Summary of Ohio solar incentives 2020
Although the Ohio Public Utilities Commission recently reduced the amount of credit you get when you send unused solar power back to your utility, solar power still makes a lot of sense here for homeowners.
For 2020 and beyond, we'd like to see more from Mike DeWine on a strengthened renewable portfolio standard for a state whose population deserves to be part of a profitable renewable energy future for us all.
On this page, you can:
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Learn what solar incentives are available to Ohio homeowners
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See what Ohio solar incentives you qualify for based on your utility company and city
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Find out how much these incentives and/or Ohio 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 Ohio
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% in 2021. Unless new legislation is introduced in Washington D.C., this program will be gone in 2022.
Net energy metering in Ohio
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, and make sure you get credit for the surplus.
Ohio used to have one of the strongest net metering policies in the country. However, now any net excess generation your system produces on a monthly basis will be credited to your bill, but only at the per-kWh generation charge, which averages between 4 and 5 cents/kWh across the state. While that’s still a credit, it’s less than half of current retail electricity rates of $0.12/kwh.
Therefore, it’s important to size your solar energy system well, so you aren’t feeding in a whole bunch of credits back to your utility when you aren’t able to use the power onise.
Ohio separates itself from the pack as one of the handful of states that allows you to request a check for any credits accumulated over the course of a 12-month billing cycle. That’s right – if you run a surplus for the year, the utility company will actually pay you.
Ohio solar rebates
While Ohio 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.
Tax exemptions
Here’s some great news: the value of your home goes up when you install solar panels. Here’s some okay news: The cities of Cleveland and Cincinnati will let you keep that extra home value off the property tax rolls for many years to come. Here's some not-so-good news: the rest of the state has property tax relief only for commercial solar installations.
Ohio does have a sales tax exemption for solar energy though! That means you’ll save 5.75% on the purchase of your new system. On an investment of tens of thousands of dollars, that’s nothing to sneeze at.
Cost of solar panels in your part of Ohio after all applicable solar incentives
Showing data for:
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Prices based on a 10.8kW system, after 26% federal tax credit
Solar prices near you
Payback period
10.1-12.4 years
Net profit (savings less system cost)
$29,850-$36,484
Average size system installed in OH in 2020
10.8kW
Solar panel cost calculator
Best 10 solar companies in Ohio
17 solar companies in Ohio provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.77 34 Reviews
Latest review
Lou Huzella, 2 weeks ago
This is my second Paradise Energy Solutions solar project over the past 3 years. I have been very satisfied with Brian's expertise in sales and Charlie, my project manager's expertise in creating solutions. The installation teams were very professional and efficent. They worked hard getting the job done, and surmounting obstacles, including antiquated electrical panels. I think it is a great long term investment, and production thus far has exceeded estimates. I am glad I went with Paradise Energy Solutions for both projects. If you are interested in solar energy and want to work with a good company give them a call.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$16,000 ($3.20 per watt)
Latest review
Lou Huzella, 2 weeks ago
This is my second Paradise Energy Solutions solar project over the past 3 years. I have been very satisfied with Brian's expertise in sales and Charlie, my project manager's expertise in creating solutions. The installation teams were very professional and efficent. They worked hard getting the job done, and surmounting obstacles, including antiquated electrical panels. I think it is a great long term investment, and production thus far has exceeded estimates. I am glad I went with Paradise Energy Solutions for both projects. If you are interested in solar energy and want to work with a good company give them a call.
4.63 948 Reviews
Latest review
Brett Huebner, 23 hours ago
From the very first encounter, Blue Raven is professional and diligent. They answered all my questions and quickly came up with a solution that covers all my power usage. They worked with my HOA for rapid approval. The installation team was fantastic, arrived exactly when they said and all work and electrical was done in 1 day. The team worked efficiently and complete professionals all day even walking me through the new functionality and steps at the end. This is the kind of service we should always get out of companies and not be surprised but it is. I highly recommend this team.
Read more
Latest review
Brett Huebner, 23 hours ago
From the very first encounter, Blue Raven is professional and diligent. They answered all my questions and quickly came up with a solution that covers all my power usage. They worked with my HOA for rapid approval. The installation team was fantastic, arrived exactly when they said and all work and electrical was done in 1 day. The team worked efficiently and complete professionals all day even walking me through the new functionality and steps at the end. This is the kind of service we should always get out of companies and not be surprised but it is. I highly recommend this team.
4.60 46 Reviews
Latest review
Charles Lohre, over 1 month
It's been a dream of mine for over twelve years to have a solar array on my home. It's come true! The wife gets oak flooring and I got solar panels from the sale of our old home. I was a little quicker to act, but yours truly will be doing the flooring. From start to finish the process was perfect. I especially liked the salesperson's candid explanation that the other company was quoting too large an array for Janet's and my needs. Our 10 kW array will almost offset our use and the gap can be made up with better energy efficiency measures. I improved the efficiency of it over 60%. Our new home is much better, so every percent will be a challenge. Thanks Third Sun for making it fun to go Green!
