Solar power is becoming one of the most important tools for keeping electricity affordable in the U.S. It’s cheap to operate, fuel-free, and arriving on the grid faster than any other energy source. But like most new technologies, the early implementation phase hasn’t been without friction: a 2024 survey found that nearly half of utility-scale wind and solar projects faced delays of six months or more, often tied to permitting slowdowns, grid-interconnection bottlenecks, and supply-chain setbacks. When those projects slip, utilities typically fall back on more expensive fossil-fuel power to fill the gap — and those costs eventually show up on customer bills. This year, those setbacks are easing.
In the third quarter of 2025, only 20% of planned solar capacity reported delays, down from 25% in the same period in 2024, according to new federal data. And while the drop may look small, it signals a meaningful shift in how reliably new solar power is coming online — and how much protection customers have from fuel-driven price swings.
The latest numbers come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, the federal dataset that tracks power plants from initial planning to commercial operation. Solar continues to dominate the nation’s new energy buildout: developers added 31 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar in 2024, a record year that boosted total U.S. solar capacity by 34%.
But the road to those numbers wasn’t smooth. At the start of 2024, developers projected more than 36 GW of new solar capacity — 5 GW more than what ultimately came online. Most delays were brief, typically one or two months, and tended to happen late in construction or during final testing, when projects are closest to delivering power. Outright cancellations remain rare, with less than 1% of planned solar capacity scrapped in a typical month.
For utilities, timing matters almost as much as capacity. When a project expected in June doesn’t arrive until August, the system must rely longer on fossil-fuel generation or short-term market purchases — often the most expensive power available during summer heat waves. Those costs aren’t absorbed by the utility: they eventually flow to customers through fuel adjustment charges or higher wholesale rates.
Looking ahead, developers report plans to bring another 32 GW of solar capacity online between October 2025 and September 2026. About 5 GW of that reflects projects that have already pushed their expected start dates back.
Taken together, the latest data signals a solar industry that’s hitting its stride. Developers are still navigating permitting, interconnection, and supply-chain hurdles, but the overall trend is moving in the right direction: projects are arriving closer to schedule, cancellations remain rare, and utilities have a clearer sense of when new capacity will actually reach the grid.
That clarity matters. As electricity demand rises and fuel markets continue to swing, a steadier flow of solar onto the system helps utilities manage costs and reduce the likelihood of unexpected spikes for customers. And the improvement doesn’t only benefit the grid — it’s positive for electric bills.
Faster installations allow homeowners and businesses to begin generating their own power and achieving significant energy savings sooner.
With another 32 GW planned over the next year, fewer delays could translate into a more predictable — and slightly more affordable — energy future for millions of households.
