AI, Datacenters, skyrocketing energy prices– See how 2026 is the best year to lock in low energy rates with solar, and how TPO has shifted the landcape.
The timing couldn’t be more relevant. On January 20, 2025, President Trump declared a national energy emergency, citing high energy prices as a direct threat to Americans. Here in Virginia, that concern is playing out in real time. Data from August 2025 shows Virginia electricity prices surged 13% compared to the previous year, more than double the national average of around 6%.
The pressure isn’t letting up. On November 25, 2025, the Virginia State Corporation Commission approved a Dominion Energy rate increase that will raise the average residential customer’s monthly bill by approximately $13.60 over the next two years—a 9% increase. Dominion cited inflationary pressures on grid equipment and the growing demands of data centers, of which they serve roughly 450 in Northern Virginia alone.
The blog post also introduces Virginia homeowners to third-party ownership (TPO), a financing option that only became available in the state in July 2024. TPO allows homeowners to go solar with $0 down while a solar company owns and maintains the equipment. Because commercial tax credits remain available through 2027—even though the residential tax credit has ended—these arrangements can offer significant savings without requiring a large upfront investment.
Virtue Solar’s article takes an honest look at when TPO makes sense and when it doesn’t, reflecting the company’s commitment to transparent, no-pressure guidance. The post acknowledges past issues with solar leases in other states while explaining how today’s contracts, with escalators typically between 0% and 2.99%, are structured more favorably for homeowners.
“We fully expect energy prices to continue rising,” the article states. “Trading a payment to your utility for a payment to a solar company—when the solar payment is lower and more predictable—seems like a pretty smart move.”