OhioSolar Incentives 2026: Tax Credits, Rebates & Net Metering

Ohio does not offer a state income tax credit specifically for residential solar, and the federal residential credit does not apply to a system installed in 2026. Model the install at full cost unless a utility rebate or exemption still applies.

Ohio requires investor-owned utilities to offer net metering on residential solar systems. The credit rate is the full retail electricity rate.

In practice, this means a properly sized Ohio system can drive net annual electricity costs to within tens of dollars of zero. Top utilities operating under OH net metering rules include AEP Ohio, FirstEnergy, Duke Energy OH.

Ohio credits exported solar at roughly ~100% of retail of the retail rate. See full Ohionet metering rates & rollover rules →

Solar installs in Ohio average $2.90 per watt in 2026. A typical 8 kW system runs about $23,200 before incentives. The federal residential credit is $0. Illustrated cost with no state income-tax credit is $23,200.

Your price moves with system size, roof complexity, and equipment tier. Run the Ohio savings calculator for a number matched to your actual electricity bill.

No — there is no government program handing out free solar in Ohio. “Free solar” and “no-cost solar program” ads are leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs): a company owns the panels and bills you for the power. There is no residential federal credit for a 2026 install for either you or the company to claim.

Buying your system — with the incentives in your name — almost always wins on lifetime savings. Read the full breakdown of “free solar” offers →

3 major utilities operate in Ohio: AEP Ohio, FirstEnergy, Duke Energy OH. Specific rebate availability varies year to year and is typically distributed first-come, first-served until annual budget caps are reached.

Before scheduling any installation, verify current rebate status directly with your utility — programs open and close throughout the year. Most Ohio installers will pull up-to-date rebate data during a site assessment.

Ohio does not currently offer a property tax exemption for solar. The added home value from a solar installation is generally included in the next assessment cycle.

Ohio does not exempt solar equipment from sales tax, so installation invoices include standard sales tax on hardware components.

Ohio has an active Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) market. Homeowners earn one SREC for every megawatt-hour produced and sell them on the OH compliance market.

At current clearing prices, the average OH homeowner earns approximately $7,800 in SREC income over the first five years of operation. SREC values are volatile and depend on the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard compliance demand each year.

Compare Ohio's solar incentive package side-by-side with adjacent states to see whether you live in a relatively high- or low-incentive market.