Solar Panels Cost $13k-$25k in Orange County, IN | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Orange County, IN in 2024?
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In November, 2024, the current price per watt for solar in Orange County, IN is $3.97/W.
According to this cost per watt, you should expect the price to be $3,970, on average, for every 1000 watts (or 1 kW) of solar energy your solar panel system will need to generate. In Orange County, the cost of a 5 kW panel install is typically $13,895, after the 30% federal tax credit. Don't overlook, a higher capacity system might be required to meet your energy needs.
Select your county from the menu on the left to view the average roof size and maximum residential solar capacity for homes in your area. Below, you can see a full breakdown of the price, 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.
Orange County: $13,895US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Orange County: 7 yearsUS Average: 7 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
Orange County: $19,992US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Orange County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Orange County.
Roof size 733sq. ft.
Capacity 10.25kW DC
Electricity 11.9kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Orange County, IN & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
Energy consumers in Orange County generally pay 166.01 per month for electricity, consuming an typical of 1,063 kWh. Bear in mind that this data includes data from both apartments and smaller homes with lower energy usage.
The average electricity rate in Orange County, IN in November 2024 is 15.62¢ per kWh.
Upfront, a 9 kW solar system will cost approximately $35,730, after the 30% federal tax credit, the total comes down to $25,011.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Orange County
Shown on the left, you will find a cost summary for different solar panel system sizes installed in Orange County. A larger solar array will naturally cost more, but it will also yield higher electricity savings and increased income tax credits.
The solar panel cost and benefit breakdown, shown in the calculator below and to the right, is based on an average electric bill of $166.01 in Orange County. Simply replace the $166.01 with your typical electricity bill amount to see more specific results.
System Size
Roof Size Min. space required
Electricity Value Annual Production
Est. Price
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,183 a year
Est. Price
$13,895
Savings from a 5kWthis system
Est. yearly production 7,395 kWh
Est. monthly savings $99
Full payback in 7 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 5.49 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 252 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 13,580 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,420 a year
Est. Price
$16,674
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 6.58 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 302 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 16,296 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,656 a year
Est. Price
$19,453
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,353 kWh
Est. monthly savings $138
Full payback in 10 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 7.68 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 353 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 19,012 mi less a year
System Size 8kW
Roof Size Min. space required
572 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,893 a year
Est. Price
$22,232
Savings from a 8kWthis system
Est. yearly production 11,832 kWh
Est. monthly savings $158
Full payback in 11 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 8.78 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 403 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 21,729 mi less a year
System Size 9kW
Roof Size Min. space required
644 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,130 a year
Est. Price
$25,011
Savings from a 9kWthis system
Est. yearly production 13,311 kWh
Est. monthly savings $166
Full payback in 13 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 9.24 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 424 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 22,864 mi less a year
Orange County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
The REAP Grant can potentially cover between 80% and 100% of the installation costs for solar energy or wind turbines for rural small businesses and agricultural businesses. If you feel you might be eligible, try our REAP Grant eligibility tool to confirm your qualification.
Homeowners can benefit from a 30% federal income tax credit for installing residential solar panels, making solar power a feasible option in much of the country. A number of state and local programs are set up to enhance the adoption of solar energy.
There are 6 solar incentive and rebate programs in Indiana, provided by different utilities and governmental 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 Orange County, IN?
If your plan is to stay in your home past the time it takes to pay off your solar system, opting for solar panels is a smart move in Orange County. Installing a 5 kW solar system in Orange County, IN will, on average, save you $25,947.4 over 20 years, and you can expect to break even in about 7 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Orange County, IN
In addition to missing out on the savings mentioned previously, not installing solar panels or another form of backup power leaves you completely dependent on your electric utility. Full reliance on your utility isn't always the best scenario as the news has recently highlighted.
Customers in Orange County encounter roughly 0.94 outages per year. Each outage lasts an average of 107.47 minutes. In the case of major events such as heavy rain and flooding, wildlife damage, or grid management errors, this period can increase substantially.
View the component below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Orange County.
A solar panel system, with or without a backup battery, could help mitigate the effects of future outages you might encounter.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Orange County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Orange County, IN?
Your Energy Needs - Even though larger solar panel systems are more expensive initially, the average price per watt reduces as the system size increases. Consumers often find that setting up a solar system to fully cover their electric bill is a smart choice, leading to the most savings.
Make & Model - There are a variety of makes and models of solar panels. The contractor’s preference for brand makes it essential to select a recommended installer. Better makes and models typically provide an enhanced long-term experience for the buyer.
Solar Panel Type - There's a good reason why monocrystalline panels are now considered the industry standard. They have a higher price, but they produce more energy. Many solar panel installers prefer this type of material.
Your Property - No two properties or homes are identical. Rough terrain, trees, or additional considerations can increase the difficulty of the installation. Solar installers today frequently utilize satellite imagery to evaluate your home and factor in these factors into the preliminary cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Various wages are offered to employees by various companies, and these costs are transferred to the consumers. Higher wages often lead to businesses getting better reviews for their services and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Local permitting and utility level interconnection fees differ by area and will affect your final install price. 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 Orange County cities
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Who are the best solar installers in Orange County?
Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
Consulting on all things solar related.
Orange County, IN Solar Panel Cost FAQs
As of November, 2024, the average cost for solar panels in Orange County, IN is $3.97/W. After the federal tax credit, the estimated cost for a 5 kW solar panel system in Orange County, IN is roughly $13,895.
At present, there are 6 rebates and incentives available to Indiana residents from various utility and government programs. Moreover, nearly everyone is eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit.
Choosing to pay cash offers the most savings, but today there are numerous financing options for solar panels that are also financially advantageous. Your preliminary quotes will usually contain financing options available through installers.
Yes, homeowners in Orange County, IN generally see a payback time of 7 years for 5 kW solar panel systems, with electricity savings averaging $25,947.4 over a 20-year period.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
