Solar Panels Cost $11k-$23k in Howard County, IN | December, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Howard County, IN in 2024?
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The typical price per watt for solar panels in Howard County, IN in December, 2024 is $4.22/W.
Applying this rate, you can conclude that for every 1 kW (1000 watts) your system can produce you will have to invest $4,220 to have your solar system installed. After receiving the 30% federal tax credit, a 5 kW solar setup in Howard County will cost around $14,770. However, bear in mind that you may need a more extensive system to ensure your energy needs are met.
Select your county from the menu on the left to find out the average roof size and maximum residential solar capacity for homes in your area. Outlined below are the price, payback period, and 20-year average savings for a 5 kW system installed in your county.
Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.
Howard County: $14,770US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Howard County: 10 yearsUS Average: 7 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
Howard County: $8,955US Average: $16,152
Solar Potential in Howard County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Howard County.
Roof size 626sq. ft.
Capacity 8.75kW DC
Electricity 10kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Howard County, IN & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
On average, Howard County residents pay 125.23 for their electric bill each month and use 958 kWh. This number also encompasses the energy needs of apartments and smaller homes.
In December 2024, Howard County, IN's mean electricity rate amounts to 13.07¢ per kWh.
The installation of a an 8 kW solar panel system will set you back approximately $33,760 before applying incentives, but with the 30% federal tax credit, you can get 30% back, reducing the cost to $23,632.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Howard County
Below and to the left, you can find a detailed cost breakdown for different solar panel system sizes installed in Howard County. The bigger the solar array, the higher the initial expense, but also the more substantial electricity savings and income tax credits you'll get.
The solar panel cost calculator to the right and below breaks down costs and benefits, based on an average $125.23 electric bill in Howard County Easily change the $125.23 to your typical electricity bill for customized results.
System Size
Roof Size Min. space required
Electricity Value Annual Production
Est. Price
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $769 a year
Est. Price
$11,816
Savings from a 4kWthis system
Est. yearly production 5,916 kWh
Est. monthly savings $64
Full payback in 8 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 4.68 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 215 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 11,595 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $961 a year
Est. Price
$14,770
Savings from a 5kWthis system
Est. yearly production 7,395 kWh
Est. monthly savings $80
Full payback in 10 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 5.86 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 269 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 14,494 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,154 a year
Est. Price
$17,724
Savings from a 6kWthis system
Est. yearly production 8,874 kWh
Est. monthly savings $96
Full payback in 12 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 7.03 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 323 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 17,393 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,346 a year
Est. Price
$20,678
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,353 kWh
Est. monthly savings $112
Full payback in 14 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 8.2 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 377 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 20,292 mi less a year
System Size 8kW
Roof Size Min. space required
572 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,538 a year
Est. Price
$23,632
Savings from a 8kWthis system
Est. yearly production 11,832 kWh
Est. monthly savings $125
Full payback in 16 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 9.14 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 420 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 22,615 mi less a year
Howard County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
Rural farmers and small business owners could have between 80% and 100% of their solar or wind turbine installation expenses covered by the REAP Grant. Wondering if you fit this category? Verify your eligibility with our REAP Grant eligibility tool.
The 30% federal income tax credit for residential solar is accessible to nearly all homeowners, which makes solar energy a smart choice in numerous regions nationwide. On top of that, there are numerous state and local incentives to further encourage the adoption of solar energy.
Indiana has 6 solar incentive and rebate initiatives available through a variety of utilities and government agencies.
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 Howard County, IN?
If you plan to own your residence longer than the solar system's payback period, solar panels are a smart investment in Howard County. A 5 kW solar system in Howard County, IN might save you an average of $15,285.2 over 20 years, with the break even point usually being 10 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Howard County, IN
Not installing solar panels or any other backup energy system results in missing the earlier mentioned savings and full dependence on your electric utility for electricity. The news has recently proven that relying entirely on your utility provider isn't always ideal.
In recent years, customers in Howard County have typically faced 0.94 utility outages per year. The typical duration of each outage is 153.68 minutes. When significant events such as aging infrastructure, tornadoes or wildlife damage occur, these time frames can become much longer.
See the info below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Howard County.
A solar panel system, with or without a backup battery, could reduce the effects of future outages you might experience.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Howard County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Howard County, IN?
Your Energy Needs - Despite the higher initial expense, the cost per watt drops when using larger solar panel systems. For most homeowners, setting up a system that can generate enough power to eliminate their entire electric bill is advantageous, providing significant savings.
Make & Model - Solar panels, like many other products, are offered in a variety of makes and models. As the contractor might have particular system preferences, it's important to select a highly rated company. Choosing superior quality materials generally ensures a more satisfying long-term experience for the buyer.
Solar Panel Type - Monocrystalline panels are widely recognized as the standard in the industry, and for good cause. These panels are more expensive but offer a higher energy efficiency. Many installers in the industry utilize panels crafted of this material.
Your Property - Uneven ground, trees, or additional challenges can increase the difficulty of the installation. The majority of solar installers today are able to utilize satellite imagery to evaluate your home and factor in these aspects in the first cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Various wages are paid to employees by various companies, and these costs are transferred to the consumers. Higher wages often correlate with better reviews for companies' work and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Permitting and utility interconnection fees change locally and will impact your installation cost. That said, reputable local installers will be able to incorporate these numbers into your initial quotes so there are no surprises.
See what solar panels cost in other Howard County cities
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Howard County, IN Solar Panel Cost FAQs
In Howard County, IN, the mean cost per watt for solar panels as recorded in December, 2024 is $4.22/W. The installation of a 5 kW solar panel system in Howard County, IN will cost about $14,770 after federal tax credits.
Utilities and government agencies in Indiana are currently offering 6 different rebates and incentives. Furthermore, the majority of people qualify for the 30% federal tax credit.
While paying cash provides the highest savings, there are now various financing options for solar panels that are also financially advantageous. Many installers will include information about their financing partners in the initial quotes they provide.
Yes, in Howard County, IN, 5 kW solar panel systems typically pay off in 10 years, and users save around $15,285.2 in electricity costs over 20 years.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
