront cost of a purchased system.

Sample framing:

"Without the tax credit, financing flexibility matters more than ever. Pre-paid PPAs and leases are opening the door for more homeowners to go solar."

3. Rising Rates Make the Case for Solar and Storage

Saving money remains the top reason homeowners go solar, and rising electricity rates and more frequent outages are pushing storage interest to new highs.

Sample framing:

"As electricity rates keep climbing, the case for solar and storage has never been more relevant."

• EnergySage's latest Intel report shows the solar market adapting after the loss of the federal tax credit, with pricing settling and new financing options gaining ground.
• The new EnergySage data confirms what many of us are seeing: homeowners still want solar's savings, and pre-paid TPO is helping more of them get there.
• Storage interest just hit a record 76% in EnergySage's latest report. Rising electricity rates are turning batteries from a nice-to-have into a must-have.
• The new EnergySage Intel report is a useful barometer for where residential solar is headed in a post-tax-credit market.

For questions, interview requests, or more information about the report, contact: media@energysage.com