Solar in Kentucky: is it worth it in 2026?
Kentucky is one of the hardest states to make solar pay for itself. Three things decide that: electricity here is among the cheapest in the country (44th most expensive of 51), its sun ranks 31st, and exported power earns much less than the retail rate. Of the 51 states and DC, Kentucky has the 43rd-fastest payback for a typical home.
The average home here pays about $144 a month for 1,094 kWh. A 9 kW system sized for that home would knock about $1,111 off the first year's bills, 64% of the total.
Checked November 12, 2026
What makes solar pay off in Kentucky
- Size the system to what you use during the day, not to your whole year: extra power sent to the grid earns about 50% of the retail rate. A battery, or running the dishwasher, laundry and EV charging while the sun is up, raises the value of every panel.
- Cheap power stretches payback. At 13.1¢ per kWh, the price you pay matters more than anything. At $3.34 per watt, the high end of what companies quote, payback for a typical system here stretches to 24 years.
Payback by system size
An average Kentucky home uses about 13,128 kWh a year. Here's how systems sized to cover part or all of that work out, bought with cash at $2.57 per watt:
| Covers | Size | Price | Makes a year | Payback | 25-year savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51% | 5 kW | $12,850 | 6,715 kWh | 21 years | $4,263 |
| 77% | 7.5 kW | $19,275 | 10,073 kWh | 20 years | $7,706 |
| 102% | 10 kW | $25,700 | 13,430 kWh | 20 years | $11,098 |
| 123% | 12 kW | $30,840 | 16,116 kWh | 21 years | $9,948 |
The 7.5 kW system pays back fastest, but the 10 kW system saves the most over 25 years, though only if the extra power is used at home. Assumes exported power earns about 50% of the retail rate, prices rise 2.5% a year and one inverter replacement.
How Kentucky credits power you send to the grid
Reduced credit (net billing)
Exported power earns credits at rates each utility sets, below retail.
We haven't found a single published export rate for Kentucky, so the calculators assume about 50% of the retail rate. Ask your utility for its rate and enter it.
By utility
- LG&E and KU: A dollar credit for every kWh sent out under the NMS-2 tariff, about 7.5 cents per kWh as listed in a March 2026 PSC order; customers who started before September 24, 2021 keep kWh-for-kWh credits.
Before you sign in Kentucky
Check the license. Look the company up with the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (electrical licensing), by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license number too.
Kentucky has no solar-specific sales law that we know of, so its general consumer protection law applies.
In every state, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule lets you cancel a contract signed at your home until midnight of the third business day.
How to choose a solar company · Contract checklist · Before you sign
Kentucky compared with its neighbors
| State | Electricity | kWh per kW | Typical payback | Exported power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 13.1¢ | 1,343 | 20 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Illinois | 17.7¢ | 1,308 | 16 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Indiana | 16.0¢ | 1,332 | 19 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Ohio | 16.9¢ | 1,296 | 13 years | Monthly netting |
| West Virginia | 15.4¢ | 1,219 | 17 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Virginia | 15.3¢ | 1,427 | 11 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢ | 1,338 | 24 years | No statewide rule |
| Missouri | 13.3¢ | 1,433 | 15 years | Monthly netting |
Questions about solar in Kentucky
How long does solar take to pay for itself in Kentucky?
About 20 years for a typical 9 kW system bought with cash at the 2026 median price of $2.57 per watt, with no federal tax credit and one inverter replacement. A bigger or smaller system, a different price, or your own usage will change that; the table above shows other sizes.
Does Kentucky have net metering?
Not full net metering. Exported power earns credits at rates each utility sets, below retail.
Is there a solar tax credit in Kentucky in 2026?
Not from the federal government for buyers: the 30% homeowner credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. For a typical 9 kW system in Kentucky, that credit was worth about $6,939 and brought payback down to 15 years, instead of 20 years now. Leasing companies can still claim a business credit, so ask for a lease or PPA price too. Your state energy office lists any state rebates.
Is a solar battery worth it in Kentucky?
On bill savings alone, not quite: a 13.5 kWh battery at about $15,650 would move about 3,548 kWh of solar power a year from the grid to your evenings in a typical Kentucky home, adding about $3,205 of savings over 15 years. That doesn't cover its price, so the system's payback goes from 20 years to over 25 years; the rest is paying for backup during outages. Time-of-use rates, battery rebates and utility payments for sharing your battery can tip it; try your numbers in the payback calculator.
Is plug-in solar legal in Kentucky?
There's no plug-in solar law yet in Kentucky, so your utility may treat a kit like any rooftop system.
How do I check a solar company's license in Kentucky?
Look the company up with the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (electrical licensing) (dhbc.ky.gov) by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license too.
More guides: What changed for solar in 2026 · Lease or buy? · Plug-in solar · Is my solar system working?
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), final 2025 data: Annual State Historical Spreadsheets (Form EIA-861, released October 7, 2026) and Electric Power Annual (October 21, 2026); NREL PVWatts (National Solar Radiation Database), statewide averages; Solar Energy Nerds: net metering by state, 2026; LG&E and KU: net metering; Kentucky PSC: March 2026 order listing the NMS-2 credit; EnergySage: median quoted price, first half of 2026.