Frankfort, KY Solar Panels
Solar Power in Frankfort
Kentucky electricity prices have risen 19% from 2020 to 2024, and many Frankfort homeowners are taking a closer look at home solar panels as a way to better manage their energy costs long-term.
This guide breaks down what solar panel installation looks like in Frankfort, KY — what to expect, how the process works, and what local homeowners should know before getting started.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Frankfort, KY?
Based on real solar installations across Frankfort, Peaks Mill, Bridgeport, and nearby communities, this calculator uses Palmetto’s local data to give you an accurate estimate of what solar could cost — and save — for your home.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- Kentucky electricity rates have risen 13% since 2021 — and Frankfort homeowners are turning to solar to lock in more predictable energy costs long-term.
- A typical Frankfort home can save around $34,000 over 25 years with solar, with lease options available starting as low as $81/month and no upfront cost.
- Kentucky’s net metering program lets Frankfort homeowners earn bill credits for excess solar energy sent back to the grid, maximizing your system’s value.
Frankfort Electricity Prices
Kentucky electricity rates have risen about 13% since 2021 — and while still below the national average, Frankfort homeowners are watching that gap steadily close.
From 2021 to 2024, Kentucky rates climbed from 11.5 to 13.0 cents per kWh. Meanwhile, the U.S. average rose from 13.7 to 16.5 cents per kWh — a trend showing that electricity costs are rising broadly and consistently.
Solar panel installation in Frankfort, KY gives homeowners a way to generate their own power, reducing how much electricity they need to buy from the grid — and their exposure to future rate increases.
Over a 25-year system lifespan, locking in a more predictable energy cost through solar can represent meaningful long-term savings — especially as utility rates continue their upward trend both in Kentucky and across the country.
Price of Energy: Kentucky vs National Average
Frankfort Area Utility Providers
In Frankfort, KY, Kentucky Utilities (KU) is the primary electricity provider. According to 2023 data, KU customers paid an average of 12.0¢ per kWh — making it one of the more affordable utility rates in the country.
KU’s 2023 rate of 12.0¢ per kWh sits below both the Kentucky state average of 12.70¢ and the national average of 16.0¢ per kWh. KU’s reliance on coal-fired generation has historically helped keep rates lower than much of the U.S.
Even with relatively low rates, electricity costs can add up over time — and they can rise. Many Frankfort homeowners explore solar to lock in more predictable energy costs and reduce long-term dependence on grid pricing.
Frankfort Utilities Electricity Rates
Kentucky Solar Incentives
Frankfort homeowners still have access to meaningful solar incentives in Kentucky, even though the federal residential solar tax credit is no longer available as of 2026.
Most Frankfort residents are KU customers, making Kentucky’s net metering program and the LG&E/KU Solar Share program the most directly applicable options. Duke Energy’s PowerPair rebate applies to a different service territory but is worth knowing about.
Homeowners who lease solar through Palmetto’s LightReach program benefit differently — Palmetto applies the commercial investment tax credit on the back end, reflected in lower monthly lease payments.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Net Metering (LG&E, KU, and Other Utilities) | Net Metering | Kentucky requires investor-owned utilities and most electric cooperatives to offer net metering for solar systems up to 45 kW, with credit rates varying by utility. | Learn More |
| LG&E and KU Solar Share Program (Community Solar) | Rebate | LG&E and KU customers can subscribe to shares of a community solar project and receive monthly bill credits without installing panels on their own property. | Learn More |
Kentucky state law (S.B. 100) requires all investor-owned utilities and electric cooperatives — excluding TVA-served utilities — to offer net metering for qualifying solar systems up to 45 kW. The credit structure is set by the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) on a utility-by-utility basis. LG&E and KU Energy offer full retail net metering, meaning every excess kWh you send to the grid earns a credit at the same rate you pay for electricity — giving you 100% of the value of your surplus solar energy. Customers in Frankfort who enrolled with LG&E or KU before September 24, 2021, may be grandfathered under older credit structures.
TVA-served utilities in western Kentucky (including Gibson, Pennyrile, Tri-County, Warren, and West Kentucky) are not required by state law to offer net metering, though some may do so voluntarily. Municipal electric utilities are similarly not mandated but may offer their own programs. Homeowners in Frankfort should contact their specific utility provider to confirm current net metering terms and compensation rates.
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. Customers purchase shares of a local community solar project for less than 20 cents per day and receive corresponding credits on their monthly electricity bill based on the energy their shares produce.
This program is ideal for renters, homeowners with shaded or structurally unsuitable roofs, or anyone in Frankfort who wants to participate in solar energy without the upfront installation costs or long-term maintenance responsibilities of a private system. Solar Share credits can even be gifted to a friend, family member, or organization of your choice, making it a flexible and accessible way to go solar in Kentucky.
