Ohio has about 6,998 MW of solar installed, the 12th most of any state and enough to power roughly 862,582 homes (SEIA, as of June 2026). For a homeowner, the numbers that matter are the electricity rate and what a system produces: the average residential rate is about 19.5 cents per kWh (EIA, as of May 2026), and a typical 7 kW rooftop system in Columbus makes about 9,169 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8), which puts simple payback near 10 to 11 years. Ohio has no state solar tax credit or rebate, so the local benefits are net metering, ECO-Link financing, and a property-tax exemption. Below you will find installed cost, per-city production, how each utility handles net metering, and the current state incentives, updated for 2026.
Updated for 2026.
Key statistics: Ohio solar at a glance (2026)
Key numbers (Ohio, 2026)
- Installed solar capacity: about 6,998 MW (12th nationally)
- Average residential rate: 19.5 cents per kWh
- Typical system size: 7 kW
- Typical annual production: 9,169 kWh per year (Columbus)
- Typical installed cost: $2.30 to $3.00 per watt
- Estimated system cost: $16,100 to $21,000
- Simple payback: about 10 to 11 years
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), a typical 7 kW system in Ohio produces about 9,169 kWh a year in Columbus, offsetting power that costs about 19.5 cents per kWh. These are our own compiled figures for Ohio; see Methodology below for exactly how each was produced. For the statewide rules behind these numbers, see our Ohio solar guide. Comparing states? See our Maine solar data and statistics for a side-by-side.
| Metric | Value | Source (dated) |
|---|---|---|
| Installed solar capacity | about 6,998 MW (12th nationally; ~862,582 homes powered) | SEIA, as of June 2026 |
| Average residential rate | 19.5 cents per kWh | EIA, as of May 2026 |
| Typical system size | 7 kW | MySolarFY, typical residential array |
| Typical annual production | 9,169 kWh per year (Columbus) | NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 2026 |
| Typical installed cost | $2.30 to $3.00 per watt | MySolarFY cost range, as of August 2026 |
| Estimated system cost | $16,100 to $21,000 | MySolarFY, 7 kW, as of August 2026 |
| Simple payback | about 10 to 11 years | MySolarFY analysis, as of August 2026 |
Every figure is dated and attributed. Capacity and rank are from SEIA; rate is the EIA residential average for Ohio; production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run for a 7 kW array; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates for planning, not a quote. Confirm current terms before you decide.
How much does solar cost in Ohio, and what is the payback?
A 7 kW system runs about $16,100 to $21,000 installed in Ohio, and simple payback lands near 10 to 11 years at the state’s roughly 19.5 cent retail rate, depending on the city. Production and payback vary within a state because the solar resource and the local rate shift by location. The table below models a 7 kW system for representative Ohio cities using NREL PVWatts v8.
| City | System size | Annual production | Est. system cost | Est. annual value of production | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | 7 kW | 9,169 kWh per year | $18,500 | about $1,790 | about 10.3 years |
| Cleveland | 7 kW | 8,915 kWh per year | $18,500 | about $1,740 | about 10.6 years |
| Cincinnati | 7 kW | 8,748 kWh per year | $18,500 | about $1,710 | about 10.8 years |
| Toledo | 7 kW | 9,125 kWh per year | $18,500 | about $1,780 | about 10.4 years |
| Akron | 7 kW | 8,637 kWh per year | $18,500 | about $1,690 | about 11.0 years |
| Dayton | 7 kW | 9,350 kWh per year | $18,500 | about $1,830 | about 10.1 years |
Production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run per city ZIP. The value of production here holds today’s 19.5 cent retail rate flat across the whole output as a simple planning figure. In practice, Ohio investor-owned utilities credit the excess power you export at the lower unbundled generation rate, not the full retail rate, so your real savings depend on how much of your production you use on-site. Payback is the system cost divided by that annual value and ignores financing. A written quote for your roof beats any table.
How does net metering work with Ohio utilities?
All three of Ohio’s large investor-owned utilities, AEP Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio, and FirstEnergy, offer net metering: a bidirectional meter tracks the power you pull from the grid against the power your panels send back, and you are billed on the net. The catch that sets Ohio apart is the credit rate. Under Ohio law the excess generation you export is credited at the utility’s unbundled generation rate, the generation portion of the retail price, rather than the full retail rate. Your utility sets the delivery rate and administers the program, not the installer. For the mechanics, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| Utility | Residential rate | Net metering treatment |
|---|---|---|
| AEP Ohio | Around the state residential average of about 19.5 cents per kWh (EIA, as of May 2026); your all-in rate varies by rider | Net metering through a single bidirectional meter; billed on net usage each period, with excess generation credited at the unbundled generation rate under the PUCO-approved rider |
| Duke Energy Ohio | Around the state residential average of about 19.5 cents per kWh (EIA, as of May 2026); your all-in rate varies by rider | Monthly net metering for residential customer-generators; excess generation credited on the bill at the generation rate under the PUCO tariff |
| FirstEnergy (Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating, Toledo Edison) | Around the state residential average of about 19.5 cents per kWh (EIA, as of May 2026); your all-in rate varies by rider | Standard Ohio net metering after interconnection; bidirectional meter, billed on net consumption with excess credited at the generation rate |
Net metering rules are set by Ohio law and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), not the installer. Confirm your utility’s current tariff and export-credit rate before you size a system.
