Home›US›Nebraska Solar Calculator

Nebraska Solar Calculator

Nebraska is 100% public power — OPPD, LES, and NPPD set their own solar policies. Enter your bill to see 30% ITC savings plus Dollar & Energy Saving Loan financing on Nebraska's strong 4.8 PSH resource.

Your Nebraska solar inputs
$
kW
Nebraska solar estimate
20 × 400W panels (8 kW system)
Recommended size for your bill: 8.7 kW
Monthly usage1,000 kWh/mo
Annual production (NE 4.8 PSH)11,213 kWh/yr
Annual savings (net metering)$1,233/yr
Gross system cost$22,800
Federal ITC (30%)-$6,840
Net cost after ITC$15,960
Payback period12.9 yrs
25-year savings$30,835
NE is 100% public power — verify net metering terms with your specific utility. 30% federal ITC applies. Dollar & Energy Saving Loans from OPPD and LES offer below-market solar financing. No NE state solar income tax credit. Excellent 4.8 PSH sun resource.
Link copied to clipboard

How to Use This Calculator

Nebraska: the nation's only 100% public power state

Nebraska is unique in the United States — it is the only state where all electricity is supplied by publicly-owned utilities. There are no investor-owned utilities (IOUs) in Nebraska. OPPD (Omaha Public Power District), LES (Lincoln Electric System), and NPPD (Nebraska Public Power District, the statewide wholesale utility) are all publicly owned. This is important for solar because statewide net metering mandates typically apply to investor-owned utilities — in Nebraska, each public power district sets its own solar interconnection policy. The result: net metering availability varies significantly across the state.

Enter your bill and select your Nebraska utility

OPPD serves Omaha and surrounding Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington counties — it is the largest Nebraska utility with an established solar program and net metering at retail rates. LES serves Lincoln and has a solar interconnection program with net metering. Rural areas are typically served by NPPD-affiliated public power districts and cooperatives — each with their own policies. Enter your monthly bill, select your utility, and the calculator shows production, savings, and financing options including Dollar and Energy Saving Loans.

Dollar and Energy Saving Loans: below-market solar financing

Nebraska's public power utilities, through the Nebraska Energy Office, offer Dollar and Energy Saving Loans for residential energy improvements including solar panels. These loans typically carry interest rates of 5-6%, significantly below market rates for personal loans or unsecured financing. For a $16,000 net cost after ITC (typical for an 8 kW Nebraska system), a Dollar and Energy Saving Loan at 5.5% versus the 8% market rate saves approximately $375/year in interest over a 5-year loan term. Contact your specific public power district to verify current program availability, loan limits, and application process.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ Electricity Rate Annual Production = System kW × 1000 × 4.8 PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency ÷ 1000 Self-consumed kWh = Annual Production × 0.65 Exported kWh = Annual Production − Self-consumed kWh Annual Savings = Self-consumed × Rate + Exported × Rate (OPPD/LES) or × Rate × 0.80 (rural) Gross Cost = System kW × 1000 × $2.85/W + Battery ($12,000 if added) ITC Credit = Gross Cost × 30% Net Cost = Gross Cost − ITC Payback = Net Cost ÷ Annual Savings Dollar & Energy Loan Savings = Net Cost × ~2.5% rate benefit (est.)

Nebraska averages 4.8 peak sun hours — strong Great Plains solar resource similar to neighboring Kansas. Western Nebraska (Scottsbluff, North Platte) often exceeds 5.0 PSH. Omaha and Lincoln average 4.7-4.8 PSH; central Nebraska around Grand Island averages 4.8 PSH. Nebraska's $2.85/W installation cost is near the national average. The main financial challenge is Nebraska's $0.10-0.11/kWh electricity rate — among the lowest in the nation — which extends payback periods.

Example

Jim — Omaha OPPD customer

Jim is in Omaha on OPPD paying $110/month at $0.11/kWh. He installs an 8 kW system and uses a Dollar and Energy Saving Loan to reduce upfront cost.

