Frankfort, KY Solar Panels
Solar Power in Frankfort
If you live in Frankfort, KY, and you’ve watched your electricity bill climb, you’re not imagining it. Kentucky electricity prices have increased 19% from 2020 to 2024. With Frankfort’s sunny summers and open, rural rooftops, many local homeowners are turning to solar installation for a more stable, predictable way to power their homes.
Understanding how solar panel installation works is the first step. Whether you’re just curious or ready to explore your options, our guide to home solar panels can help you decide with confidence.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Frankfort, KY?
See what solar really costs in Frankfort with our calculator, built from real Palmetto installations across the area. We use firsthand local data from neighborhoods like Bellepoint, Thornhill, Juniper Hills, and Farmdale to give you clear, accurate estimates. No guesswork, just honest numbers to help you plan your solar decision.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- Frankfort electricity prices keep climbing, rising about 13% in recent years, which is why more local homeowners are exploring solar for stable, predictable energy costs.
- Kentucky solar incentives can still lower your costs, including net metering, Duke Energy’s PowerPair battery rebate, and the LG&E and KU Solar Share program.
- Leasing solar with LightReach means no upfront cost, since Palmetto owns and maintains the system while you enjoy predictable monthly payments and clean energy savings.
Frankfort Electricity Prices
If your Frankfort electricity bill keeps climbing, you’re not alone. Here’s how local rates are changing—and why many homeowners are exploring solar.
Kentucky’s electricity prices rose from 11.5 cents per kWh in 2021 to 13.0 cents in 2024—about a 13% increase. While still below the national average of 16.5 cents, local rates continue trending upward.
Solar installation offers Frankfort homeowners a way to lock in more predictable energy costs. With sunny summers and open, rural rooftops, home solar panels can generate power on-site instead of relying solely on the grid.
Over time, solar can help protect against future rate hikes. As Kentucky and national prices climb, producing your own electricity gives you a stable, long-term way to power your home with confidence.
Price of Energy: Kentucky vs National Average
Frankfort Area Utility Providers
In Frankfort, KY, most homeowners get power from Kentucky Utilities or LG&E. Based on 2023 data, Kentucky Utilities charged about 12.0¢ per kWh, while LG&E charged 12.4¢ per kWh.
Both rates sit near Kentucky’s 2023 state average of 12.70¢ per kWh, and well below the 2023 national average of 16.0¢. Kentucky’s long reliance on local energy resources has historically helped keep electricity prices lower than many other states.
Even so, rates in Frankfort tend to rise over time. Solar panel installation can help homeowners lock in more stable, predictable energy costs and rely less on shifting utility prices for years to come.
Frankfort Utilities Electricity Rates
Kentucky Solar Incentives
In Frankfort, KY, several solar incentives in Kentucky can help lower the cost of going solar for local homeowners.
These include Kentucky’s net metering policy, Duke Energy’s PowerPair solar-plus-battery rebate, the LG&E and KU Solar Share community program, and the Solarize Lexington group-purchasing discount for nearby property owners.
While the federal 30% residential tax credit is gone, state and local incentives remain. Leasing through LightReach simplifies this, since Palmetto handles the commercial ITC and passes savings along.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Net Metering Policy | Net Metering | Kentucky requires most utilities to offer net metering to solar customers, though compensation rates vary significantly by utility. | Learn More |
| Duke Energy PowerPair Solar + Battery Incentive | Rebate | Duke Energy Kentucky residential customers can receive a one-time incentive of up to $9,000 for installing a qualifying solar-plus-battery-storage system. | Learn More |
| LG&E and KU Solar Share Program | Community Solar | LG&E and KU Energy customers can subscribe to shares of a local community solar project and receive bill credits without installing panels on their property. | Learn More |
Kentucky state law requires all investor-owned utilities (IOUs) and electric cooperatives — excluding the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) — to offer net metering to customers with qualifying solar energy systems. The eligible system size has been increased from 30 kW to 45 kW under SB 100, and compensation rates are overseen by the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC). LG&E and KU Energy currently offer full retail net metering, meaning excess energy you send to the grid is credited at the same rate you pay for electricity — the best possible outcome for solar owners.
Duke Energy Kentucky transitioned to Net Metering II (NM II) in January 2025, following PSC approval in November 2024. Under NM II, excess energy is credited at the lower “avoided cost” rate rather than the full retail rate, making battery storage more valuable for Duke customers. Importantly, customers who installed solar before January 2025 are grandfathered into the original full retail rate for 25 years. Kentucky Power similarly reduced its net metering credit for new customers to approximately $0.09/kWh, slightly below the full retail rate.
For homeowners in Frankfort, net metering remains a strong financial benefit. If you are a Duke Energy or Kentucky Power customer installing a new system in 2026, pairing your solar panels with battery storage is strongly recommended, as storing excess energy for self-consumption is now more valuable than exporting it to the grid at the reduced avoided-cost rate.
The Duke Energy PowerPair program is a pilot incentive available exclusively to Duke Energy Kentucky residential customers who install a qualifying solar panel system paired with battery storage. The program provides a one-time upfront incentive of up to $9,000 to help offset the cost of a combined solar-plus-storage system, making it the largest single residential solar incentive currently available in Kentucky for 2026.
