Summary of Nebraska solar incentives 2021
If you live in the Lincoln and Omaha areas, here’s some good news. Your utility company allows net metering to give you credits for sending your solar power back into the grid and make it pretty easy to interconnect.
However, without stronger rules protecting that net billing arrangement, the current climate could shift and homeowners who want to install solar could be S.O.L.
Nebraska is a beautiful state with lots of natural bounty to protect. But when even residents of one of the state’s most forward-thinking cities have shown tepid interest in supporting solar, where is the legislature, which with a few simple laws can spark a solar revolution in Nebraska like we’ve seen in other states?
Read on to explore the entire savings, policy, and incentive picture for home solar panel installation in Nebraska.
On this page, you can:
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Learn what solar incentives are available to Nebraska homeowners
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See what Nebraska solar incentives you qualify for based on your utility company and city
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Find out how much these incentives and/or Nebraska solar tax credits will reduce your cost to go solar and add batteries
Federal solar investment tax credit
The federal solar investment tax credit will have the biggest impact on the cost you will face to go solar in Nebraska
This perk is commonly known as the ITC, short for “Investment Tax Credit”. If you install your photovoltaic system in 2020, the federal tax credit is 26% of the cost of your solar panel system. This is 26% off the entire cost of the system including equipment, labor and permitting.
Example: If your solar energy system costs $20,000, your federal solar tax credit would be $20,000 x 26% = $5,200.
The federal tax credit falls to 22% at the end of 2022.
Net energy metering in Nebraska
With net metering in some states, you get full retail rate credit for the amount of electricity you send back into the grid with your solar panels.
Net Metering requires your utility to monitor how much energy your solar power system produces and how much energy you actually consume to make sure you get credit for the surplus.
Nebraska requires all electric utilities to offer something called "net metering," but it doesn't meet the full definition of the term. All monthly surplus energy production (also called "net excess generation, or NEG") is applied as a credit to your next bill at whatever the utility decides is fair. Net metering is available for all solar power systems up to 25 kW in capacity on a first-come first-serve basis until net-metered systems reach a total of 1% of a utility’s peak electricity demand during the previous year.
Unfortunately, that leaves Nebraskans without a clear picture of how much they can save with solar. NEG varies from month to month, and is usually high in the summer and non-existent in the winter. In a state with full net metering, that ebb-and-flow allows you to size your solar system to meet your full annual usage and simply save credit for the excess until you need it. In Nebraska, you've got to size your system just right to be economical.
Luckily, the experts at system sizing are the installers we know. If you're in Lincoln, Omaha, or anywhere else, connect with solar installers near you to see how much you could save with solar!
Nebraska solar rebates
While Nebraska does not have a dedicated state rebate for solar panel installation, some manufacturers like LG offer their own solar rebates. These programs are usually time sensitive. For example, LG offers a $600 solar rebate on their equipment, which your installer can help you redeem over the next year.
Cost of solar panels in your part of Nebraska after all applicable solar incentives
Showing data for:
Prices based on a 9.3kW system, after 26% federal tax credit
Solar prices near you
Payback period
10.4-12.7 years
Net profit (savings less system cost)
$30,484-$37,258
Average size system installed in NE in 2021
9.3kW
Solar panel cost calculator
Best 10 solar companies in Nebraska
9 solar companies in Nebraska provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.66 43 Reviews
Latest review
Jeremy , over 1 month
The EverlightSolar team should up and were very professional. They answered all the questions we had and made everything very smooth. Very easy to work with.
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Latest review
Jeremy , over 1 month
The EverlightSolar team should up and were very professional. They answered all the questions we had and made everything very smooth. Very easy to work with.
