A state so strongly related to sunflowers must be in tune with the ability of the solar.
However placing solar panels in your Kansas roof won’t be straightforward relying on the place you reside. In the meantime, renewable wind energy is the biggest source of electricity within the Sunflower State.
Kansas is missing in net metering policies, which hurts your means to capitalize on the surplus vitality produced by your photo voltaic panels. The state additionally lacks incentives for residential solar systems, however there are nonetheless loads of causes to consider solar panels on your private home. That features a major federal tax credit, which might cowl as much as 30% of the set up value of your rooftop photo voltaic system.
Here is what you must know when you’re fascinated with going photo voltaic in Kansas — beginning with the best solar installation companies working throughout the state.
Greatest nationwide photo voltaic corporations in Kansas
Kansas has 19 installers and builders, in line with data from the Photo voltaic Vitality Industries Affiliation. How do you resolve amongst them? One of the simplest ways is to get bids from a number of corporations and see which affords the most effective value and companies.
Hold an eye fixed out for doubtlessly deceptive advertising and scams. Barnett mentioned some corporations in Kansas say they’re related with the state’s utilities, however not one of the utilities have most well-liked contractors. “That is a pink flag,” she mentioned. She recommends consumers work with native Kansas corporations and get no less than two bids.
The businesses right here come from CNET’s checklist of best national solar companies.
Palmetto Photo voltaic
Greatest total
Photo voltaic panels are sometimes low upkeep gear, however they’re additionally unfamiliar. If you wish to reap the advantages of photo voltaic however could have a bit extra peace of thoughts if another person is ensuring it is working, Palmetto may be an excellent match for you. Simply bear in mind so as to add the price of Palmetto’s monitoring service in to your payback interval calculations.
SunPower Photo voltaic
Greatest photo voltaic panels
If you happen to’re in search of top-of-the-line photo voltaic panels, SunPower is your most suitable option. However do not write it off when you’re in search of a much less flashy set up that may get the job completed. This 12 months it began putting in Qcells panels, which ought to make an set up from the longest-tenured firm on our checklist accessible to extra folks.
Tesla Photo voltaic
Most reasonably priced
Tesla’s photo voltaic department appears to be the least cherished of Elon Musk’s ventures. Even Tesla’s Photo voltaic Roof appears to get extra love.
If value is the factor you will not budge on, take into account Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs high quality panels and makes the closest factor there’s to a family title in photo voltaic storage: the Powerwall.
The place you may miss out is customer support. Dialogue on-line appears to counsel Tesla’s service is a little bit of of venture.
Native photo voltaic panel corporations in Kansas
Nationwide corporations can supply the soundness of a long-term monitor report, however native corporations might have much less overhead. Listed here are a couple of of these working in Kansas. These native corporations have not been reviewed by CNET.
Lawrence-based Cromwell Solar was based in 1982 and makes use of solely its personal installers and grasp or journeyman electricians. The corporate installs photo voltaic at residential and business properties in addition to farms. It additionally affords mills and battery backup methods, which you will get even when you aren’t getting a photo voltaic system.
Additionally based mostly in Lawrence, Good Energy Solutions installs SunPower panels, that are identified for his or her effectivity and robust warranties. The corporate, which has been round since 2007, additionally operates in Missouri. Good Vitality Options says it makes use of no subcontractors and that it additionally affords restore and upkeep for photo voltaic methods.
King Solar is predicated in Haven, exterior Wichita. It serves the southern and central elements of the state. The corporate receives favorable on-line evaluations from clients, a lot of whom reward the customer support.
Value of photo voltaic panels in Kansas
Here is a take a look at the average cash price for a typical photo voltaic panel system in Kansas earlier than factoring in tax credit and incentives, in line with knowledge from FindEnergy.com. Your system may cost extra when you get a solar battery.
Common value of photo voltaic panels in Kansas
| Typical system dimension (kW) | Value per watt | Complete put in value | Value after 30% federal tax credit score | |
| Kansas | 8 | $3.34 | $26,720 | $18,704 |
| Nationwide common | 8.6 | $3.67 | $31,558 | $22,091 |
The next map supplies knowledge for the typical whole money value, value per watt and system dimension for a typical photo voltaic panel system in your state, in line with FindEnergy.com. These costs do not account for rebates from tax credit or state incentives. Sure states have no FindEnergy photo voltaic knowledge and are grayed out on the map.
Kansas photo voltaic panel incentives and rebates
If you happen to’re in an space served by a significant utility, you are possible in a position to connect a solar system to the grid fairly simply. It may be tougher when you’re served by a municipal energy firm or rural electrical cooperative, in line with Dorothy Barnett, government director of the Local weather + Vitality Mission, a Kansas clear vitality advocacy group. These utilities aren’t lined by the state’s net metering law, which units requirements for a way energy corporations join small photo voltaic methods to the grid.
“If you happen to reside in a extra rural a part of the state, it is potential you will not be capable to web meter a system at present,” Barnett informed CNET. “Or if you’re allowed to web meter a system, you may be charged an extra grid entry cost or a ridiculously excessive utility price to use for an interconnection.”
