Virginia is running a statewide group-buying campaign for rooftop solar called Switch Together. Solar United Neighbors, a nonprofit, operates it at the request of Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s office. Canary Media reports Virginia is the first state to try this at statewide scale. The 2026 campaign closes on October 15.
How the group buy works
The program pools demand from many households so installers bid for the group’s business. A participant registers, gets a personal proposal, and can talk with an assigned installer. Registration is free and carries no obligation, according to the state’s Switch Together page. If you accept a proposal, you pay a program reservation fee and are connected to the contractor. Canary Media says the state provides no funding, so the program costs the state nothing.
FFXnow reports the program serves single-family homeowners and small business owners, and townhouse owners should check that their HOA allows solar. The reports describe no renter option. Coverage reaches about 100 counties and cities, roughly 85% of Virginia, per Bay Journal, and Canary Media says only far southwest Virginia is excluded this year. The program also offers discounts on home batteries, and on heat pumps in some areas.
Why Virginia did it
The federal residential clean energy tax credit ended for systems placed in service after 2025, and Canary Media says the group buy is meant to offset part of that lost support. Solar United Neighbors’ Virginia director, Brandon Praileau, argues that more solar means “less strain on the grid” and less need for costly infrastructure. That is his claim, not an independent finding.
Local outreach appears to matter. Canary Media reports a Richmond campaign run by Solar United Neighbors alone produced about 20 installations, and a second push with local government mailers produced roughly three times as many. Participation is still early: Canary Media reported more than 4,300 information requests and 120 signed contracts as of late August, and the state’s page now says nearly 6,000 Virginians have signed up. Sign-ups are not installations.
Why It Matters to You
If you own a single-family home or a small business in most of Virginia, this is a way to get competing solar bids without shopping around yourself, with no obligation to buy. It’s live now, but registration closes October 15, and your actual price depends on the proposal you receive. Renters weren’t mentioned in any report, and homeowners in far southwest Virginia are left out this year.
What the discount figures do and don’t show
The state’s page says the average discount is 23%, or $6,300 on a 9.0 kW system. That is the program’s own figure for a large system, and smaller systems would save fewer dollars. Other sources give different ranges: Canary Media says 20% to 30%, depending on location, while FFXnow quotes a program partner saying 15% to 25% below market rate. The $2,200 average annual bill savings is an estimate that Bay Journal attributes to the U.S. Treasury, and your savings depend on your roof, usage, and utility rates. FFXnow reports an average payback of six to eight years, which in turn depends on the final price and what you pay for electricity. Treat all of these as averages, not promises.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the deadline?
The state’s page says the 2026 campaign is open through October 15. Register at switchtogether.com.
Do I have to buy if I sign up?
No. Registration is free with no obligation. A reservation fee applies only if you accept a proposal.
Is the $6,300 discount guaranteed?
No. It is an average on a 9.0 kW system. Your proposal will show your actual price.
Sources
- Virginia Office of the Chief Energy Officer: Switch Together Virginia (accessed Oct 13, 2026)
- Canary Media: Virginia to cut rooftop solar costs with nation-first bulk-buy program (Aug 31, 2026)
- Bay Journal: Virginia program can lower rooftop solar costs by 23% (Sep 9, 2026)
- FFXnow: As solar program expands, Fairfax County leads Virginia in installations (Aug 10, 2026)