Latest review
Mondollo, 3 days ago
Best price and equipment
4.04 57 Reviews
Latest review
Jason H, 1 week ago
I spent 30k with Moxie Solar for a solar array that would eliminate my electrical bill other than the connect fee of 15 per month to our electrical provider. They designed the system and told me this system was to be 110 percent of my electrical usage and that I would not have an electrical bill in fact during the summer my electric company would be paying me a few dollars because I will over produce. Last months bill was 80.00 I reached out to the project manager and she didn't know where the salesman got his numbers and that something was wrong after that conversation I have reached out to the company several times and have not heard a thing for over 4 weeks. I have read multiply reviews after this know I wish I would have gone with someone else. tried posting a negative review on their FB page the CEO deleted it and banned me so they are most definitely getting the messages
Read more
Latest review
Jason H, 1 week ago
I spent 30k with Moxie Solar for a solar array that would eliminate my electrical bill other than the connect fee of 15 per month to our electrical provider. They designed the system and told me this system was to be 110 percent of my electrical usage and that I would not have an electrical bill in fact during the summer my electric company would be paying me a few dollars because I will over produce. Last months bill was 80.00 I reached out to the project manager and she didn't know where the salesman got his numbers and that something was wrong after that conversation I have reached out to the company several times and have not heard a thing for over 4 weeks. I have read multiply reviews after this know I wish I would have gone with someone else. tried posting a negative review on their FB page the CEO deleted it and banned me so they are most definitely getting the messages
3.98 202 Reviews
Latest review
Missy904, 3 days ago
My husband I decided to get solar to do our part in reducing our carbon footprint and to hopefully have some power from the battery when the power goes out. However, now I am wishing I could rewind time and say no to this decision we have made. We felt like we had a very good and honest salesman; however, he told us we wouldn't get charged if the system wasn't working. He also told us it would take approximately 6 weeks to have our system installed. He didn't tell us that there would be several electric panels attached to the side wall of our house. BUT.... we signed our contract to get solar with Sunpro at the end of March today is September 23 the panels are on our home but not working. Today I get charged by the loan company. So not only am I having to pay my full electric bill now I'm having to pay for a loan too. That's $530 a month for both. They were first telling me they're waiting on a meter swap from my Electric company which our meter was swapped out in June. Then I was waiting on the Tesla battery which we have now had for a few months. Now they're telling me they are AGAIN waiting on a meter swap from my electric company. The guys that were doing the electrical components didn't seem like they knew what they were doing. It took them multiple attempts to get things installed, they put random holes in our brick wall (which someone did fix after complaining), they left gaps in the brick from where the old meter was and filled it in with ugly orange foam that is extremely visible (was told a while ago that someone was going to fix that). No one told me that several electric panels would be attached to our home let alone ask me where they needed to go. The side of our house faces the road, right where they installed all this crap. Now as soon as you pull up to our house you see all these panels and foam (looks horrible). I am a VERY unsatisfied customer. And now since I am paying for something that is not working I will be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I was also told by our salesman that we could pay for a portion of our loan with the tax credit which will bring our payments back down after they increase in a year. After hearing these other reviews I hope that's actually true. To me seems like this company is more concerned with getting paid than customer service.
Read more
Latest review
Missy904, 3 days ago
My husband I decided to get solar to do our part in reducing our carbon footprint and to hopefully have some power from the battery when the power goes out. However, now I am wishing I could rewind time and say no to this decision we have made. We felt like we had a very good and honest salesman; however, he told us we wouldn't get charged if the system wasn't working. He also told us it would take approximately 6 weeks to have our system installed. He didn't tell us that there would be several electric panels attached to the side wall of our house. BUT.... we signed our contract to get solar with Sunpro at the end of March today is September 23 the panels are on our home but not working. Today I get charged by the loan company. So not only am I having to pay my full electric bill now I'm having to pay for a loan too. That's $530 a month for both. They were first telling me they're waiting on a meter swap from my Electric company which our meter was swapped out in June. Then I was waiting on the Tesla battery which we have now had for a few months. Now they're telling me they are AGAIN waiting on a meter swap from my electric company. The guys that were doing the electrical components didn't seem like they knew what they were doing. It took them multiple attempts to get things installed, they put random holes in our brick wall (which someone did fix after complaining), they left gaps in the brick from where the old meter was and filled it in with ugly orange foam that is extremely visible (was told a while ago that someone was going to fix that). No one told me that several electric panels would be attached to our home let alone ask me where they needed to go. The side of our house faces the road, right where they installed all this crap. Now as soon as you pull up to our house you see all these panels and foam (looks horrible). I am a VERY unsatisfied customer. And now since I am paying for something that is not working I will be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I was also told by our salesman that we could pay for a portion of our loan with the tax credit which will bring our payments back down after they increase in a year. After hearing these other reviews I hope that's actually true. To me seems like this company is more concerned with getting paid than customer service.
