Kentucky solar calculator
Size a Kentucky home solar system from your electric bill — kW, panel count, roof area, true cost with no federal credit for 2026 installs, and payback.
Quick answer: At $0.138/kWh and 4.3 peak sun hours, a $200/month bill needs about 14.76 kW — 36 × 410 W panels covering ~72 m². Gross cost is ~$36,826 with no federal credit for systems installed after 2025, offsetting $2,400 a year for a ~15.3 year payback.
Your details
Ballpark, not gospel. Sized at 78% real-world output with the Kentucky sun-hour average — confirm shading, roof angle and your utility’s net-billing export terms with a local installer before buying. Under SB 100, Kentucky utilities net-bill exports at roughly 7–9¢/kWh — far below the ~13.8¢ retail rate. The calculator values all generation at your retail rate; exports earn far less, so real savings track self-consumption and batteries.
The 30% credit ended — what changed
The residential clean energy credit (26 U.S.C. § 25D) gave homeowners a 30% credit on solar installed from 2022 through 2025. The July 2025 tax law ended it: no credit is available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. That is why every figure on this page is ~30% higher than pre-2026 guides show. If your system went live by the end of 2025, tick the box above to see the credit applied; leased systems may still benefit because the leasing company claims the commercial credit. Source: IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.
Typical Kentucky system sizes by monthly bill
| Monthly bill | System size | Panels (410 W) | Net cost (no 2026 federal credit) | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | 7.38 kW | 18 | $18,413 | 15.3 years |
| $200 | 14.76 kW | 36 | $36,826 | 15.3 years |
| $300 | 21.73 kW | 53 | $54,216 | 15.1 years |
Computed at $0.138/kWh, 4.3 peak sun hours and $2.50/W installed, with no federal credit for 2026 installs. Run your exact bill above.
Solar in Kentucky: the details
Solar cost in Kentucky
Solar is cheap to install in Kentucky. The EnergySage marketplace averaged about $2.50 per watt installed in 2026, with market quotes typically landing $2.12–$2.87/W — at the bottom of the $2.50–$3.50/W national band. A typical ~13 kW Kentucky system grosses around $32,435, with no federal credit for 2026 homeowner installs and no state incentive on top.
What moves the number: roof complexity, panel tier, and how competitive the quote market is in your metro. Get at least three quotes — spreads of $0.50/W between installers are common.
Export rules: getting paid for surplus power
Under SB 100, Kentucky utilities net-bill exports at a below-retail rate set by the Public Service Commission — roughly 7–9¢/kWh against 11–15¢ retail energy charges — replacing full retail net metering. Duke Energy Kentucky customers on the NM II tariff (since 2025) get the worst terms in the state: avoided-cost export credits.
Practical takeaway: exports are worth barely half the power they replace — self-consumption is the whole game.
Kentucky solar incentives
No major statewide solar incentive was found in 2026 sources — no sales or property tax breaks, no rebate.
Is solar worth it in Kentucky?
Verdict: marginal. A ~15.3-year payback with no federal credit, below-retail export rates, and no state tax breaks. Kentucky’s cheap power and cheap installs keep the dollar offset small — solar here is a bill-offset play for high daytime users, not a fast payback.
Questions people actually ask
Straight answers, no fluff. Then run your own numbers above.
How many solar panels do I need in Kentucky?
It follows your bill. At the Kentucky average of $0.138/kWh and 4.3 peak sun hours, a $200/month bill needs about a 14.76 kW system — roughly 36 × 410 W panels covering ~72 m² of roof.
What is the average cost of solar panels in Kentucky in 2026?
The EnergySage marketplace averaged about $2.50 per watt installed in 2026, with market quotes typically $2.12–$2.87/W — at the bottom of the $2.50–$3.50/W national band. A typical ~13 kW system grosses around $32,435, with no federal credit for 2026 homeowner installs.
Does Kentucky have net metering?
Under SB 100, Kentucky utilities net-bill exports at a below-retail rate set by the Public Service Commission (roughly 7–9¢/kWh versus 11–15¢ retail energy charges), replacing full retail net metering.
Does Kentucky offer any solar tax credit or rebate?
No major statewide solar incentive was found in 2026 sources — no sales or property tax breaks, no rebate.
Is the 30% federal solar tax credit still available?
Not for homeowner purchases anymore. The residential clean energy credit (26 U.S.C. § 25D) is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the July 2025 tax law (Public Law 119-21). Systems installed by the end of 2025 can still claim 30%, and leased systems may still benefit because the leasing company claims the commercial credit instead. (Source: IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.)
Is solar worth it in Kentucky?
Marginal: a ~15.3-year payback with no federal credit, below-retail export rates, and no state tax breaks. Cheap power and cheap installs keep the dollar offset small — solar is a bill-offset play for high daytime users, not a fast payback.
Figures last checked October 2026. Sources: priceofelectricity.com (13.81¢/kWh), NREL PVWatts/NSRDB (~4.3 peak sun hours), DSIRE, Kentucky Public Service Commission; IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.
More US solar calculators
Compare other states: Texas, Florida, California, Arizona, North Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts. And the national US solar calculator for country averages.
Comparing quotes? The solar cost calculator breaks down cost per watt and the solar ROI calculator maps your payback year by year. Going deeper: installation cost guide, how net metering works, how much you can save with solar and the solar batteries guide.