The largest alternative for Kansans to get assist with photo voltaic panels is a federal program, the residential clear vitality credit score, which supplies a tax credit score of as much as 30% of the price of a photo voltaic system. The credit score, lately expanded and prolonged within the Inflation Reduction Act handed in 2022, has no restrict on how a lot you possibly can declare. One potential hitch: You may possible have to attend till after you file your taxes the subsequent 12 months to get the cash.
Here is a take a look at the incentives accessible to you.
Kansas photo voltaic incentives
| Program | Description |
|---|---|
| Residential clear vitality credit score | This federal tax credit score covers as much as 30% of the price of your photo voltaic set up. The precise quantity it covers is determined by how a lot you pay in federal tax that 12 months. |
| Rural Energy for America Program | This program of the US Division of Agriculture affords assured loans and grants to farmers and rural companies which might be concerned about photo voltaic or different vitality effectivity tasks. |
| Property tax exemption | Kansas regulation supplies a property tax exemption for 10 years for property used to generate renewable vitality. |
pay for photo voltaic panels in Kansas
As with all main buy, you must take into consideration the place the cash for the panels will come from. Regardless of the federal tax credit score, you will should cowl many of the value of the set up. And the cash from the tax credit score will not be yours till after you have filed your taxes for the 12 months the panels are put in.
Listed here are some methods to pay for solar panels:
Money: That is the best method, nevertheless it works provided that you occur to have tens of 1000’s of {dollars} sitting round in a checking account. If you do not have that but, however you need photo voltaic panels sooner or later, take into account saving cash in a high-yield savings account. Rates of interest are excessive proper now, and this can assist you save sooner.
Photo voltaic mortgage: Your photo voltaic installer possible has a relationship with a financial institution or different monetary establishment to supply a mortgage designed for photo voltaic panels. This could be a nice deal, however you will need to get a number of affords to make sure the charges and phrases are the most effective.
Dwelling fairness: You do not have to make use of a mortgage out of your photo voltaic firm. Monetary establishments supply home equity loans and lines of credit (or HELOCs) which might be generally used for dwelling enchancment tasks. These loans can be utilized for mainly any objective, and so they could also be an excellent match to your photo voltaic undertaking. Store round and be sure to’re getting the most effective deal.
Private mortgage: You can even borrow the cash by means of a personal loan. The primary distinction between a private mortgage and a house fairness mortgage is {that a} private mortgage is usually unsecured. Meaning your home is not in danger. The draw back is they have an inclination to have shorter phrases and better rates of interest than dwelling fairness merchandise.
Set up elements to remember
Photo voltaic panels can put a big dent in your power bill and provide help to make a distinction in shifting away from fossil fuels, however they are not proper for everybody. Going photo voltaic when it would not make sense can flip that promise right into a nightmare. Listed here are some issues to think about earlier than taking the plunge.
- Location, location, location: If you happen to reside in a wide-open space the place your private home feels the solar all day, photo voltaic panels may be nice. In case your rooftop is surrounded on all sides by huge bushes, the panels won’t get sufficient mild to be price it. Additionally take into account the angle of your private home — panels within the US are inclined to do best on south-facing slopes.
- Your roof: Photo voltaic panels are a long-term dedication to your roof. Be sure that it is prepared for it. If you happen to’re taking a look at changing your shingles within the subsequent few years, or if in case you have harm that’ll want restore quickly, that may take priority over putting in photo voltaic panels.
- HOA and neighborhood rules: Verify together with your owners affiliation and native authorities to see if there are any necessities you will need to meet earlier than you possibly can set up panels.
- Insurance coverage protection: Your owners insurance coverage will possible cowl the photo voltaic panels, however it is best to name forward of time to examine and ensure.
- If you happen to lease: You could not be capable to get photo voltaic panels put in on your private home when you do not personal it. There are different choices, together with community solar, wherein you pay for panels at a separate web site and obtain a share of the vitality that facility produces. Neighborhood photo voltaic “has not taken off” but in Kansas due to rules, Barnett mentioned, however there are a couple of choices.
How we consider photo voltaic corporations
The businesses we listed above as “the most effective” are curated from CNET’s best solar companies checklist. Firms making the most effective checklist are scored on the gear, warranties and customer support they provide. Then, we be sure that these suggestions can be found in your state. You’ll be able to learn a full breakdown of how we review solar companies here.
Firms listed below the native installers have been chosen in a much less rigorous method. We selected them as a result of they supplied one thing distinctive or notable to clients within the state, they appeared well-regarded by web reviewers or as a result of they have been one of many few installers we might discover data on within the state.
Whether or not we have accomplished a full overview on an organization or not, it is at all times a good suggestion to get a number of quotes from completely different installers earlier than selecting an organization.
Kansas photo voltaic FAQs
Do it’s a must to pay an additional price in your utility invoice if in case you have photo voltaic panels?
The Kansas Supreme Court in 2020 struck down an extra price charged by a utility firm for purchasers who produced their very own vitality. The court docket mentioned the observe was value discrimination, and that utilities cannot cost those that produce their very own vitality greater than they cost different clients.
Does Kansas have web metering?
It is determined by your utility. The state’s net metering law requires the 2 main investor-owned utilities — Evergy and Empire District — to supply web metering till net-metered methods equal 1% of their peak demand. Electrical cooperatives and municipal electrical suppliers aren’t required to supply web metering, though many do.
Are all photo voltaic panels the identical?
