25-year savings projection for Kentucky
This projection starts from Kentucky's assumed $0.13/kWh electricity rate and 1,300 kWh/kW of annual production, then grows savings by 3% a year as electricity prices rise and reduces output by 0.5% a year as panels degrade.
| Year | Annual savings | Cumulative savings | vs. $22,200 cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $1,114 | $1,114 | −$21,086 |
| Year 5 | $1,229 | $5,854 | −$16,346 |
| Year 10 | $1,389 | $12,473 | −$9,727 |
| Year 15 | $1,571 | $19,955 | −$2,245 |
| Year 20 | $1,776 | $28,415 | +$6,215 |
| Year 25 | $2,008 | $37,980 | +$15,780 |
A simple, undiscounted projection — it does not apply a discount rate, financing interest, inverter replacement (commonly needed once in 25 years), maintenance, or any change in home value. Treat it as a shape, not a forecast. See methodology.
Why savings look like this in Kentucky
Low electricity rates and reduced export credits make careful sizing to on-site use essential.
The single biggest variable is what your utility pays for exported power. Kentucky moved from retail net metering to net billing: utilities file their own export rates with the PSC, and several major utilities now credit exports well below retail for new customers.
What would change this number
- Your actual rate. This uses a $0.13/kWh Kentucky average. If you pay more, savings scale up roughly proportionally.
- Self-consumption. We assume 68% of output is used on site at retail value and the rest exported at 45% of retail. Households home during the day, or with a battery, do better.
- Electricity price growth. At 3% a year, savings nearly double by year 25. Slower growth meaningfully reduces lifetime return.
- Incentives. Kentucky offers no significant state incentive, so the installed cost above is close to what you would actually pay. See Kentucky incentives →
- Financing. A cash purchase earns the return above. A loan shifts it — interest can consume a large share of lifetime savings.
Frequently asked questions
How much can you save with solar panels in Kentucky?
An 8 kW system in Kentucky could save roughly $1,114 in the first year — about $93 a month — and around $37,980 across 25 years, assuming electricity prices rise 3% a year and panel output declines 0.5% a year. Against a midpoint installed cost of $22,200, that is a net gain of about $15,780.
What is the ROI on solar panels in Kentucky?
On these assumptions, roughly 71% over a 25-year system life — $15,780 of net savings on a $22,200 system. That is a simple, undiscounted return: it ignores financing interest, the time value of money, and any effect on home resale value. A cash purchase and a loan produce very different numbers.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself in Kentucky?
Around year 17, when cumulative savings first exceed the $22,200 installed cost. A simple payback that ignores rising electricity prices gives a wider range of 17–23 years.
Do solar savings in Kentucky include the federal tax credit?
No. The 30% federal residential clean energy credit (Section 25D) ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025, so none of these figures include it. Any savings projection you see elsewhere that still applies 30% to a 2026 purchase is overstating the return.
What most affects solar savings in Kentucky?
Three things, in order: your utility's export compensation (Kentucky moved from retail net metering to net billing: utilities file their own export rates with the PSC, and several major utilities now credit exports well below retail for new customers.), how much of the output your household consumes on site rather than exporting, and your actual electricity rate versus the 0.13/kWh state assumption used here.
Where these numbers come from
State assumptions are informed by public data and reviewed periodically (September 2026):