Solar Panels Cost $17k-$28k in Decatur County, IN | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Decatur County, IN in 2024?
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The typical cost per watt of solar in Decatur County, IN in November, 2024 is $4.13/W.
It will cost $4,130, on average, per 1000 watts (1 kW) of capacounty that your solar panels have. After applying the 30% federal tax credit, a 5 kW solar panel system in Decatur County typically costs $14,455. To fully meet your energy requirements, you may require more than a 5kW system.
Use the left-hand menu to select your area and find the typical roof size and the maximum capacity for solar panel systems on homes in your county. Below, you can see an outline of the costs, payback period and 20 year average savings for a 5 kW system in your county.
Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.
Decatur County: $14,455US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Decatur County: 6 yearsUS Average: 7 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
Decatur County: $25,236US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Decatur County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Decatur County.
Roof size 733sq. ft.
Capacity 10.25kW DC
Electricity 11.9kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Decatur County, IN & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
Energy consumers in Decatur County generally pay 191.19 per month for electricity, using an typical of 1,218 kWh. Smaller units, such as efficiencies and condos, are also covered by the statistics mentioned in the earlier sentence.
The electricity rate per kWh in Decatur County, IN for November 2024 averages 15.69¢.
The initial cost for a 10 kW solar system amounts to $41,300, but after a 30% tax credit, your cost is reduced to $28,910.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Decatur County
On the left side below, you'll find the pricing details for multiple sizes of the solar panel systems set up in Decatur County. A larger solar array will obviously cost more, but it will also provide higher electricity savings and more substantial income tax credits.
The cost and benefit breakdown for solar panels, shown in the calculator down and to the right, is based on an average electric bill of $191.19 in Decatur County. Easily replace the $191.19 with your usual electricity bill amount to see more specific results.
System Size
Roof Size Min. space required
Electricity Value Annual Production
Est. Price
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,420 a year
Est. Price
$17,346
Savings from a 6kWthis system
Est. yearly production 8,874 kWh
Est. monthly savings $118
Full payback in 8 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 5.7 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 262 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 14,102 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,656 a year
Est. Price
$20,237
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,353 kWh
Est. monthly savings $138
Full payback in 9 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 6.65 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 305 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 16,453 mi less a year
System Size 8kW
Roof Size Min. space required
572 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,893 a year
Est. Price
$23,128
Savings from a 8kWthis system
Est. yearly production 11,832 kWh
Est. monthly savings $158
Full payback in 10 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 7.6 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 349 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 18,803 mi less a year
System Size 9kW
Roof Size Min. space required
644 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,130 a year
Est. Price
$26,019
Savings from a 9kWthis system
Est. yearly production 13,311 kWh
Est. monthly savings $177
Full payback in 11 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 8.55 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 393 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 21,153 mi less a year
System Size 10kW
Roof Size Min. space required
715 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,366 a year
Est. Price
$28,910
Savings from a 10kWthis system
Est. yearly production 14,790 kWh
Est. monthly savings $191
Full payback in 13 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 9.2 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 422 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 22,765 mi less a year
Decatur County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
The REAP Grant offers substantial financial support, potentially covering 80% to 100% of the costs for rural businesses and farmlands to install solar or wind energy systems. Curious about your eligibility? Use our REAP Grant eligibility tool to find out.
For those looking into residential solar, the 30% federal income tax credit is accessible to most people, making solar a sensible option in numerous states. Besides the federal incentives, state and local programs also seek to boost solar energy uptake.
A total of 6 solar rebates and incentives are available in Indiana through different utility companies and government organizations.
Solar incentives in INIncentive Description Value
Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption
Value:Varies
Property tax exemptions apply in Indiana for solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric power and thermal devices. (Solar devices installed before January 1, 2012 do not qualify for an exemption.) For most generation systems, exemptions will amount to the currently assessed value of the system (adjusted for depreciation.) Solar thermal, HVAC, or pool heating systems will be exempted at a fixed amount equal to parts and labor costs. Unique to Indiana, should the owner sell their property, exemptions will not apply to the new owner. Qualifying taxpayers may claim the exemption by filing Form 18865 with their county. Additional information is available from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance website.
Community Conservation Challenge
Value:Varies
NOTE: This program is closed to new applicants. Indiana's Community Conservation Challenge is a grant program managed by the Office of Energy Development. Commercial, industrial, or agricultural property owners may be eligible for $20,000 - $80,000 to install new renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. Projects that may qualify for funding include green vehicles, HVAC, lighting, solar PV/thermal systems, and wind turbines. At least one community must partner with the property owner, and the completed project should be visible to the public eye. Additional information is available from the OED website.