3.98 6 Reviews
Latest review
Sunshine, over 1 month
We've only just begun! Since speaking with a previous customer, we've gone from bid to fully functional in about a month. These folks even have an energy efficiency team to help us go the next step.
Read more
Latest review
Sunshine, over 1 month
We've only just begun! Since speaking with a previous customer, we've gone from bid to fully functional in about a month. These folks even have an energy efficiency team to help us go the next step.
3.93 5 Reviews
Latest review
Prairie Hill-Jeanne Hevener, over 1 month
Dixon Power is great to work with! I would recommend them to anyone.<br />Renewable energy and it`s impact on the environment has always been important to Prairie Hill Learning Center since its inception. This has just been one step further toward our goal of providing a demonstration model to both the students and the community at large.
Read more
Latest review
Prairie Hill-Jeanne Hevener, over 1 month
Dixon Power is great to work with! I would recommend them to anyone.<br />Renewable energy and it`s impact on the environment has always been important to Prairie Hill Learning Center since its inception. This has just been one step further toward our goal of providing a demonstration model to both the students and the community at large.
3.93 4 Reviews
Latest review
C Gotschall, over 1 month
I went with GRNE for our solar install last fall based on vetting done by Solarize Chicagoland. So glad I did! I couldn't recommend them more highly. Every person I've had contact with has been professional and extremely helpful every step of the way, very conscientious and patient with all my questions. The install went great and the panels have been up and running for months now, working like a dream. Thanks GRNE!
Read more
Latest review
C Gotschall, over 1 month
I went with GRNE for our solar install last fall based on vetting done by Solarize Chicagoland. So glad I did! I couldn't recommend them more highly. Every person I've had contact with has been professional and extremely helpful every step of the way, very conscientious and patient with all my questions. The install went great and the panels have been up and running for months now, working like a dream. Thanks GRNE!
Latest review
Anonymous, over 1 month
So far...it's good
3.08 1 Reviews
Latest review
Roger Day , over 1 month
SWT Energy installed solar panels on our roof in April 2018. Beginning after the heavy snow in February 2021, leaks began to appear on many parts of our ceiling on that side of the house. SWT owners Randy Schantell and Eric Moyer came repeatedly with caulking guns and attempted to seal the leaks, but more spots continued to appear with each rain. We contacted two highly rated roofing companies and they, plus the house inspector Randy hired and the roofing and solar installation company we've contacted to do the necessary repairs all agree that the SWT installation had several problems that led to the leaks. Mr. Moyer's response now denies responsibility and offers no recourse short of the courts.
Read more
Latest review
Roger Day , over 1 month
SWT Energy installed solar panels on our roof in April 2018. Beginning after the heavy snow in February 2021, leaks began to appear on many parts of our ceiling on that side of the house. SWT owners Randy Schantell and Eric Moyer came repeatedly with caulking guns and attempted to seal the leaks, but more spots continued to appear with each rain. We contacted two highly rated roofing companies and they, plus the house inspector Randy hired and the roofing and solar installation company we've contacted to do the necessary repairs all agree that the SWT installation had several problems that led to the leaks. Mr. Moyer's response now denies responsibility and offers no recourse short of the courts.
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