ClevelandSolar Incentives 2026: Rebates, Tax Credits & Net Metering
Cleveland homeowners installing in 2026 cannot claim the federal residential credit. What remains is The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) net metering. At 3.8 peak sun hours a day, a home with a $125/month bill (about 893 kWh) needs roughly a 9.8 kW system — 25 panels — and pays back in about 11.8 years.
Solar Incentives Available in Cleveland
The federal residential credit does not apply to a Cleveland system installed in 2026. Ohio does not add a state income tax credit in this dataset. The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) sets the local rules for crediting the solar power you export.
The Illuminating Company serves Cleveland with net metering; Ohio's SREC market adds modest annual income.
How Much Solar Cleveland Homes Produce
Cleveland gets 3.8 peak sun hours a day, so each 1 kW of panels produces about 1,110 kWh per year here. A 9.8 kW system — the size that fits a typical $125/month The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) bill — generates roughly 10,874 kWh annually, worth about $1,522 in avoided electricity in year one and more as rates rise.
The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) Net Metering in Cleveland
The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) credits excess solar generation from Cleveland homes under Ohio's full retail-rate net metering (~100% of retail). A right-sized system can bring net annual electricity costs close to zero. See full Ohio net metering rules →
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Cleveland?
At Ohio's 2026 average of $2.90/watt, the 9.8 kW system most Cleveland homes need runs about $28,420 before incentives. The federal residential credit is $0. OH SREC income is included where the state record has it. Net cost in this model is about $20,620, with payback around 11.8 years. Those figures use $0 federal credit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Solar Incentives in Other Ohio Cities
See your exact Cleveland solar savings
Enter your The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) bill. The calculator uses $0 federal credit plus Ohio incentives — system size, net cost, payback, and 25-year savings.