Lawrence, KS Solar Panels
Solar Power in Lawrence
Lawrence homeowners are turning to solar energy to lock in lower electricity costs and gain energy independence. With Kansas electricity prices climbing 11% from 2020 to 2024, solar panels for home use offer protection from rising utility bills.
This guide covers everything Lawrence residents need to know about solar installation—from local incentives to system costs and choosing the right installer.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Lawrence, KS?
Our calculator uses real installation data from Lawrence homes—including neighborhoods like West Lawrence, East Lawrence, and North Lawrence—to show you accurate solar costs. Get personalized estimates based on actual local projects, not national averages.
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You can still access the solar tax credit through Palmetto. Talk to us today to find out how.
Key Takeaways
- Lawrence homeowners can save an average of $51,000 over 25 years by switching to solar energy with predictable monthly costs.
- Kansas offers a 10-year property tax exemption that protects you from increased assessments when you add solar panels to your home.
- Solar panels work year-round in Lawrence producing excellent energy despite cold winters and summer storms with proper system design.
Lawrence Electricity Prices
Understanding electricity costs in Lawrence helps homeowners make informed decisions about their energy future and long-term household budgets.
Kansas electricity rates have climbed from 13.0 cents per kWh in 2021 to 14.2 cents in 2024—a 9% increase in just three years that directly impacts monthly utility bills for Lawrence families.
Solar panels generate electricity at a predictable cost, helping homeowners reduce their reliance on grid power as utility rates continue to fluctuate. Once installed, your system produces energy without the price increases typical of traditional electricity.
Over a 25-year lifespan, solar panels can shield homeowners from decades of rate increases while providing clean energy. This long-term stability makes solar an increasingly practical option for Lawrence residents planning their financial future.
Price of Energy: Kansas vs National Average
Lawrence Area Utility Providers
Lawrence residents receive electricity from Evergy, which charged 13.1¢ per kWh in 2023 (the most recent data available). This rate sits below both the national average of 16.0¢ and Kansas state average of 13.4¢.
Evergy’s competitive rates reflect Kansas’ diverse energy mix and efficient transmission infrastructure. However, utility rates typically increase over time, and Lawrence homeowners remain subject to these adjustments throughout the year.
Solar panels allow Lawrence residents to generate their own electricity at a predictable cost. While local rates are currently reasonable, producing your own power provides long-term rate stability regardless of future utility increases.
Lawrence Utilities Electricity Rates
Kansas Solar Incentives
Lawrence homeowners can access solar incentives in Kansas that help reduce upfront costs and improve long-term savings on their solar investment.
Kansas offers a property tax exemption that protects homeowners from increased assessments due to solar panel installations. Additionally, Evergy’s net metering program allows Lawrence residents to earn credits for excess solar energy sent back to the grid.
These incentives can change over time, so it’s important to research current programs thoroughly. Acting promptly ensures you take advantage of available benefits.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property Tax Exemption | State tax exemption | For 10-years after purchasing your solar panels, your property tax appraisal will not go up from the added value of solar panels. | Learn More |
Kansas offers a property tax exemption for homeowners who install solar energy systems on their property. Under K.S.A. 79-201 Eleventh, renewable energy resource or technology property—including solar and photovoltaic systems—is exempt from property taxation. This means that when you add a solar system to your home, the increased value it brings to your property won’t result in higher property taxes.
For solar systems installed after December 31, 2016, this exemption lasts for 10 years from the date of installation. This can represent significant savings, as solar installations typically increase property values by thousands of dollars. Without this exemption, you would pay property taxes on that added value each year. There are no specific application requirements mentioned beyond the standard property assessment process, but your county appraiser will need to be aware of the installation to properly apply the exemption. This benefit works alongside any other solar incentives you may qualify for, helping to reduce the overall cost of going solar.
Evergy offers a monthly net metering program for Kansas homeowners with solar panels. This program allows you to send excess electricity your solar system generates back to the grid. During each billing period, your solar production is netted against your electricity consumption. Any electricity you use from the grid is billed at your normal retail rate, while any electricity you generate offsets this usage on a one-to-one basis.
If you generate more electricity than you use in a month, the excess energy (called Net Excess Generation) is credited to your account at the utility’s monthly system average cost of energy, which typically ranges from 2-4 cents per kilowatt-hour. This rate is significantly lower than the retail rate you pay for electricity from the grid. It’s important to note that these credits are settled monthly with no carryover, meaning any excess generation credits are paid out each month rather than rolling forward to future billing periods.
If you’re on a Time-of-Use (TOU) rate plan, there’s an additional consideration: your solar production and consumption are netted separately within each time period (such as peak and off-peak hours). Excess generation in one time period cannot offset usage in another period during the same month. This program is available to Evergy customers in both the Kansas Central and Metro service territories who install qualifying solar energy systems.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with Kansas incentives.
