Solar Panels Cost $11k-$22k in St. Joseph County, IN | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in St. Joseph County, IN in 2024?
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For the month of November, 2024, the cost per watt for going solar in St. Joseph County, IN is $4.02/W, on average.
Stemming from the rate, you can come to the conclusion that for every 1 kW (1000 watts) your solar system can generate, you will need to invest $4,020 to have it installed. Typically, the expense for a 5 kW solar setup in St. Joseph County, after the 30% federal tax credit, comes to $14,070. Remember, a bigger system may be essential to ensure your energy needs are met effectively.
By selecting your county on the left, you can find out the typical roof size and the maximum capacity for residential solar on homes in your area. The following summary, below, highlights 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.
St. Joseph County: $14,070US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
St. Joseph County: 9 yearsUS Average: 7 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
St. Joseph County: $10,975US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in St. Joseph County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in St. Joseph County.
Roof size 608sq. ft.
Capacity 8.5kW DC
Electricity 9.1kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in St. Joseph County, IN & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
An energy consumer in St. Joseph County typically uses 799 kWh per month, leading to an average electric bill of 129.48. These statistics also reflects the energy consumption patterns of smaller residences, such as apartments.
In November 2024, the electricity rate in St. Joseph County, IN averages 16.21¢ per kWh.
Before incentives, an 8 kW solar installation is priced at about $32,160, with the federal tax credit providing 30% back, reducing the price to $22,512.
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Average solar panel costs by system size in St. Joseph County
To the left and below, you can find a detailed price breakdown for various solar panel system sizes installed in St. Joseph County. A bigger solar array will naturally cost more, but it will also provide higher electricity savings and increased income tax credits.
The breakdown of costs and benefits for solar panels, displayed in the calculator to the right and below, is based on an average electric bill of $129.48 in St. Joseph County. If you desire personalized results, modify the $129.48 to your average electricity bill amount.
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 $872 a year
Est. Price
$11,256
Savings from a 4kWthis system
Est. yearly production 5,451 kWh
Est. monthly savings $73
Full payback in 7 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.9 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 133 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 7,179 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,090 a year
Est. Price
$14,070
Savings from a 5kWthis system
Est. yearly production 6,814 kWh
Est. monthly savings $91
Full payback in 9 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.63 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 167 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 8,973 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,308 a year
Est. Price
$16,884
Savings from a 6kWthis system
Est. yearly production 8,177 kWh
Est. monthly savings $109
Full payback in 11 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 4.35 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 200 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 10,768 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,526 a year
Est. Price
$19,698
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 9,539 kWh
Est. monthly savings $127
Full payback in 13 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 5.08 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 233 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 12,562 mi less a year
System Size 8kW
Roof Size Min. space required
572 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,744 a year
Est. Price
$22,512
Savings from a 8kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,902 kWh
Est. monthly savings $129
Full payback in 14 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 5.15 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 236 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 12,741 mi less a year
St. Joseph County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
With the REAP Grant, up to 100% and no less than 80% of the installation costs for solar or wind turbines may be covered for rural small business owners and farmers. Curious if you fit this category? Check your eligibility with our REAP Grant eligibility tool.
For residential solar projects, most people are eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit, making solar a practical solution in numerous parts of the country. State and local efforts are also in place to enhance the growth of solar energy use.
A variety of utilities and governmental bodies in Indiana provide 6 solar rebate and incentive programs.
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 St. Joseph County, IN?
For homeowners in St. Joseph County planning to remain in their homes after the payback period for solar panels, solar energy is a smart choice. Installing a 5 kW solar system in St. Joseph County, IN will, on average, save you $17,005.2 over 20 years, and you can expect to break even in about 9 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in St. Joseph County, IN
The absence of solar panels or another backup power source means missing out on the previously highlighted savings and full dependence on your electric utility for power. As recent examples in the news have shown, total dependence on your utility provider is not always ideal.
Recently, utilities in St. Joseph County have averaged an average of 1.05 outages per customer annually. On average, an outage lasts 176.59 minutes. When major events such as construction accidents, equipment failure or earthquakes occur, these durations can increase significantly
Take a look at the info below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in St. Joseph County.
A solar energy system, with or without a backup battery, could help reduce the effects of any future power interruptions you might experience.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in St. Joseph County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in St. Joseph County, IN?
Your Energy Needs - Even if the initial expense is greater, the price per watt decreases with larger solar panel systems. Consumers often find that setting up a solar system that can fully cover their electric bill is extremely useful. This method leads to greater savings.
Make & Model - There are a variety of makes and models of solar panels. Because the installer you select might have specific brand preferences, choosing a reputable installer is especially important. For consumers wanting a superior long-term experience, opting for better quality models is important.
Solar Panel Type - Monocrystalline panels have earned their place as the standard in the industry, and for valid reasons. Although the cost is higher, they provide more energy. The majority of installers use these panels.
Your Property - Every home and property differs in its own way. Challenges like sloped land, trees, or other hindrances can increase the difficulty of installing solar panels. Many solar installers now are able to leverage satellite imagery to evaluate your home and incorporate these factors in the preliminary cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Employees get varying wages from different companies, and these costs are handed down to the consumers. Companies that invest in higher wages usually see higher reviews for their services and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Your final installation price will be influenced by the permitting and utility interconnection fees, which vary by area. Good local installers will build these figures into your preliminary estimates to eliminate any surprises.
See what solar panels cost in other St. Joseph County cities
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St. Joseph County, IN Solar Panel Cost FAQs
The average solar panel cost in St. Joseph County, IN as of November, 2024 is estimated at $4.02/W. After federal tax credits, the installation of a 5 kW solar panel system in St. Joseph County, IN is estimated to cost $14,070.
There are 6 rebates and incentives available in Indiana from a range of utility providers and government organizations. On top of that, most individuals are eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit.
Cash payments provide the greatest savings, but numerous financing options for solar panels that are financially advantageous are now available. Many installers work with financing partners and will include this information in your initial quotes.
Yes, the typical payback time for 5 kW solar panel systems in St. Joseph County, IN is 9 years, and the expected electricity cost savings over 20 years is $17,005.2.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
