Flint, MI Solar Panels
Solar Power in Flint
If you live in Flint, MI, and have watched your electricity bills climb, you’re not alone. Michigan has the 12th highest utility prices per kWh in the nation, and rates have increased 19% from 2020 to 2024. For many Flint homeowners, solar installation is becoming a practical way to manage rising energy costs.
And yes, solar works even in Michigan’s cloudier climate. This guide walks you through what solar looks like in Flint, from how panels perform to what to expect during installation. To learn more, explore our guide on home solar panels.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Flint, MI?
Curious what solar costs in Flint? This calculator uses real installation data from homes across Flint and nearby areas like Grand Blanc, Burton, Flushing, and Mt. Morris. See genuine, local estimates based on firsthand numbers—not guesses—so you can understand your solar options with clarity and confidence.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- Flint electricity rates keep climbing, reaching 19.3¢ per kWh in 2024—well above the national average of 16.5¢, making solar a practical way to manage costs.
- Solar works in Michigan’s cloudy climate, and a typical Flint home can save around $42,000 over 25 years by generating its own power.
- Michigan incentives still help lower costs, including a property tax exemption and utility programs, plus leasing options with no upfront investment.
Flint Electricity Prices
If your Flint electricity bills keep climbing, you’re not imagining it. Here’s how local rates compare to the national average.
Michigan electricity rates rose from 17.5 cents per kWh in 2021 to 19.3 cents in 2024, roughly a 10% jump. That’s well above the U.S. average of 16.5 cents.
Solar helps Flint homeowners take control of these rising costs. By generating your own power, you rely less on the grid and gain more predictability in what you pay each month.
Over time, that stability adds up. As utility rates keep climbing, solar can protect your home from future increases, making your energy costs easier to plan for years down the road.
Price of Energy: Michigan vs National Average
Flint Area Utility Providers
In Flint, MI, most homes are served by Consumers Energy or DTE Energy. Based on 2023 data (the latest available), these utilities charged 18.8¢ and 19.7¢ per kWh—both above the 16.0¢ national average.
Michigan’s rates run higher partly due to the cost of maintaining aging infrastructure and long-distance transmission across a large service area. DTE’s 19.7¢ also sits above Michigan’s 2023 state average of 18.8¢.
With local electricity costs above national levels, many Flint homeowners look to solar to gain more predictable energy expenses. Generating your own power can reduce reliance on utility rates that tend to rise over time.
Flint Utilities Electricity Rates
Michigan Solar Incentives
Flint homeowners can tap several solar incentives in Michigan to help offset the cost of installing solar panels.
These include Michigan’s property tax exemption for solar, which keeps added home value untaxed, plus utility production incentives like Consumers Energy’s SolarCurrents program and low-interest financing through Michigan Saves for panels and battery storage.
The federal 30% residential tax credit has ended, but state and local incentives remain. Leasing through LightReach also simplifies things, as Palmetto handles the commercial ITC and lowers your monthly payments.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Property Tax Exemption for Solar | Property Tax Exemption | Michigan law exempts the added home value from a solar energy system (up to 150 kW) from property tax assessments, saving homeowners hundreds of dollars per year. | Learn More |
| Consumers Energy – SolarCurrents Program | Rebate | Consumers Energy’s SolarCurrents program pays residential solar customers a per-kWh production incentive for solar electricity generated over a multi-year contract period. | Learn More |
| Michigan Saves – Home Energy Loan Program | Rebate | Michigan Saves offers homeowners low-interest financing for solar and battery storage installations, with loan amounts from $1,000 to $50,000 at rates between 4.44% and 7.90% for terms up to 15 years. | |
| PACE Financing – Lean & Green Michigan (Commercial/Agricultural) | Rebate | Lean & Green Michigan’s PACE program allows commercial, agricultural, and nonprofit property owners to finance solar and battery storage with no upfront costs, repaying through their property tax bill over up to 25 years. |
Michigan’s property tax exemption, established under MCL 211.7hh, ensures that when you install a solar energy system on your home, the increased value it adds to your property is not counted in your tax assessment. This means your property taxes will not go up as a result of going solar — a significant long-term benefit for homeowners in Flint.
The exemption applies to residential solar systems up to 150 kW in capacity, which covers virtually all home installations (most Michigan residential systems are 8–12 kW). The exemption also covers battery storage equipment paired with your solar system. At Michigan’s average property tax rate of approximately 1.25%, a $25,000 solar system could otherwise add $300–$435 per year to your tax bill — savings that compound to $6,000–$8,700 over a 20-year system lifespan.
This exemption applies automatically statewide and does not require a separate application by the homeowner. It was reinstated in 2019 under Governor Whitmer and remains fully active in 2026.
Consumers Energy offers its residential solar customers the SolarCurrents program, a performance-based incentive that pays participants for the solar electricity their systems generate. The program is available to customers within Consumers Energy’s service territory, which covers much of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula including the Flint area.
For a 9 kW system producing approximately 11,340 kWh per year (based on 4.2 peak sun hours per day), SolarCurrents pays roughly $284–$397 per year over the contract term, totaling $2,840–$3,970 over 10 years. This production incentive is paid on top of the bill credits you receive through Michigan’s Distributed Generation program for excess power exported to the grid.