Get a Free QuoteLawrence Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.
Lawrence experiences four distinct seasons with varying sunlight hours and occasional cloud cover. Despite cold winters and summer storms, solar panels here produce excellent energy year-round with proper system design.
Solar Production in Lawrence by Month
What Can Your Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
In July, your 10 kW system could power:
- 3.6 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Run central AC for 18 hours AND power all other appliances
- or Fully charge 5.4 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Winter Production (December)
In December, your 10 kW system could power:
- 2 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Keep your home heating system running for 15 hours
- or Fully charge 3 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Annual Production
Over a year, your 10 kW system could:
- Offset 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 175 trees
- or Save approximately $4,234 in electricity costs
Want to know exactly how much solar can power your home?
Get a personalized solar analysis based on your actual home, energy usage, and roof characteristics.
Get My Custom EstimateSolar Panel Systems in Lawrence
We’ve mapped every solar installation across the United States to help you explore the growing solar movement in Lawrence. Click any hexagon to discover how many neighbors in your community have already made the switch to clean energy!
Leasing Solar Panels
Lawrence homeowners served by Evergy Kansas Central or Evergy Metro can access solar through a lease option. With a solar lease, you pay a fixed monthly amount based on your system’s expected annual production—providing predictable costs without the upfront investment of purchasing panels outright.
Leasing eliminates maintenance responsibilities since Palmetto handles system upkeep and monitoring throughout the lease term. This means no unexpected repair costs or performance concerns—just consistent solar savings each month. You also benefit from professional installation and ongoing support without managing the technical aspects yourself.
While purchasing solar panels offers maximum long-term savings, leasing provides immediate utility bill reduction without capital investment or maintenance obligations. Learn more about Palmetto’s LightReach program to see if leasing fits your energy goals and budget in Lawrence.
Go solar without the investment
With LightReach, there are no investment costs to recoup, loan payments to manage, or maintenance needs to take on. As soon as your panels are active, your solar savings are too!
Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, solar makes strong financial sense in Lawrence. With Kansas electricity rates climbing 11% since 2020 and averaging 14.2¢ per kWh, solar panels help Lawrence homeowners lock in predictable energy costs while reducing monthly utility bills.
A typical 7.7 kW system costs around $23,280 and can save approximately $51,000 over 25 years. Kansas’ 10-year property tax exemption protects you from increased assessments, and Evergy’s net metering program credits excess solar production. Lawrence receives about 5 peak sun hours daily, providing excellent year-round solar production despite seasonal variations.
Yes, Lawrence has net metering through Evergy Kansas Central and Evergy Metro. Your solar production offsets your electricity use at retail rates during each billing period. Any excess generation beyond your monthly consumption receives credits at the utility’s system average cost of energy—typically 2-4 cents per kWh.
These credits settle monthly with no carryover to future bills. For Time-of-Use rate plans, netting occurs separately within each time period, so excess generation in one period cannot offset usage in another during the same month.
Yes, solar panels increase home value in Lawrence. Research from Zillow shows solar panels increase home values by an average of 4.1% nationally. For a median-priced Lawrence home, this translates to thousands of dollars in added equity.
Kansas’ 10-year property tax exemption ensures you won’t pay higher property taxes on this increased value during that period. Solar panels signal lower energy costs to potential buyers, making your home more attractive in the Lawrence real estate market.
Solar installation costs in Lawrence depend on your home size and energy needs. A typical medium-sized home (2,000-3,000 sq ft) requires a 7.7 kW system costing approximately $23,280, or about $3.02 per watt.
Smaller homes may need a 5.85 kW system ($18,266), while larger homes might require 9.36 kW ($27,778). These prices reflect actual Palmetto installations in Kansas and include equipment, installation, permits, and activation.
Yes, solar is financially worthwhile for Lawrence homeowners. A typical 7.7 kW system costs around $23,280 and can save approximately $51,000 over 25 years—with a payback period of about 13.5 years.
Kansas electricity rates have increased 11% since 2020, and solar panels protect you from future rate hikes while providing predictable energy costs. Kansas’ 10-year property tax exemption and Evergy’s net metering program further improve your return on investment.
At Palmetto, we’re a national solar company with deep local expertise in Lawrence and across Kansas. We combine competitive financing options with a trusted network of professional installers to make solar accessible and straightforward for homeowners.
Our approach focuses on transparency and long-term relationships. We handle everything from system design through installation and ongoing support, ensuring your solar investment delivers reliable performance for decades. Our team understands Lawrence’s climate, local utility requirements, and available incentives to optimize your system’s value.