Wichita, KS Solar Panels
Solar Power in Wichita
Wichita homeowners are discovering that solar energy offers a smart path to energy independence. With Kansas electricity prices climbing 11% from 2020 to 2024, solar panels for your home can help lock in predictable energy costs for decades.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about solar installation in Wichita—from understanding local incentives to choosing the right system for your home.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Wichita, KS?
Our calculator uses real installation data from Wichita homes—including neighborhoods like Riverside, College Hill, and Delano—to show you accurate solar costs. Get personalized estimates based on what your neighbors actually paid, 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
- Wichita receives 5.4 peak sun hours daily making it well-suited for solar energy production throughout the year.
- A typical 7.7 kW system costs around $23,280 and could save homeowners approximately $55,000 over 25 years.
- Kansas offers a 10-year property tax exemption protecting homeowners from increased assessments when adding solar panels.
Wichita Electricity Prices
Understanding your electricity costs is the first step toward making informed energy decisions. Here’s what Wichita homeowners need to know about local rates.
Kansas electricity rates have risen from 13.0 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2021 to 14.2 cents in 2024—a 9% increase in just three years. This upward trend shows no signs of slowing.
Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed cost, protecting homeowners from future rate increases. While utility prices fluctuate, your solar investment provides predictable energy production for your Wichita home.
Over 25 years, solar systems can shield you from decades of rate increases. As utility costs continue climbing, your solar panels keep producing energy at the same cost you locked in today.
Price of Energy: Kansas vs National Average
Wichita Area Utility Providers
Understanding your electricity costs is essential when considering solar. Evergy serves Wichita residents, with rates averaging 13.1¢ per kWh in 2023—below both the national average of 16.0¢ and Kansas’ 13.4¢ average.
Evergy’s competitive rates reflect Kansas’ diverse energy mix, including wind and natural gas. However, electricity prices have steadily increased over time, and utility rates typically rise 2-3% annually as infrastructure and fuel costs grow.
While Wichita’s current electricity rates are reasonable, solar panels help you lock in predictable energy costs for 25+ years. This protection from future rate increases becomes increasingly valuable as utility prices continue their upward trend.
Wichita Utilities Electricity Rates
Kansas Solar Incentives
Wichita homeowners can reduce solar installation costs through solar incentives in Kansas that include property tax exemptions and utility credits.
Kansas offers a 10-year property tax exemption that protects homeowners from increased assessments when they add solar panels. Additionally, Evergy provides net metering credits for excess energy your system generates, helping offset your monthly electricity bills.
These programs change periodically, so research current requirements carefully. Acting sooner rather than later ensures you can take advantage of available incentives before policies shift.
| 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 systems typically add substantial value to your home. The exemption applies automatically to qualifying renewable energy equipment, helping you maximize your investment in clean energy without the burden of increased property tax assessments during the exemption period.
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 charged at your normal retail rate, while any electricity you generate offsets these charges on a one-to-one basis.
If you generate more electricity than you use in a month, the excess energy (called Net Excess Generation or NEG) 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. Credits do not carry forward—they are settled monthly with no annual true-up period. If you’re on a Time-of-Use (TOU) rate plan, your solar production and consumption are netted separately within each time period, meaning excess generation during off-peak hours cannot offset consumption during peak hours.
This program is available to Evergy customers in both the Kansas Central and Metro service territories who install qualifying solar systems. Because excess generation is valued at a lower wholesale rate rather than the retail rate, it’s important to size your solar system to closely match your actual electricity needs rather than overproducing. Working with your solar installer to right-size your system will help maximize your financial benefits under this net metering structure.
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 QuoteWichita 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.
Wichita’s sunny climate and high solar irradiance make it excellent for solar energy. While winters bring shorter days, your panels will produce strong output year-round with proper system design.
Solar Production in Wichita 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 Wichita
We’ve mapped every solar installation across America, and we’re excited to share what we found in Wichita. Explore this interactive map to discover which neighborhoods in your community have already made the switch to clean energy!
Leasing Solar Panels
For Wichita homeowners served by Evergy Kansas Central or Evergy Metro, Palmetto offers solar leasing options that make clean energy accessible without large upfront costs. With a solar lease, you pay a fixed monthly amount based on your system’s expected production, making your energy costs predictable year-round.
Leasing eliminates the maintenance responsibilities that come with owning panels outright. Your lease includes system monitoring and performance guarantees, so you can enjoy solar savings without worrying about repairs or upkeep. While purchasing a system offers long-term savings, leasing provides immediate monthly savings with zero investment.
Through Palmetto’s LightReach program, you can start saving on electricity bills from day one while we handle all system maintenance and monitoring. This approach works well for homeowners who want solar benefits without the commitment of ownership or the complexity of system maintenance.
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 Wichita. With 5.4 peak sun hours daily and electricity rates that have risen 9% since 2021, solar panels offer predictable energy costs and long-term savings.
A typical 7.7 kW system costs around $23,280 and could save approximately $55,000 over 25 years. Kansas’ 10-year property tax exemption further protects your investment from increased assessments.
Yes, Wichita has a monthly net metering program through Evergy. During each billing period, your solar production offsets your electricity usage at the full retail rate. Any excess energy you generate is credited at the utility’s wholesale rate (typically 2-4 cents per kWh).
Unlike traditional net metering, excess credits don’t roll forward—they’re settled monthly. This makes it important to size your system to match your actual usage rather than overproducing energy.
Yes, solar panels typically increase home value in Wichita. A Zillow study found that homes with solar panels sell for 4.1% more than comparable homes without them.
In Wichita’s housing market, this could mean an additional $6,000-$8,000 in resale value for the average home. Kansas’ 10-year property tax exemption also means you won’t pay higher taxes on this increased value during the exemption period.
In Wichita, solar installation costs average $3.02 per watt. A typical 7.7 kW system for a medium-sized home costs around $23,280. System prices vary based on your home’s energy needs, roof characteristics, and equipment choices.
Kansas offers a 10-year property tax exemption that protects you from increased assessments. With electricity rates rising 9% since 2021, solar panels help lock in predictable energy costs while potentially saving $55,000 over 25 years.
Solar is financially worth it in Wichita. A typical 7.7 kW system costs around $23,280 and could save approximately $55,000 over 25 years—a payback period of about 12.7 years. With Kansas electricity rates rising 9% since 2021, solar panels lock in predictable energy costs.
Kansas’ 10-year property tax exemption protects your investment from increased assessments. Combined with Evergy’s net metering program and Wichita’s 5.4 daily peak sun hours, solar offers strong long-term financial benefits for local homeowners.
At Palmetto, we bring national expertise with a local focus to every Wichita installation. We offer industry-leading financing options that make solar accessible, including our LightReach program that eliminates upfront costs entirely.
Our nationwide network of certified installers ensures professional service, while our transparent approach helps you understand exactly what you’re getting. We’ve helped thousands of homeowners across 31 states go solar with confidence.