DC is legally requiring Pepco to power the entire city with renewable energy by 2032. The DC law requiring this is called the Clean Energy Amendment Act (if you want to look it up.) It was originally passed in 2018, and is the most progressive, pro-solar legislation passed anywhere in the country. Long story short, DC set HUGE fines for Pepco if they're not hitting the targets DC has set for them, and to avoid those fines, Pepco will pay a private solar leasing company to provide you with solar panels and power your home with renewable energy at $0 cost to you. (And yes, it's really free.) You can learn more by visiting the page on our website dedicated specifically to the DC Free Solar Program: SmartrSolar.com/Free

For a residential project, it usually takes about four months from your initial site survey for us to get the permits we need from Pepco and DC's Department of Buildings. The installation itself typically takes no more than two days. The timeline for commercial projects is longer, and can take up to a year depending on the size and complexity of the project.

Yes! We can certainly help you purchase your system if you'd prefer that to the free solar lease. To get a quote for your specific property, complete with a customized side-by-side comparison of your different options (free solar lease, cash purchase, and various financing options) schedule a call with us by clicking the 'SCHEDULE A CALL' button in the top right corner of the navigation bar at the top of this page.

Unfortunately, given recent tax changes due to the passing of the Trump Administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill, the federal tax credit that solar leasing companies rely on to make the DC Free Solar Program possible is set to expire at the end of 2027. In order to qualify for the tax credit, all systems must be fully completed by the end of 2027. And since it takes a few months to get the necessary permits and complete the installation - especially given the flood of applications that are expected as DC homeowners rush to hit the deadline - the DC Free Solar Program is expected to stop accepting applications in early2027 as a result. (To avoid confusion; This federal tax credit that leasing companies use is completely separate from the federal tax credit for those wishing to purchase solar for their homes, which expired at the end of 2025 due to the same changes in legislation.)

Yes! We help customers with both residential and commercial solar projects across Washington DC.