Solar Panels Cost $19k-$31k in Washington County, IN | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Washington County, IN in 2024?
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In Washington County, IN in November, 2024, the current cost per watt of going solar is at $4.04/W
Stemming from this price per watt, you can come to the conclusion that for every 1 kW (1000 watts) of solar power capacounty will cost you $4,040 for installation. A 5 kW system in Washington County will generally cost you $14,140 after the 30% federal tax credit is applied. Please consider, a 5kW system may not be sufficient to fully meet your energy demands.
To the left, you can choose your county to view the average roof size and the maximum capacity of solar panel systems for houses in your area. Find below a detailed overview of the {price|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.
Washington County: $14,140US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Washington 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.
Washington County: $28,890US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Washington County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Washington County.
Roof size 733sq. ft.
Capacity 10.25kW DC
Electricity 11.9kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Washington County, IN & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
For Washington County residents, the average monthly kWh usage is 1,282, with an average electric bill of 204.54. Smaller homes, including micro-apartments, are also included in the statistics noted in the previous sentence.
The rate of electricity in Washington County, IN, averaging, is 15.95¢ per kWh for November 2024.
Putting in a an 11 kW solar system will cost around $44,440 upfront, but with the 30% federal tax credit, you can get a 30% credit, reducing the cost to $31,108.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Washington County
On the left, you will find a breakdown of prices for different solar panel system sizes installed in Washington County. Even though a more extensive solar installation carries a greater cost, it also yields higher electricity savings and larger income tax credits.
The solar panel cost and benefit breakdown, visible in the calculator to the right and below, is based on an average electric bill of $204.54 in Washington County. If you want more personalized results, just adjust the $204.54 to whatever your typical electricity bill is.
System Size
Roof Size Min. space required
Electricity Value Annual Production
Est. Price
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,656 a year
Est. Price
$19,796
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,353 kWh
Est. monthly savings $138
Full payback in 8 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 6.22 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 286 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 15,395 mi less a year
System Size 8kW
Roof Size Min. space required
572 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,893 a year
Est. Price
$22,624
Savings from a 8kWthis system
Est. yearly production 11,832 kWh
Est. monthly savings $158
Full payback in 9 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 7.11 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 326 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 17,595 mi less a year
System Size 9kW
Roof Size Min. space required
644 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,130 a year
Est. Price
$25,452
Savings from a 9kWthis system
Est. yearly production 13,311 kWh
Est. monthly savings $177
Full payback in 10 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 8 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 367 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 19,794 mi less a year
System Size 10kW
Roof Size Min. space required
715 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,366 a year
Est. Price
$28,280
Savings from a 10kWthis system
Est. yearly production 14,790 kWh
Est. monthly savings $197
Full payback in 12 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 8.89 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 408 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 21,994 mi less a year
System Size 11kW
Roof Size Min. space required
787 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,603 a year
Est. Price
$31,108
Savings from a 11kWthis system
Est. yearly production 16,269 kWh
Est. monthly savings $205
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
Washington County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
Rural entrepreneurs and farmers might find that the REAP Grant pays for 80% to 100% of their costs when installing solar energy or wind energy systems. Think you fit the criteria? Confirm your eligibility with our REAP Grant eligibility tool.
For those looking into residential solar, the 30% federal income tax credit is available to most people, making solar a practical option in various states. A multitude of state and local programs are in place to encourage the use of solar energy.
Indiana residents have access to 6 solar rebate and incentive initiatives from multiple utilities and governmental 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 Washington County, IN?
If you expect to own your residence longer than the solar system's payback period, solar panels are a good investment in Washington County. By installing a 5 kW solar system in Washington County, IN, you can expect to save approximately $34,949.6 over 20 years, with the break even point typically being 6 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Washington County, IN
Opting not to install solar panels or a separate backup energy solution results in you missing out on the savings noted earlier and makes you fully reliant on your electric utility for electricity. As we've seen in numerous recent news reports, complete reliance on your utility is not always ideal.
Residents in Washington County have encountered around 1.37 outages per year on average. On average, an outage lasts 126.94 minutes. Major events such as winter storms, equipment failure, or construction accidents can significantly extend these time frames.
Take a look at the component below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Washington County.
Whether featuring a backup battery or not, a solar panel system can help alleviate the stress of possible future outages.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Washington County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Washington County, IN?
Your Energy Needs - Investing in larger solar panel systems costs more upfront, but the price per watt is reduced as the system size grows. Many consumers realize it's a good idea to set up a solar system that can produce enough power to fully cover their electric bill, because it helps them reduce costs.
Make & Model - Solar panels and mounting equipment are available in a range of makes and models. It's important to choose a highly rated contractor, considering the brand preferences that contractors may have. Buyers often find that using better quality equipment leads to a more satisfactory long-term experience.
Solar Panel Type - The industry standard is now monocrystalline panels, and for good reason. Although they are pricier, they provide increased energy. The majority of installers utilize panels made from this material.
Your Property - Each property and home presents unique challenges. Irregular terrain, trees, or other obstructions may complicate the installation process. These days, the majority of solar installers can assess your home with satellite images and incorporate these considerations in the first cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Different companies have varying pay scales for their employees, and these costs are ultimately borne by consumers. It is often observed that businesses with higher wages garner superior reviews for their work and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Your final installation price will be impacted by the permitting and utility interconnection fees, which differ by area. Quality local installers will incorporate these figures into your preliminary estimates to avoid any surprises.
See what solar panels cost in other Washington County cities
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Washington County, IN Solar Panel Cost FAQs
The typical cost per watt for solar panels in Washington County, IN as of November, 2024 is $4.04/W. After federal tax credits, the installation of a 5 kW solar panel system in Washington County, IN is estimated to cost $14,140.
There are 6 rebates and incentives available in Indiana from a range of utility providers and government organizations. Also, nearly everyone can take advantage of the 30% federal tax credit.
Paying cash offers the most savings, but there are now numerous financing options for solar panels that are also cost-effective. Information about financing options is typically detailed in initial quotes provided by installers.
Yes, the payback period for 5 kW solar energy systems in Washington County, IN averages 6 years, with electricity savings of about $34,949.6 over 20 years.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
