Columbus, OH Solar Panels
Solar Power in Columbus
Considering solar for your Columbus home? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know—from local incentives and system costs to the complete installation timeline. With Ohio electricity prices jumping 31% from 2020 to 2024, more homeowners are exploring solar panels for home installations to protect against rising rates.
Whether you’re curious about how solar works or ready to understand the specifics for Columbus, you’ll find clear, practical information to help you make an informed decision.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Columbus, OH?
Our calculator uses real installation data from Columbus homes—including Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, and Grove City—to show what solar actually costs in your neighborhood. Get personalized estimates based on local installations, not national averages.
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Savings
You can still access the solar tax credit through Palmetto. Talk to us today to find out how.
Key Takeaways
- Columbus solar systems average $23,379 for a medium home and can save you approximately $63,000 over 25 years.
- Ohio electricity rates increased 26% from 2021 to 2024, making solar’s fixed energy costs increasingly valuable for budget stability.
- No upfront costs with LightReach solar leasing lets you start saving immediately while Palmetto handles all maintenance and repairs.
Columbus Electricity Prices
Understanding your electricity costs is the first step in evaluating whether solar makes sense for your Columbus home.
Ohio electricity rates have climbed from 12.8 cents per kWh in 2021 to 16.1 cents per kWh in 2024—a 26% increase in just three years that directly impacts your monthly energy bills.
Solar panels generate electricity at a fixed cost, meaning once your system is installed, you’re insulated from these ongoing rate increases. Your energy production cost remains stable while traditional rates continue climbing.
Over a typical 25-year system lifespan, this rate protection can translate to substantial savings for Columbus homeowners. Solar essentially locks in your energy costs, providing predictable expenses and long-term budget stability.
Price of Energy: Ohio vs National Average
Columbus Area Utility Providers
Columbus residents are served primarily by two utility providers: AEP Ohio and Duke Energy. According to 2023 data, AEP Ohio’s residential rate was 18.6¢ per kWh, while Duke Energy charged 14.7¢ per kWh.
AEP Ohio’s rates sit above both the national average of 16.0¢ and Ohio’s state average of 15.4¢. Duke Energy falls slightly below these benchmarks. These differences reflect varying infrastructure costs, service territories, and regulatory structures across providers.
Understanding your utility’s rate structure helps you estimate potential energy savings. Solar allows homeowners to generate their own electricity, reducing reliance on grid power and providing more predictability as utility rates continue adjusting over time.
Columbus Utilities Electricity Rates
Ohio Solar Incentives
Columbus homeowners have access to several solar incentives in Ohio that help reduce installation costs and ongoing expenses.
Ohio offers a property tax exemption on added home value from solar systems, net metering that credits you for excess energy production, and Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) for small additional income.
These programs change periodically, so research current details carefully. Understanding what’s available now helps you plan your solar investment wisely.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property Tax Exemption | State tax exemption | No property tax on added home value from systems =250kW. Saves ~$300-500 annually on $15k system value at 2-3% tax rate. | Learn More |
| Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) | State program | Small additional income from selling certificates. 7kW system earns ~$20-40/year at current prices. Requires PUCO certification. | Learn More |
Ohio’s Property Tax Exemption removes the added property value of your solar energy system from your property tax assessment. This means that while installing solar panels typically increases your home’s value, you won’t pay higher property taxes on that increase. The exemption applies to solar energy systems with a nameplate capacity of 250 kilowatts or less, which covers virtually all residential installations.
To qualify for this exemption, your solar system must have been installed on or after January 1, 2010. The financial benefit varies based on your home’s location and local property tax rates, but it can save you hundreds of dollars annually. For example, if your solar installation adds $20,000 to your home’s value and your local property tax rate is 2%, you would save approximately $400 per year in property taxes. This exemption continues for as long as you own the system, providing ongoing savings throughout the life of your solar panels.
There is no application deadline or expiration date for this exemption—it remains available for eligible systems installed after January 1, 2010. Your local county auditor’s office handles the exemption, and you may need to provide documentation of your solar installation when filing. This incentive works alongside other available benefits to reduce the overall cost of going solar in Ohio.
Ohio’s Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) program allows homeowners with solar panel systems to earn tradable certificates for the clean energy they produce. For every 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of solar electricity your system generates, you earn one SREC that can be sold on the open market. This creates an ongoing income stream from your solar panels, in addition to the savings on your electricity bills.
The value of SRECs fluctuates based on market demand, and Ohio homeowners typically sell their certificates through SREC brokers or aggregators. While SREC prices vary, they can provide meaningful additional value over the life of your solar system. To participate, your solar installation must be connected to the grid and registered with the appropriate tracking system. Your solar installer can help you understand the registration process and connect you with SREC buyers to maximize this benefit.