Monthly bill$110 (OPPD, $0.11/kWh)
System8 kW, no battery
LocationOmaha, NE (4.8 PSH)

Result

Annual production (4.8 PSH)~13,406 kWh/yr
Annual savings (OPPD retail net metering)~$1,475/yr
Gross system cost~$22,800
Federal ITC (30%)-$6,840
Nebraska state creditNone
Net cost after ITC~$15,960
Dollar and Energy Loan interest savings (5yr est.)~$1,994 vs market rate
Payback period~10.8 years
25-year savings~$36,875

Jim's Omaha OPPD system benefits from retail-rate net metering — every kWh of solar production earns the full $0.11/kWh rate. The Dollar and Energy Saving Loan reduces his effective financing cost, saving approximately $1,994 in interest over 5 years compared to a market-rate personal loan. Despite Nebraska's low electricity rate, the strong 4.8 PSH sun resource and 30% ITC make the economics work. Nebraska's public power utilities tend to have stable, predictable rate structures — making long-term solar savings projections more reliable than in states with volatile IOU pricing.

FAQ

Nebraska is the only state in the US where all electricity is supplied by publicly-owned utilities. In 1930, Nebraska passed a law allowing counties to form public power districts, and by the 1940s, private utilities had been bought out. There are no investor-owned utilities (IOUs). For solar, this matters because statewide net metering mandates typically regulate IOUs — in Nebraska, each public power district sets its own solar policies through its board of directors (elected locally). OPPD's board has approved retail net metering. LES has an interconnection program. Rural boards vary widely — some are progressive on solar, some are not. The public ownership model means policy changes require board votes, not regulatory filings.
The Dollar and Energy Saving Loans program is offered by participating Nebraska public power utilities through the Nebraska Energy Office. These are low-interest loans for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements, including solar panels. Key features: interest rates typically 5-6% (below market personal loan rates of 8-12%); loan amounts typically up to $15,000-25,000 for residential solar; loan terms typically 5-15 years. The loans reduce upfront capital requirements while maintaining full eligibility for the federal ITC. Contact your specific public power district (OPPD, LES, or your rural district) to verify current program availability, loan limits, and interest rates.
Net metering in Nebraska varies by utility because each public power district sets its own policies. OPPD (Omaha) offers a net metering program with retail-rate credits for systems up to 25 kW. LES (Lincoln) offers a solar interconnection program with net metering. Rural NPPD-affiliated districts vary significantly — some offer retail-rate net metering, others offer only avoided cost (~$0.03-0.06/kWh), and some have limited interconnection programs. There is no statewide net metering mandate because Nebraska's publicly-owned utilities are not subject to the IOU regulations that typically require net metering. Always verify current policy with your specific public power district before installing.
No. Nebraska does not offer a state income tax credit for residential solar installations. The 30% federal ITC is the primary incentive. Dollar and Energy Saving Loans provide below-market financing. Nebraska's 4.8 PSH sun resource is strong — the Great Plains location provides excellent production similar to Kansas. The lack of a state credit and variable net metering policies are the main limitations compared to neighboring Iowa (which has a 15% state credit) and Kansas. Nebraska's electricity rates ($0.10-0.11/kWh) are among the lowest nationally, reflecting the efficiency of publicly-owned power systems — but this also means longer payback periods for solar.
OPPD (Omaha Public Power District) is the largest Nebraska utility, serving approximately 880,000 people in the Omaha metropolitan area including Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington counties. LES (Lincoln Electric System) serves Lincoln (pop. 290,000) and surrounding Lancaster County. NPPD (Nebraska Public Power District) is the statewide wholesale utility — it generates power and sells to approximately 86 retail public power districts and cooperatives across Nebraska. These retail districts include Grand Island Utilities, Hastings Utilities, Kearney Utilities, North Platte, and dozens of rural cooperatives and public power districts. Each retail utility sets its own solar interconnection policy. Contact your local public power district's interconnection department before contracting with a solar installer.

Related Calculators

☀ Kansas Solar Calculator
Similar Great Plains sun resource with investor-owned utility net metering mandate.
🌿 Iowa Solar Calculator
Neighboring Iowa with 15% state credit — the strongest Midwest incentive stack.
💰 Federal ITC Calculator
Calculate your exact 30% federal solar tax credit — Nebraska's primary incentive.
📈 Solar Savings Calculator
25-year savings with rate escalation — Nebraska public power rates are stable but will rise.

Embed This Calculator

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

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