In short: start with the goal, not the gadget. If you want the lights on during outages, compare generators, home batteries and power stations. If you want lower bills, cut waste first, then look at solar. EV owners need a charging plan, and remote land needs an off-grid system. Each path below leads to the right guides, calculators and state facts.
Home energy got more complicated in 2026. The federal home credits are gone, electricity prices are up and outages are longer than they used to be. This page sorts it out by what you are trying to do, so you can skip what doesn’t apply to your home.
Three numbers worth knowing first
- Power costs more: the U.S. average home price for electricity was 18.31 cents per kWh in July 2026, up from 17.45 cents a year earlier (EIA, preliminary). Your state’s figure is on its state page.
- Outages are longer: in 2024 the average U.S. customer went about 11 hours without power, nearly twice the average of the decade before, mostly because of hurricanes (EIA, December 2025).
- Batteries are now standard with solar: 46% of new home solar systems in the second quarter of 2026 came with a battery (Wood Mackenzie, September 2026).
Pick your goal
Keep the power on during outages
Your choices are a portable generator, a standby generator, a home battery, a portable power station, or a mix. Generators run as long as you have fuel; batteries are silent, can sit indoors and need no fuel, but run out. Start with the overview, then size it.
- Home backup power: every option compared
- Home generators, what size generator you need and generator vs home battery
- Home battery backup, what a home battery costs and batteries without solar
- Portable power stations for a fridge, Wi-Fi or a CPAP
- Calculators: battery backup and generator sizing
Safety comes with any fuel-burning generator: outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house with the exhaust pointed away (CPSC), and carbon monoxide alarms on every level. Read how to run a generator safely. Connecting backup power to your panel is a job for a licensed electrician, with a permit where required.
Lower your electric bill
The cheapest kilowatt-hour is the one you don’t use. Find the big users first, then decide whether solar pays where you live.
- How to lower your electric bill, step by step
- Heat pumps and smart thermostats for heating and cooling, usually the largest share of a home’s electricity
- Is solar worth it? and how net metering works in your state
- Calculators: solar potential and solar savings
Charge an electric car at home
Many drivers manage with a regular outlet; others need a Level 2 charger on a 240-volt circuit. Your panel’s spare capacity decides most of the cost.
- Home EV charging and Level 1 vs Level 2
- EV charger installation and what it costs
- EV charging cost calculator and charging with solar
Go solar, with or without a battery
- Solar for your home, what it costs and how many panels you need
- How solar installation works, from site visit to permission to operate
- Adding battery storage to solar and buy vs lease
- Renting or short on roof? Solar for renters and balcony (plug-in) solar
Power a cabin or live off the grid
Off-grid means you are the utility: solar, batteries and usually a generator, sometimes with wind or a stream. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that a new power line can cost $15,000 to $50,000 per mile, which is why remote owners look at stand-alone systems.
- Off-grid power systems and off-grid power for cabins
- Hybrid systems, small wind and micro-hydro, with honest site checks
- Off-grid planning calculator
Renting, or living in a condo?
You can still do a lot without touching the building. A portable power station keeps a fridge, a CPAP or Wi-Fi running through an outage, and it recharges from a wall outlet or portable panels. Plug-in chargers, energy monitors and smart plugs help with the bill. In some states, small balcony solar kits are allowed; check where balcony solar is legal. Anything permanent, such as a Level 2 charger in a shared garage, needs the owner’s or the association’s approval first, so ask before you buy.
Do it yourself, buy a package, or hire a pro?
| Route | Good for | Who connects it |
|---|---|---|
| Buy it yourself | Power stations, portable panels, plug-in chargers, energy monitors, CO alarms | You; nothing touches house wiring |
| Complete package | Solar kits, battery kits, cabin systems | You or an electrician, depending on the kit and local rules |
| Professional installation | Rooftop solar, whole-home batteries, standby generators, Level 2 chargers, transfer switches | A licensed electrician or installer, with permits, inspection and utility approval where required |
What changed with incentives in 2026
- The federal residential clean energy credit (25D) for solar, batteries, small wind and geothermal ended for expenditures after December 31, 2025 (IRS).
- The energy efficient home improvement credit (25C) for heat pumps and efficiency upgrades ended after December 31, 2025.
- The new clean vehicle credit (30D) ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, and the charger credit (30C) ended for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026.
What remains are state, utility and local programs. Illinois, for example, has a ComEd and Ameren battery rebate of $300 per kWh for customers on hourly-pricing or demand-response plans (Citizens Utility Board, March 2026). See energy incentives and your state page for what we have confirmed.
Check your state
Prices, outage history, net metering and the license lookup for electricians change a lot from state to state. Start with Texas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina or Illinois, or pick yours from all 50 states.
When you want help
If you have read enough and want someone to look at your project, go to get quotes and choose the service. Tell us about your project and we will connect you with a licensed, independent installer who serves your area. It is free, there is no obligation, and only the installer you choose gets your details. Read how it works.
Questions homeowners ask
What is the best energy upgrade for a home?
It depends on your problem. If outages are the worry, backup power comes first. If high bills are, cutting heating, cooling and standby waste usually pays back fastest, and solar comes next where rates are high and exports are credited fairly. If you drive an EV, a home charging plan matters more than either. Pick the goal above and follow its guides.
Is there still a federal tax credit for home solar or batteries?
No, not for work after 2025. The IRS says the residential clean energy credit (25D) is not allowed for expenditures made after December 31, 2025. Some states, utilities and cities still offer rebates, performance payments or low-interest loans. Check your state page and your utility’s website, and ask a tax professional about your own return.
Generator or battery: which should I look at first?
Look at how long your outages last and what you must run. For multi-day outages and big loads like central air or a well pump, a generator is usually cheaper per hour of backup. For short outages, quiet operation and no fuel, a battery fits better. Many homes mix the two. Our generator vs home battery guide compares them.
Do I need an electrician for these projects?
For anything wired into your home, yes: transfer switches, standby generators, home batteries, rooftop solar and Level 2 chargers need a licensed electrician or installer, usually with a permit and inspection. Plug-in products such as power stations, portable panels and plug-in chargers on an existing outlet don’t. Your state page links to the state’s license lookup.
Does SolutionEnergy install systems?
No. We research and explain options, and when you ask, we reply ourselves. We connect you with a licensed, independent installer who serves your area, and we only pass your request to one if you choose them. Any contract is between you and the installer you pick. See how it works and our editorial policy.
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Electric Power Monthly, July 2026 prices; Today in Energy, December 1, 2025, outage hours); Wood Mackenzie/ACP U.S. Energy Storage Monitor (September 2026); IRS One Big Beautiful Bill provisions page; U.S. Department of Energy, off-grid systems guidance (power-line extension cost); CPSC generator safety (2026); Citizens Utility Board Illinois rebate fact sheet (March 2026). Written by the SolutionEnergy editorial team; last reviewed October 2026.