Ohio solar incentive stack (2026)
Ohio has no statewide solar tax credit and no statewide cash rebate for homeowners, so the incentive stack here is net metering, the ECO-Link financing program, and a property-tax exemption on the value solar adds to your home. These incentives go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels keeps them while the net-metering bill credit follows your account.
State solar tax credit
Ohio has no statewide solar income-tax credit and no statewide cash rebate for homeowners in 2026 (none) (Ohio incentive review, as of August 2026)
Net metering
Investor-owned utilities (AEP Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio, FirstEnergy) credit excess generation on your bill at the unbundled generation rate under PUCO-approved tariffs; a bidirectional meter tracks net usage (active) (PUCO, as of August 2026)
ECO-Link Program
State-backed financing that reduces the interest rate on a qualifying home-improvement loan by up to 3 percentage points, on up to $50,000 of eligible cost (active) (Ohio Treasurer, as of August 2026)
Property-tax exemption
Qualifying solar energy systems of 250 kW or less are 100 percent exempt from added real property tax, so rooftop solar does not raise your property-tax bill (active) (Ohio Revised Code 5709.53, as of August 2026)
The federal homeowner credit has ended, but Ohio’s programs have not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so an Ohio homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, as of 2026). State net metering and the incentives listed above were not affected by that change. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means and our state solar incentives overview.
Methodology and sources
- Installed capacity and rank: the SEIA Ohio Solar and Storage state page (SEIA, as of June 2026).
- Electricity rate: the latest EIA residential retail price for Ohio (EIA retail sales, as of May 2026).
- Production: modeled with NREL PVWatts v8 for a 7 kW south-facing array at each city ZIP (NREL PVWatts v8 documentation, as of August 2026).
- Cost and payback: MySolarFY estimates built from installed cost per watt and the EIA rate, holding today’s rate flat and ignoring financing.
- Incentives and net metering: the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the DSIRE incentive database (DSIRE, as of August 2026).
- Assumptions: a 7 kW system, standard losses, and a south-facing array. Your roof, usage, and financing change the result, so treat these as planning figures, not a quote.
Citing this data
Citing this data?
Cite as: “MySolarFY, Ohio Solar Data & Statistics 2026, accessed August 22, 2026.” Data compiled by MySolarFY from SEIA (installed capacity and rank), EIA (residential electricity rate), NREL PVWatts v8 (modeled production), DSIRE and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (incentives and net metering). Figures are dated in each table above.
Journalists and researchers may quote these statistics with attribution to MySolarFY and a link to https://mysolarfy.com/ohio-solar-data-statistics-2026/.
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How to choose a solar installer in Ohio
Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria: NABCEP certification, a valid state license, a written workmanship and equipment warranty, real experience with your utility’s interconnection, and a transparent quote that uses today’s incentive values. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ohio have a state solar tax credit? No. Ohio has no statewide solar income-tax credit and no statewide cash rebate for homeowners in 2026. The state-level benefits are net metering, the ECO-Link financing program, and a property-tax exemption that keeps solar from raising your property-tax bill (Ohio incentive review, as of August 2026).
What is the average solar cost in Ohio in 2026? A typical residential system in Ohio runs about $2.30 to $3.00 per watt installed before any incentives (MySolarFY cost range, as of August 2026). A 7 kW system is a common size for a single-family home. Cost varies with roof, equipment, and installer, so use a written quote for your own numbers.
How much electricity does a solar system produce in Ohio? A modeled 7 kW array produces about 9,169 kWh a year in Columbus (NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 2026). Production drives both your net-metering credits and your payback, so estimate your specific roof rather than a generic number.
Did the federal solar tax credit end? Yes for homeowners. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so an Ohio homeowner who buys solar in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). State programs and net metering were not affected by that change.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked SEIA, EIA, NREL, DSIRE, and Ohio PUC sources as of August 2026; rates, incentive values, and net-metering terms can change, so confirm current terms before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. Solar panels are not free and any monthly payments apply. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation; lease and PPA terms may include an annual escalator and total payments may exceed a cash purchase, and on a lease or PPA the incentives go to the company that owns the system. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
