Kansas Solar Calculator

Kansas gets 5.0 peak sun hours — one of the nation's best solar resources — with property tax exemption and net metering. Enter your Evergy or Midwest Energy bill to see your 30% ITC savings.

Your Kansas solar inputs

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Utility?

System size?

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Kansas solar estimate

20 × 400W panels (8 kW system)

Monthly usage1,000 kWh/mo

Annual production (KS 5.0 PSH)11,680 kWh/yr

Annual savings (net metering)$1,518/yr

Gross system cost$22,400

Federal ITC (30%)-$6,720

Kansas state tax creditNone available

Net cost after ITC$15,680

Property tax exemption (annual est.)$314/yr

Payback period10.3 yrs

25-year savings$37,960

Kansas has one of the nation's best solar resources at 5.0 PSH — production is excellent. The property tax exemption is permanent. No state income tax credit is currently available. The 30% federal ITC is the primary financial incentive.

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How to Use This Calculator

Kansas: exceptional sun resource, moderate rates

Kansas averages 5.0 peak sun hours per day — placing it among the top 10 solar states nationally. The flat Great Plains terrain means minimal shading from trees or hills, and western Kansas regularly exceeds 5.5 PSH. This outstanding sun resource makes Kansas an excellent solar producer despite moderate electricity rates of $0.13/kWh. Kansas's property tax exemption and net metering policy round out a solid incentive package, even without a state income tax credit. Kansas also produces more wind energy per capita than almost any other state, reflecting its outstanding renewable resource.

Enter your bill and select your Kansas utility

Evergy (formed from the 2018 merger of Westar Energy and Kansas City Power & Light) is the dominant utility, serving Wichita, Topeka, Overland Park, and most of eastern and central Kansas. Midwest Energy serves the central and western portions of the state including Salina, Hays, Great Bend, and Garden City. Both investor-owned utilities offer net metering programs. Rural electric cooperatives in western Kansas may have different policies — verify before installing. Enter your monthly bill, select your utility, and choose a system size to see your full savings estimate.

Kansas property tax exemption: permanent solar protection

Kansas permanently exempts solar energy equipment from property tax assessment. Unlike some states that offer a temporary freeze (5-10 years), Kansas's exemption is indefinite — the solar system's added value never enters your property tax assessment. At Kansas's average effective property tax rate of approximately 1.4%, an 8 kW system ($22,400 gross cost) saves approximately $314/year in property taxes — $7,850 over 25 years. This is meaningful ongoing savings that compounds with future property value appreciation.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ Electricity Rate Annual Production = System kW × 1000 × 5.0 PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency ÷ 1000 Self-consumed kWh = Annual Production × 0.65 Exported kWh = Annual Production − Self-consumed kWh Annual Savings = (Self-consumed + Exported) × Retail Rate (KS net metering) Gross Cost = System kW × 1000 × $2.80/W + Battery ($12,000 if added) ITC Credit = Gross Cost × 30% Net Cost = Gross Cost − ITC Payback = Net Cost ÷ Annual Savings Property Tax Exemption = System Cost × ~1.4% KS rate (permanent)

Kansas averages 5.0 peak sun hours — Dodge City and Garden City in western Kansas often reach 5.5-5.8 PSH. Wichita averages 5.0 PSH; Topeka and Lawrence in northeastern Kansas average 4.8 PSH. Kansas's $2.80/W installation cost is slightly below the national average, reflecting a growing solar market with good installer competition in Wichita and the Kansas City metro area. The combination of 5.0 PSH + low $2.80/W cost produces excellent value per kW installed.

Example

Mike — Wichita Evergy customer

Mike is in Wichita on Evergy paying $130/month at $0.13/kWh. He installs an 8 kW system to maximize net metering credits and take advantage of Kansas's exceptional sun resource.

Monthly bill$130 (Evergy, $0.13/kWh)

System8 kW, no battery

LocationWichita, KS (5.0 PSH)

Result

Annual production (5.0 PSH)~14,600 kWh/yr

Annual savings (net metering)~$1,898/yr

Gross system cost~$22,400

Federal ITC (30%)-$6,720

Kansas state creditNone

Net cost after ITC~$15,680

Property tax exemption (annual)~$314/yr (permanent)

Payback period~8.3 years

25-year savings~$47,450

Kansas's exceptional 5.0 PSH sun resource drives strong production — Mike's 8 kW system produces about 14,600 kWh/year, well exceeding his 12,000 kWh annual usage. This surplus generates substantial net metering credits. Despite no state tax credit, the 30% ITC reduces his cost to $15,680, and his 8.3-year payback is competitive with many higher-incentive states. Kansas's high production per watt makes it a strong financial case even at $0.13/kWh rates.

FAQ

Does Kansas have a property tax exemption for solar? ▼

Yes. Kansas permanently exempts solar energy systems from property tax assessment under K.S.A. 79-201(c). The added value of a solar installation is never included in your home's assessed value — there is no expiration date on the exemption. Kansas's average effective property tax rate of approximately 1.4% makes this exemption worth about $314/year on an $22,400 system (8 kW × $2.80/W). Over 25 years, this permanent exemption saves approximately $7,850 in property taxes. File for the exemption with your county appraiser after installation — your installer can provide the documentation needed.

How does net metering work in Kansas? ▼

Kansas requires investor-owned utilities to offer net metering under K.S.A. 66-1265. Evergy (serving eastern and central Kansas including Wichita, Topeka, and the Kansas City metro) and Midwest Energy (serving central and western Kansas) both offer net metering programs. Exported solar is credited at the retail rate. System size limits and interconnection procedures vary between utilities — Evergy generally allows systems up to 25 kW for residential. Rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities are not required to offer net metering under state law, though many do voluntarily. Always confirm net metering availability with your specific utility before signing a solar contract.

Does Kansas have a state solar tax credit? ▼

No. Kansas does not offer a state income tax credit for residential solar installations. The 30% federal ITC is the primary financial incentive. The permanent property tax exemption and net metering policy add ongoing value. Kansas's exceptional 5.0 PSH sun resource partially compensates for the lack of a state credit — higher production means faster payback even at $0.13/kWh rates. Kansas legislators have periodically considered solar incentive legislation but no state credit has been enacted as of 2026.

Which utilities serve Kansas solar customers? ▼

Evergy is the largest Kansas utility, formed in 2018 from the merger of Westar Energy and Kansas City Power & Light. Evergy serves Wichita (the largest city), Topeka, Overland Park, Lawrence, and most of northeastern and south-central Kansas. Midwest Energy serves central and western Kansas including Salina, Hays, Great Bend, Liberal, and Garden City — the sunnier western portion of the state. Some cities have municipal utilities (e.g., Lawrence has Westar/Evergy but some municipal accounts). Rural Kansas is largely served by rural electric cooperatives under the Sunflower Electric or KAMO Electric banner. Check with your specific utility before installing — net metering policies vary for co-ops and municipals.

Is Kansas a good state for solar? ▼

Kansas has excellent solar potential — 5.0 PSH average places it among the top solar states nationally, ahead of much of the Southeast and all of the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. The flat Great Plains terrain eliminates shading concerns. Western Kansas averages 5.5+ PSH, comparable to parts of Arizona. The permanent property tax exemption, net metering, and 30% federal ITC round out a solid package. The main limitation is Kansas's $0.13/kWh electricity rate — lower rates mean longer payback periods compared to states with $0.20+ rates. Still, Kansas's outstanding production efficiency (kWh per kW installed) makes it competitive, with typical paybacks of 8-11 years depending on system size and location.

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