Both homes and businesses can cut their electric bills with solar, but the two paths now differ more than they used to. The biggest change is that the federal homeowner tax credit ended after 2025, while the business credit remains until deadlines in 2027. This guide compares the two.
Federal incentives
Homeowners: the 30% residential credit does not apply to installations completed after December 31, 2025, according to the IRS. Businesses: the Clean Electricity Investment Credit (Section 48E) still applies to solar, at a base rate of 6% with up to 30% available when requirements are met. For solar, the credit generally applies only to systems placed in service by the end of 2027, unless construction began by July 4, 2026. Our 2026 tax credit guide explains the details. Ask a tax professional how these rules apply to you.
System size and design
A home system is sized around one household’s usage and the available roof area. A business system is designed around the building’s energy use, its rate structure and the rooftop surfaces available. Commercial projects usually begin with an energy analysis and a comparison of current utility costs with the cost of solar, which is how we start every commercial estimate.
How Oklahoma net metering affects both
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission caps net metering participation at 300 kW or less of qualified rated capacity, with a peak load limit of 125%. Most homes fall far below that. A larger business system may need to be designed with those limits in mind. For both, production you use on site offsets retail rates, and excess is credited at the utility’s avoided energy cost.
Battery backup
Standard grid-tied solar shuts off during a grid outage. A battery lets you keep chosen circuits running, which is useful for a home during storm season and for any business that cannot afford downtime.
Which is right for you?
- Own your home and want to lower your bill and add outage protection: start with a residential estimate.
- Run a business with high daytime electricity use: start with a commercial energy analysis, and confirm the tax timeline early.
We advise and educate rather than pressure you into a sale. Request a free estimate or read more about residential and commercial solar installation.