The Solar Share Program is administered by LG&E and KU Energy and is available to customers within their service territories. There is no installation required, no long-term maintenance commitment, and participation can begin with a minimal financial commitment. Contact LG&E/KU or visit their website to check current share availability and pricing.
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, KY gets around 200 sunny days per year. Despite occasional cloudy winters, the right solar system can still generate significant energy savings year-round for homeowners.
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 Frankfort to show just how many of your neighbors have already made the switch. Explore the map below to see which neighborhoods and communities are going solar — and find out how active your own area has become!
Leasing Solar Panels
Palmetto offers a solar lease through its LightReach program for homeowners in Frankfort, KY. With a lease, you pay a fixed monthly amount — starting as low as $81/month for a typical home — rather than purchasing the system outright. There’s no large upfront cost, and you start saving on your electricity bill as soon as your panels are activated.
Compared to buying a system with cash, leasing has a few clear advantages. When you buy, you’re responsible for maintenance, repairs, and monitoring the system yourself over its 25-year lifespan. With LightReach, Palmetto owns the system and handles all of that for you — including a 90% production guarantee and a comprehensive protection program. Palmetto also applies the commercial investment tax credit on the back end, passing those savings through to you in the form of lower monthly payments. Learn more about how buying and leasing compare.
It’s worth noting that a solar lease is different from a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). With a lease, you pay a fixed monthly amount regardless of how much energy your system produces. With a PPA, you pay per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated, so your bill can vary by season. In Kentucky, Palmetto currently offers the lease option through LightReach — giving Frankfort homeowners a simple, predictable way to go solar without the complexity of variable monthly payments.
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
Solar can make sense for many Frankfort homeowners. With 4.7 peak sun hours per day and Kentucky electricity rates rising 13% since 2021, a typical system can save around $34,000 over 25 years. Kentucky Utilities customers also benefit from net metering, which credits excess energy sent back to the grid.
If upfront cost is a concern, Palmetto’s LightReach solar lease removes that barrier entirely — Frankfort homeowners can go solar with no money down, starting at around $81/month, and begin saving from day one.
Yes, Frankfort homeowners have access to net metering through Kentucky Utilities (KU). Under Kentucky state law, KU is required to offer net metering for solar systems up to 45 kW. This means when your solar panels produce more electricity than your home uses, the excess energy is sent back to the grid and you receive a bill credit at the retail rate.
For most KU customers in Frankfort, net metering credits are applied at the full retail rate — meaning every extra kilowatt-hour your system generates has real dollar value. This can significantly reduce your monthly electricity bill, especially during the sunnier summer months when solar production peaks.
Yes, solar panels can increase home value in Frankfort. Research from Zillow found that homes with solar panels sell for about 4.1% more than comparable homes without them. For a $250,000 home in Frankfort, that could mean roughly $10,000 in added value.
It’s worth noting that this benefit typically applies to owned systems, not leased ones. If you purchase your solar panels outright, that added value transfers to the buyer. With a lease, the new homeowner would need to take over the lease agreement.
The most accessible way for Frankfort homeowners to go solar is through Palmetto’s LightReach lease — with no upfront cost and a fixed monthly payment starting as low as $81/month for a typical home. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, and passes commercial tax credit savings through to you via lower payments.
For those who prefer a cash purchase, a typical Frankfort home requires a 6.38 kW system priced around $20,340. Note that the federal 30% residential solar tax credit is no longer available following the Big Beautiful Bill. Use the calculator above for a personalized estimate.
For Frankfort homeowners, solar can make strong financial sense — especially with a lease option. With Palmetto’s LightReach program, there’s no upfront investment required. Your fixed monthly lease payment is typically less than your current electricity bill, meaning most homeowners start saving from day one.
Kentucky electricity rates have risen 13% since 2021, and that trend is expected to continue. Locking in a predictable monthly solar payment helps Frankfort residents reduce their exposure to future rate increases — making leasing a straightforward financial decision for many households.
Palmetto is a top choice for solar installation in Frankfort, KY. As a national company with a strong local presence, we’ve served 20,000+ customers across 31 states and maintain an approval rating above 85%. Frankfort homeowners have praised our seamless installation process and responsive support.
We offer some of the most flexible financing options available, including our LightReach lease — starting as low as $81/month with no upfront cost. Palmetto handles all maintenance, backs systems with a 90% production guarantee, and works with a vetted local install network to ensure quality results.
With Palmetto’s LightReach lease, Frankfort homeowners get solar with no upfront cost. One simple monthly payment covers the system, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee. For a typical 6.38 kW system, the estimated monthly payment is approximately $81/month.
Because Palmetto owns the system, it claims the commercial Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and passes those savings to you through lower monthly payments — a key advantage in today’s market. Most Frankfort homeowners find the lease payment is less than their current electricity bill, so savings start immediately.