Contact Consumers Energy directly through their website to confirm current program availability, payment rates, contract terms, and the application process, as program details and capacity availability may change. Visit consumersenergy.com for the most up-to-date enrollment information.
Michigan Saves is a nonprofit green bank that offers homeowners access to competitive financing for solar panel and battery storage installations. Through its Home Energy Loan Program, Michigan Saves negotiates favorable interest rates with a network of participating lenders, offering current rates between 4.44% and 7.90% APR — often lower than standard home improvement loans or credit cards.
Eligible loan amounts range from $1,000 to $50,000, with repayment terms of up to 15 years, making it possible to finance a full solar-plus-storage system with manageable monthly payments. The program is available to Michigan homeowners statewide, including residents of Flint, and can be used for new solar installations, battery storage additions to existing systems, or solar system upgrades.
To apply, visit michigansaves.org to find a participating lender and contractor in your area. Michigan Saves-approved contractors have been vetted for quality and can help guide you through both the installation and financing process.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, administered in Michigan by Lean & Green Michigan, is a powerful tool for commercial, industrial, multifamily housing, agricultural, and nonprofit property owners looking to install solar panels or battery storage with no upfront out-of-pocket costs. Under PACE, the cost of the solar installation is repaid through an assessment added to the property’s tax bill over a period of up to 25 years.
Because repayment is tied to the property rather than the individual borrower, PACE financing can be easier to qualify for than traditional loans and does not require a large down payment. If the property is sold before the loan is repaid, the remaining balance can transfer to the new owner along with the solar system — a feature that can also be a selling point for the property.
PACE is available for commercial, agricultural, and nonprofit properties in Michigan — it is not available for standard single-family residential properties. Contact Lean & Green Michigan directly at leanandgreenmichigan.com to learn more about eligibility, participating lenders, and how to begin the application process.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with Michigan incentives.
Get a Free QuoteFlint 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.
Flint’s northern latitude means shorter winter days and snowier months, while long summer days boost production. Despite cloudy stretches, a well-designed solar system can perform reliably here year-round.
Solar Production in Flint 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 Flint
We’ve mapped solar installations across the country, right down to the neighborhood level. Explore this interactive map to see how many of your Flint neighbors have made the switch to solar. Click any hexagon to view installations in that area, and discover the growing solar community around you.
Leasing Solar Panels
If paying upfront for solar in Flint feels out of reach, you have another option. Palmetto’s LightReach program offers a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for homes served by DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, the two main utilities in the Flint area.
With a PPA, you pay a set price per kilowatt-hour for the power your panels produce, rather than a fixed monthly amount. Since panels make more electricity in summer, your solar bills shift with the seasons, but savings even out over the year.
Unlike paying cash, a PPA means no large upfront cost and no maintenance worries, since Palmetto owns and cares for the system. To weigh your choices, see our guide on whether to buy or lease solar.
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
Flint, MI no longer offers traditional one-to-one net metering. Instead, Michigan uses a net billing (distributed generation) system. In the Flint area, both DTE Energy and Consumers Energy credit the solar power you export to the grid at a rate lower than the full retail price you pay for electricity.
With Consumers Energy, exports are credited between roughly 9 and 16 cents per kWh, depending on the season and time of day. Any excess credits roll over month to month as a dollar amount applied to future bills.
Yes. When you own your solar panels—through a cash purchase or loan—they can increase your Flint home’s value. A Zillow study found homes with solar sell for about 4.1% more. Michigan’s property tax exemption also keeps that added value from raising your taxes.
Leased or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) systems work differently. Because Palmetto owns the equipment, they may not add resale value in the same way, since a buyer typically assumes the existing lease agreement.
Many Flint homeowners go solar with Palmetto’s LightReach lease, which requires no upfront cost and offers a low fixed monthly payment starting around $78/mo for a typical home. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, so there’s no large investment to recoup.
If you prefer to buy, a cash purchase for an average Flint home runs about $21,500. Note that the federal 30% tax credit is no longer available for residential cash purchases after the 2025 federal law change. See the calculator above for pricing by home size.
With Palmetto’s LightReach lease, one monthly payment covers everything: the solar panels, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee. In Flint, MI, a typical 6.80 kW system runs about $78/month with no upfront cost.
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.
For many Flint homeowners, solar can pay off financially. With electricity rates at 19.3¢ per kWh—above the national average—generating your own power helps offset rising utility costs. A typical Flint home saves around $42,000 over 25 years.
You don’t need money upfront to start. With a LightReach lease, your monthly payment is typically lower than your current electric bill, so you can begin saving from day one—with no upfront investment required.
At Palmetto, we combine national scale with a local focus, having completed 1,591 installs across Michigan since 2020. We serve Flint homeowners with quality panels, a trusted install network, and some of the best financing options in the industry.
We handle everything from design and permitting to installation and ongoing support. Whether you buy or choose our LightReach lease, our goal is to help Flint homes generate reliable, more predictable energy year-round.
Yes, solar panels work well in Flint, MI’s climate. Even with cloudy stretches and snowy winters, Flint averages about 4.4 peak sun hours per day, and modern panels still generate electricity in overcast and cold conditions.
Production shifts with the seasons here. Long summer days boost output, while shorter winter days and snow reduce it. A well-designed system balances these swings and performs reliably year-round across Flint and nearby areas.