Missouri Solar Calculator

Enter your utility and monthly bill — get system size, utility rebate estimate, property tax exemption, and 25-year savings based on Missouri's 4.5 PSH solar resource.

Your Missouri solar inputs

Monthly electric bill?

Utility?

System size?

Battery backup?

Missouri solar estimate

20 × 400W panels (8 kW system)

Recommended size for your bill: 10.1 kW

Monthly usage1,083 kWh/mo

Annual production (MO 4.5 PSH)10,512 kWh/yr

Annual savings (net metering)$1,261/yr

Gross system cost$22,400

Federal ITC (30%)-$6,720

Ameren MO utility rebate (est.)-$2,000

Net cost after incentives$13,680

Property tax exemption (est.)$5,376

Payback period10.8 yrs

25-year savings$31,536

Missouri has no state solar tax credit and no sales tax exemption for solar equipment. The 30% federal ITC and 100% property tax exemption are the primary state-level benefits. Ameren Missouri utility rebates are subject to availability — confirm with your installer before counting on them.

Link copied to clipboard

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your bill and select your Missouri utility

Missouri has three major investor-owned utilities: Ameren Missouri (St. Louis and central MO, $0.12/kWh), Evergy Missouri (Kansas City and western MO, $0.13/kWh), and Empire Electric (southwest MO around Joplin, $0.11/kWh). Select your utility to use the correct rate. Enter your average monthly bill and planned system size in kilowatts. Rural Missouri is served by electric cooperatives — check with your co-op for net metering policies.

Missouri net metering at retail rate

Missouri mandates net metering for utilities above a certain size — most customers of Ameren Missouri, Evergy, and Empire Electric receive retail-rate net metering. Exported solar is credited at the same rate you pay for electricity. Credits typically carry forward monthly. Note that Missouri has no state solar tax credit and no sales tax exemption for solar equipment — the federal ITC and property tax exemption are the primary financial incentives beyond savings on your bill.

Ameren Missouri utility rebates

Ameren Missouri has historically offered solar rebates through its renewable energy programs. Rebates vary by program year and available funding — confirm current availability with your installer. The calculator includes a historical estimate of $250/kW for Ameren customers as a reference; actual rebates may differ. Evergy and Empire Electric have offered smaller or no rebates historically.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ Electricity Rate Annual Production = System kW × 1000 × 4.5 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 (MO net metering) Gross Cost = System kW × 1000 × $2.80/W + Battery ($12,000 if added) ITC Credit = Gross Cost × 30% Utility Rebate = System kW × $250 (Ameren MO only, subject to availability) Net Cost = Gross Cost − ITC Credit − Utility Rebate Payback = Net Cost ÷ Annual Savings

Missouri averages 4.5 peak sun hours — Kansas City gets 4.7 PSH, St. Louis 4.5, and Springfield 4.8 (one of the sunniest cities in Missouri). The $2.80/W installation cost reflects Missouri's growing but still-developing solar market. Missouri's property tax rate averages ~1.2%, making the 100% property tax exemption worth approximately $330/year on a $23,000 system — significant long-term non-cash value.

Example

David — St. Louis Ameren Missouri customer

David is in St. Louis on Ameren Missouri paying $130/month at $0.12/kWh. He wants an 8 kW system and checks for available utility rebates.

Monthly bill$130 (Ameren Missouri, $0.12/kWh)

System8 kW, no battery

LocationSt. Louis, MO (4.5 PSH)

Result

Annual production~10,512 kWh/yr

Annual savings (net metering)~$1,261/yr

Gross system cost~$22,400

Federal ITC (30%)-$6,720

Ameren utility rebate (est.)-$2,000

Net cost after incentives~$13,680

Payback period~10.8 years

25-year savings~$31,525

With the Ameren utility rebate and federal ITC, David's net cost drops to under $14,000. Missouri's retail-rate net metering means every kWh produced — self-consumed or exported — is credited at full retail rate. Property tax exemption adds approximately $5,400 in additional value over 20 years ($22,400 × 1.2% × 20yr). David's 8 kW system produces about 88% of his annual usage, providing substantial energy independence.

FAQ

Does Missouri have a state solar tax credit? ▼

No. Missouri does not have a state income tax credit for residential solar installations. Missouri's incentives for solar are: (1) 100% property tax exemption on the added value of solar systems; (2) utility rebates from Ameren Missouri (historically $250/kW, subject to availability); and (3) the 30% federal ITC for all Missouri residents. Missouri also does not exempt solar equipment from sales tax. Despite the lack of a state credit, Missouri's net metering law and property tax exemption make solar financially viable for many homeowners.

How does Missouri's net metering work? ▼

Missouri's net metering law (PURPA and state statute) requires electric utilities to offer net metering to customers with systems up to 100 kW. Exported solar is credited at retail rate — the same rate you pay for electricity. Credits carry forward month-to-month; at year-end, utilities may pay out remaining credits at avoided cost or carry them forward. Net metering applies to Ameren Missouri, Evergy Missouri, and Empire Electric. Rural electric cooperatives are not required to offer net metering under state law — check with your co-op directly. Missouri's net metering law does not have a sunset date, providing more policy stability than some neighboring states.

What Ameren Missouri solar rebates are available? ▼

Ameren Missouri has offered solar rebates through its renewable energy programs, historically at approximately $250/kW for residential systems. These rebates are funded through the utility's Missouri Public Service Commission-approved programs and are subject to annual funding limits. Availability changes each year — rebates may be exhausted early in popular years. Check with Ameren Missouri directly or ask your installer to confirm current rebate availability before signing a solar contract. The calculator shows $250/kW as a historical estimate; do not count on this without verification.

Is solar a good investment in Missouri? ▼

Missouri offers solid but not exceptional solar economics. With 4.5 PSH, retail-rate net metering, 100% property tax exemption, 30% federal ITC, and Ameren's potential utility rebates, a well-sized system in St. Louis or Kansas City can achieve 10-13 year payback. Missouri's tornado alley location makes battery backup appealing for storm resilience — though battery adds cost. Missouri's low electricity rates ($0.11-0.13/kWh) mean the financial case is stronger than the bill amount might suggest due to moderate payback periods. Rate increases from Ameren and Evergy in recent years have modestly improved Missouri solar economics.

What about rural Missouri and electric co-ops? ▼

Rural Missouri is served by approximately 40 electric cooperatives that are not required under state law to provide net metering. Some co-ops do offer net metering voluntarily, often at avoided cost rather than retail rate — similar to Indiana's EDG program. If you're served by a rural electric co-op, contact them directly before planning a solar installation to understand their interconnection and compensation policies. Co-op policies vary significantly: some are solar-friendly with good buyback rates; others have minimal programs. For co-op customers, maximizing self-consumption (large battery, daytime load shifting) is important to maximize solar value if export credits are below retail.

Related Calculators

Embed This Calculator

Free to embed on your website. Just copy this code:

<iframe src="https://solarsizecalculator.com/us/solar-calculator-missouri"
  width="100%" height="700" frameborder="0"
  title="Missouri Solar Calculator"></iframe>