NIPSCO - Feed-In Tariff
Value:Varies
NIPSCO pays feed-in tariffs to distributed renewable energy customers with systems rated for 3 kilowatts to one megawatt of capacity. Monthly compensation will take the form of a bill credit based on the amount of excess energy sent back to the grid. Unlike net metering, NIPSCO has greater control over how much of a customer's generated energy can be considered "excess." This control is to keep the grid stable. Customers must "opt in" to receive tariffs by filling out an application on the NIPSCO website and paying an administration fee based on system capacity; the current fee is $1 per kilowatt plus $25.
Clean Energy Portfolio Standard
Value:Varies
Indiana has adopted a non-binding renewable portfolio standard called the CHOICE. There have been three clean energy targets set with the final goal of sourcing 10% of the state's energy from renewable sources by 2025. Unique to the CHOICE standard, up to 30% of investments can be in cleaner conventional energy (natural gas, CHP, and clean coal). Participation in the CHOICE is completely voluntary. Interested utilities can register with the state's Utility Regulatory Commission to submit business and project plans. As a utility makes CHOICE investments, they will earn Clean Energy Credits pegging energy capacity to a fixed dollar value. Additional information is available from the CHOICE website.
City of Bloomington - Sustainable Development Incentives
Value:Varies
Special administrative incentives may apply to new construction in Bloomington, IN if it meets certain green building standards. The city has established standards across four areas, including energy efficiency, landscape/water efficiency, public policy (specifically promoting alternative vehicles), and public transportation. Buildings meeting certain minimum quotas for projects in the goal areas may qualify for permit fee waivers and less strict setback requirements. Additional information is available from the Bloomington city website.
City of Indianapolis - Green Building Incentive Program
Value:Varies
Special permitting privileges may apply to new projects in Indianapolis or greater Marion County if designers adhere to certain energy efficiency standards. Qualifying structures should either use on-site solar panels/small wind equipment or be ASHRAE 90.1 certified. Appliances, lighting, and HVAC systems used should be ENERGY STAR certified. Once the builder applies for permits, the structure will be ranked across six sustainability criteria. If it passes minimum standards on at least half of the criteria, 30% of the total permit fees will be refunded. For each additional criterion, another 10% will be added to the total rebate. Additional information is available from the Indianapolis city website.
Are solar panels worth it in Decatur County, IN?
For those in Decatur County planning to stay in their homes past the payback period of their solar system, solar panels make good sense. With a 5 kW solar system in Decatur County, IN, the average savings over a 20 period is $31,430.6, with break even generally occurring at 6 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Decatur County, IN
Beyond forgoing the savings, the absence of solar panels or another backup energy source results in full dependence on your electric utility for your power needs. As shown by recent news stories, complete dependence on your utility company isn't always ideal.
Lately, customers in Decatur County have faced an average of 0.92 utility outages each year. Typically, outages have an average duration of 106.33 minutes. However, during significant events such as aging infrastructure, tornadoes or planned maintenance, these times can drastically increase.
Take a look at the info below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Decatur County.
Whether or not a backup battery is present, a solar panel system could help ease the impact of future power outages you might experience.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Decatur County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Decatur County, IN?
Your Energy Needs - The upfront cost for larger solar panel systems is higher, but the cost per watt decreases as the system size grows. Setting up a solar system that makes sufficient electricity to eliminate their electric bill is beneficial to most individuals, ensuring savings.
Make & Model - There are a variety of makes and models of solar panels. The potential system preferences of your installer mean that it is it's even more necessary to choose a reputable contractor. For a more favorable long-term experience, buyers should opt for superior quality equipment.
Solar Panel Type - The industry standard is now monocrystalline panels, and rightly so. They have a higher price, but they produce more energy. Most solar panel installers choose this type of material.
Your Property - Each property and home is one of a kind. Uneven ground, trees, or other hindrances can increase the difficulty of installing solar panels. These days, most solar installers are able to utilize satellite images to evaluate your home and include these factors for the initial cost estimate.
Labor Rates - The wages that companies pay their employees differ, and these costs are inevitably reflected in consumer prices. Higher reviews for work and customer service are generally associated with businesses that pay higher wages.
Permitting & Interconnection - Local permitting and utility interconnection fees, which vary by region, will impact your final installation cost. Reputable local installers will include these figures in your initial estimates to ensure transparency.
See what solar panels cost in other Decatur County cities
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Decatur County, IN Solar Panel Cost FAQs
The cost per watt for solar panels in Decatur County, IN during November of 2024 averages $4.13/W. Post federal tax credit, a 5 kW solar panel system installation in Decatur County, IN will roughly cost $14,455.
Currently, Indiana residents can benefit from 6 rebates and incentives available through various utilities and government bodies. Moreover, nearly everyone is eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit.
Opting to pay in cash provides the highest savings, but there are now multiple financing options for solar panels that make financial sense. Initial quotes from installers will frequently detail information about available financing options.
Yes, the average 5 kW solar panel payback time in Decatur County, IN is 6 years, with expected savings of $31,430.6 on electricity over 20 years.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