Net metering in Ohio allows homeowners with solar panels to receive credit for the excess electricity their system produces and sends back to the grid. When your solar panels generate more power than your home uses during the day, that extra energy flows to the grid, and you receive a credit on your electric bill. This credit offsets the electricity you draw from the grid when your panels aren’t producing enough power, such as at night or on cloudy days.
In Ohio, net metering works on a monthly basis across all major utilities, including AEP Ohio, Duke Energy, FirstEnergy companies (Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric, Toledo Edison), and AES Ohio. Each month, your solar production is credited against your consumption on a 1-to-1 basis at the full retail rate. If you produce more electricity than you use in a given month, the excess is carried forward to your next bill as a credit valued at the generation rate, which typically ranges from 5 to 12 cents per kilowatt-hour depending on your utility provider. This means you’ll receive the most value when your solar production closely matches your monthly consumption, minimizing the amount of excess energy that rolls forward at the lower generation rate.
To participate in net metering, you’ll need to have your solar system interconnected with your utility company and meet their technical requirements. There are no application deadlines, as net metering is an ongoing program available to eligible solar customers. Keep in mind that the generation rate for excess credits can fluctuate based on market conditions and varies by utility, so it’s worth understanding your specific utility’s current rates when planning your solar investment.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with Ohio incentives.
Get a Free QuoteColumbus 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.
Columbus experiences four distinct seasons with varying sunlight. Despite cloudy winters and moderate summer heat, your solar panels can produce excellent year-round energy with proper system design.
Solar Production in Columbus 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 Columbus
We’ve mapped every solar installation across Columbus to help you explore the clean energy movement in your community. Click any hexagon to see how many neighbors in that area have made the switch to solar energy.
Leasing Solar Panels
In Columbus, Palmetto offers Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) through our LightReach program for customers served by AEP Ohio (both Columbus Southern Power and Ohio Power), Duke Energy, FirstEnergy companies (Ohio Edison and Cleveland Electric), AES Ohio, and Toledo Edison.
With a PPA, you pay only for the electricity your panels produce at a set rate per kilowatt-hour—typically lower than your utility’s rate. This means no upfront costs, no maintenance responsibilities, and immediate savings from day one. Your monthly payment varies with production: higher in sunny summer months, lower in winter, but consistently saving you money year-round compared to traditional utility bills.
Unlike purchasing a system outright, a PPA removes the financial burden of ownership while still delivering clean energy savings. There’s no system to maintain, no repair costs to worry about, and no large investment to recoup. Learn more about whether buying or leasing solar makes sense for your situation.
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 Columbus. With electricity rates climbing 26% from 2021 to 2024 and average system costs around $23,379 for a medium home, Columbus homeowners can save approximately $63,000 over 25 years.
Ohio offers net metering and property tax exemptions that enhance savings. Columbus receives 4.6 peak sun hours daily on average, providing solid year-round production. Solar locks in predictable energy costs while traditional utility rates continue rising.
Yes, Columbus has net metering through all major utility providers including AEP Ohio (Columbus Southern Power and Ohio Power), Duke Energy, FirstEnergy companies, AES Ohio, and Toledo Edison.
Each month, your solar production is credited against consumption on a 1-to-1 basis at the full retail rate. Any excess production above monthly usage carries forward to the next billing cycle at the generation rate (approximately 5-12¢/kWh depending on your utility). This monthly settlement structure helps you maximize the value of your solar investment.
Yes, solar panels increase home value in Columbus. Research from Zillow shows solar panels increase home value by 4.1% on average across the United States. For a typical Columbus home valued at $250,000, this translates to approximately $10,250 in added value.
Beyond the immediate value increase, solar panels make your home more attractive to buyers by offering predictable energy costs and lower utility bills. Ohio’s property tax exemption means you won’t pay higher property taxes on this added value, making solar an even smarter investment for Columbus homeowners.
Solar system costs in Columbus vary by home size. A medium home (2,000-3,000 sq ft) typically needs an 8.19 kW system costing around $23,379, while small homes average $17,107 and large homes $30,061.
These prices reflect complete installations with no upfront costs through financing or leasing options. Your actual cost depends on your roof characteristics, energy usage, and chosen payment method.
Yes, solar is financially worth it for most Columbus homeowners. A typical medium-sized home system costs around $23,379 and saves approximately $63,000 over 25 years, with an 11.4-year payback period.
With electricity rates rising 26% from 2021 to 2024, solar locks in predictable energy costs while utility rates continue climbing. Ohio’s property tax exemption and net metering enhance returns, making solar a solid long-term investment for Columbus residents.
At Palmetto, we bring a national company’s resources with a local focus to Columbus. We’ve completed over 1,335 installations across Ohio since 2020, building strong relationships with trusted local installation partners throughout the region.
We offer flexible financing options to fit different budgets, including our LightReach program with no upfront costs. Our experienced installation network ensures quality workmanship, and our team guides you through every step—from initial design to final activation.