To be eligible, homeowners must use a Duke Energy-approved Trade Ally installer and install qualifying equipment — not all systems or installers qualify. The program operates on a lottery (random selection) basis, with application windows opening periodically for approximately four weeks at a time. Because spots are limited, interested customers should monitor Duke Energy’s official website closely for upcoming enrollment windows and act quickly when they open.
Given that Duke Energy Kentucky has also moved new solar customers to the lower Net Metering II (avoided cost) compensation rate, the PowerPair incentive is especially well-timed — pairing battery storage with solar allows you to maximize self-consumption of your solar energy rather than exporting it at reduced rates. Visit Duke Energy’s official PowerPair page to check current program availability, approved equipment lists, and upcoming enrollment windows.
The LG&E and KU Solar Share Program is a community solar option that allows residential, business, and industrial customers to benefit from solar energy without installing panels on their own property. This is an ideal solution for renters, homeowners with shaded or unsuitable roofs, or anyone who wants to support local solar generation without the upfront cost and maintenance of a private rooftop system.
Customers purchase shares of a local community solar project for less than 20 cents per day, with a monthly subscription fee of $5.55 per share and no start-up costs. In return, participants receive corresponding bill credits each month based on the energy their shares produce. The monthly fee may change over time, but only if approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
The Solar Share Program is open to LG&E and KU Energy residential and business customers in Frankfort. It provides a straightforward, low-commitment way to participate in solar energy and reduce your effective electricity costs without any installation, permitting, or long-term maintenance responsibilities. Visit the official LG&E/KU Solar Share page to learn more and sign up.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with Kentucky incentives.
Get a Free QuoteFrankfort 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.
Frankfort enjoys warm summers and mild winters with moderate sunshine year-round. While cloudy days happen, even cities like Seattle prove solar works well. With the right system, Frankfort homes can produce plenty of clean energy.
Solar Production in Frankfort 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 Frankfort
We’ve mapped solar installations across the country, right down to the neighborhood level. Explore the map below to see how many Frankfort, KY homes have switched to solar. Click any hexagon to discover how many of your neighbors are already enjoying clean energy in their community.
Leasing Solar Panels
In Frankfort, KY, Palmetto offers solar leasing through LightReach, so you can go solar with no upfront cost. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, while you enjoy the clean energy it produces.
With a lease, you pay a fixed, predictable monthly amount instead of paying tens of thousands in cash. There’s no equipment to repair yourself, and your system includes a production guarantee and full protection program.
Compared to a cash purchase, leasing means no large investment to recoup and no maintenance worries. To weigh your options, explore our guide on whether to buy or lease solar panels and find the right fit for your home.
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!
Explore LightReach LeasingFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, Frankfort, KY has net metering. Kentucky law requires most investor-owned utilities and electric cooperatives to offer net metering to homeowners with qualifying solar systems up to 45 kW, with rates overseen by the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
How you’re credited depends on your utility. LG&E and KU Energy customers in Frankfort receive full retail credit for excess energy sent to the grid. Compensation rates can vary by provider, so it’s worth confirming the current policy with your specific utility.
Yes, in Frankfort, KY, owning solar panels can increase your home’s value. A Zillow study found homes with solar panels sold for approximately 4.1% more than comparable homes without them.
This value boost applies to purchased or owned systems, not leased ones. With a leased or LightReach system, resale works differently because the buyer typically assumes the lease agreement rather than gaining added home value.
In Frankfort, KY, many homeowners go solar with a LightReach lease, which has no upfront cost and a low fixed monthly payment starting around $87/month for a medium home. Palmetto owns and maintains the system for you.
You can also buy your system with cash, starting near $21,500 for a medium home. Note that the federal 30% tax credit is no longer available for residential cash purchases after the 2025 law change. See our calculator above for pricing by home size.
With a solar lease through LightReach, Palmetto owns and maintains the system while you pay one simple monthly payment. For a typical 6.80 kW system in Frankfort, that’s about $87/month, with no upfront cost. Your payment covers installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee.
Because Palmetto owns the system, it claims the commercial tax credit and passes those savings to you through lower payments. Since the lease is often less than your current electric bill, you can start saving from day one.
Yes, solar can make sense in Frankfort, KY. Local electricity rates rose about 13% in recent years, and with roughly 4.7 peak sun hours per day plus open, rural rooftops, homes here can generate meaningful clean energy and lock in more predictable costs.
With LightReach, Palmetto’s solar lease program, the upfront cost barrier is removed entirely. You can go solar with no money down and start saving from day one, while Palmetto owns and maintains the system.
For many Frankfort homeowners, solar can make sense financially—especially with leasing. Through LightReach, there’s no upfront investment, and your fixed monthly payment is typically less than your current electricity bill, so you can start saving from day one.
With Kentucky electricity rates trending upward, producing your own power helps make your energy costs more stable and predictable. Because Palmetto owns and maintains the leased system, you skip repair costs while enjoying clean energy right away.
In Frankfort, KY, a typical home solar system produces roughly 1,300 kWh per year for each kilowatt installed. A common 7 kW system generates about 9,300 kWh annually, while a 10 kW system produces around 13,300 kWh. Output peaks in summer and dips in winter as daylight hours change.
Your actual production depends on roof direction and pitch, shading from trees, and seasonal weather. A local site review offers the most accurate estimate for your specific home.