Read more
Latest review
Charles Lohre, over 1 month
It's been a dream of mine for over twelve years to have a solar array on my home. It's come true! The wife gets oak flooring and I got solar panels from the sale of our old home. I was a little quicker to act, but yours truly will be doing the flooring. From start to finish the process was perfect. I especially liked the salesperson's candid explanation that the other company was quoting too large an array for Janet's and my needs. Our 10 kW array will almost offset our use and the gap can be made up with better energy efficiency measures. I improved the efficiency of it over 60%. Our new home is much better, so every percent will be a challenge. Thanks Third Sun for making it fun to go Green!
4.46 14 Reviews
Latest review
Anonymous, over 1 month
We hired Bold Alternatives to do a 3KW array on our house (no storage). They pulled all permits and passed inspection the first time. The array looks beautiful. They worked with a roofer who seems to have done a good job with our cedar shingle roof. Overall a highly recommended company.
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Latest review
Anonymous, over 1 month
We hired Bold Alternatives to do a 3KW array on our house (no storage). They pulled all permits and passed inspection the first time. The array looks beautiful. They worked with a roofer who seems to have done a good job with our cedar shingle roof. Overall a highly recommended company.
4.42 25 Reviews
Latest review
Left in the Lurch, over 1 month
Ecohouse installed my solar in Aug. 2019, no problems. Less than a year later the Solar Edge inverter (12-year warranty) failed. A replacement inverter was provided and installed in a timely manner by Ecohouse. Six months on the inverter has failed again. Ecohouse called Solar Edge and waited I decided to call them myself and followed up several times because a second faulty inverted was not expected. Ecohouse has had the inverter for 2 weeks now and tell me they will wait for a rainy day to install it, they put my repair into their new install schedule!
Read more
Latest review
Left in the Lurch, over 1 month
Ecohouse installed my solar in Aug. 2019, no problems. Less than a year later the Solar Edge inverter (12-year warranty) failed. A replacement inverter was provided and installed in a timely manner by Ecohouse. Six months on the inverter has failed again. Ecohouse called Solar Edge and waited I decided to call them myself and followed up several times because a second faulty inverted was not expected. Ecohouse has had the inverter for 2 weeks now and tell me they will wait for a rainy day to install it, they put my repair into their new install schedule!
4.38 18 Reviews
Latest review
ARP - The best Solar system out , over 1 month
I am not sure where to start. I saw a huge difference in the various installers out there. ARP-Solar is EXCELLENT. I looked seriously at four different providers and Gary Easton at ARP-Solar was by far the best; best design, most knowledgeable about the products in the industry and the industry in general, fastest response time to questions, best references, and yes, the best price. His installation team was very pleasant to work with and top notch. They even re-stacked my fire wood next to where they installed one of the disconnect boxes. I can’t wait to tell everyone in my network about them. The only issues I really had all were dealing with Duke Energy and getting the bi-directional meter in. We had issues with them reading it correctly and entering the data correctly. It should be fixed now – my last Duke energy bill was $5.36 for November. I still need to find a way to keep the snow and ice off the panels and to clear out these clouds! I can’t wait to see my production numbers this coming spring and summer!
Read more
Latest review
ARP - The best Solar system out , over 1 month
I am not sure where to start. I saw a huge difference in the various installers out there. ARP-Solar is EXCELLENT. I looked seriously at four different providers and Gary Easton at ARP-Solar was by far the best; best design, most knowledgeable about the products in the industry and the industry in general, fastest response time to questions, best references, and yes, the best price. His installation team was very pleasant to work with and top notch. They even re-stacked my fire wood next to where they installed one of the disconnect boxes. I can’t wait to tell everyone in my network about them. The only issues I really had all were dealing with Duke Energy and getting the bi-directional meter in. We had issues with them reading it correctly and entering the data correctly. It should be fixed now – my last Duke energy bill was $5.36 for November. I still need to find a way to keep the snow and ice off the panels and to clear out these clouds! I can’t wait to see my production numbers this coming spring and summer!
4.35 23 Reviews
Latest review
Anonymous, over 1 month
SunLight Solutions has solved our high energy bills. Our electric bills keep increasing and now after our solar panels have been installed our first bill has shown a nearly 50% decrease. Everyone at Solar Energy has been so friendly and helpful throughout the whole process. Keeping in touch with us and letting us know what to expect with every step was so helpful and we found it to be very comforting.
Read more
Latest review
Anonymous, over 1 month
SunLight Solutions has solved our high energy bills. Our electric bills keep increasing and now after our solar panels have been installed our first bill has shown a nearly 50% decrease. Everyone at Solar Energy has been so friendly and helpful throughout the whole process. Keeping in touch with us and letting us know what to expect with every step was so helpful and we found it to be very comforting.
4.32 25 Reviews
Latest review
JOHN, over 1 month
first, the office was local, second the response from the salesman and installation team was very cordial and helpful.
Read more
Latest review
JOHN, over 1 month
first, the office was local, second the response from the salesman and installation team was very cordial and helpful.
4.32 6 Reviews
Latest review
Anonymous, over 1 month
If you choose to work with Asidaco, you will find a band of professional industry leaders who will make you their top priority. They stay informed and educated with regard to new and updated products and always have an eye on cost-effectiveness for your residence and/or your business.
Read more
Latest review
Anonymous, over 1 month
If you choose to work with Asidaco, you will find a band of professional industry leaders who will make you their top priority. They stay informed and educated with regard to new and updated products and always have an eye on cost-effectiveness for your residence and/or your business.
Latest review
Ward Lutz, over 1 month
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