Solar Panels Cost $0k-$0k in Norman County, MN | November, 2024
High Power Bills?
Reduce or replace your electricity bill with solar
No data available
How much do solar panels cost in Norman County, MN in 2024?
No data available
The typical cost per watt of solar in Norman County, MN in November, 2024 is estimated at $0/W.
Applying the cost per watt, solar panels will cost you about $0 per 1K (or 1000 watts) of production capacounty. On average, the cost for a 5 kW system in Norman County, after the 30% federal tax credit, comes to $0. Don't overlook, a bigger system may be needed to satisfy your energy demands.
By selecting your county on the left, you can find out the average roof size and the average maximum capacity for residential solar panel systems in your area. You can review the price, payback period, and 20-year average savings for a 5 kW system in your county below.
Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.
Norman County: $0US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Norman County: 0 yearsUS Average: 7 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
Norman County: $49,217US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Norman County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Norman County.
Roof size 724sq. ft.
Capacity 10.13kW DC
Electricity 11.5kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Norman County, MN & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
The average monthly electric bill for Norman County residents is 205.07, with an average usage of 1,585 kWh. Smaller homes, such as apartments, are also encompassed in the numbers noted in the previous sentence.
The rate of electricity in Norman County, MN, averaging, is 12.94¢ per kWh for November 2024.
The upfront cost for a 14 kW solar panel system is $0, but with a 30% tax credit, your total comes down to $0.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Norman County
On the left side below, you can find a detailed cost breakdown for various solar panel system sizes set up in Norman County. A more extensive solar array will obviously cost more, but it will also offer more significant electricity savings and higher income tax credits.
The cost-benefit analysis for solar panels, presented in the calculator below and to the right, is based on an average electric bill of $205.07 in Norman County. To achieve personalized results, alter the $205.07 to align with your usual electricity payment.
System Size
Roof Size Min. space required
Electricity Value Annual Production
Est. Price
System Size 10kW
Roof Size Min. space required
715 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,883 a year
Est. Price
$0
Savings from a 10kWthis system
Est. yearly production 14,487 kWh
Est. monthly savings $157
Full payback in 0 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.01 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 138 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 7,441 mi less a year
System Size 11kW
Roof Size Min. space required
787 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,072 a year
Est. Price
$0
Savings from a 11kWthis system
Est. yearly production 15,936 kWh
Est. monthly savings $173
Full payback in 0 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.31 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 152 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 8,185 mi less a year
System Size 12kW
Roof Size Min. space required
858 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,260 a year
Est. Price
$0
Savings from a 12kWthis system
Est. yearly production 17,385 kWh
Est. monthly savings $188
Full payback in 0 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.61 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 166 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 8,929 mi less a year
System Size 13kW
Roof Size Min. space required
930 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,448 a year
Est. Price
$0
Savings from a 13kWthis system
Est. yearly production 18,834 kWh
Est. monthly savings $204
Full payback in 0 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.91 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 179 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 9,673 mi less a year
System Size 14kW
Roof Size Min. space required
1,001 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,637 a year
Est. Price
$0
Savings from a 14kWthis system
Est. yearly production 20,282 kWh
Est. monthly savings $205
Full payback in 0 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.93 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 180 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 9,719 mi less a year
Norman County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
Rural small businesses and farms can benefit from the REAP Grant, which may cover between 80% and 100% of your solar energy or wind turbine installation costs. To determine your eligibility, use our REAP Grant eligibility tool.
Almost all residents are eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit for residential solar, which makes it a feasible option in various states in the country. A variety of regional and state programs are available to encourage solar energy adoption.
There are 20 solar rebate and incentive programs currently offered in Minnesota by multiple utilities and government bodies.
Solar incentives in MNIncentive Description Value
Rochester Public Utilities - Solar Rebate Program
Value:Up to $500
Residential and business customers of RPU, the municipal electric utility for the city of Rochester, may be entitled to rebates on new solar photovoltaic devices and components. New system installations will yield a $500 incentive regardless of their rated capacity. Systems should meet all city, state, and federal standards and be interconnected to the grid under a net metering contract. To apply, customers must first schedule an energy audit to verify quantitative efficiency improvement. Additional information is available from the RPU website.
Owatanna Public Utilities - Solar Rebate Program
Value:Up to $500
Commercial and residential customers of OPU, the municipal power utility for the city of Owatonna, may be entitled to rebates on solar PV systems and water heaters. Rebates add to existing federal tax incentives. New PV installations will yield a $500 rebate regardless of their rated capacity. Water heaters yield a rebate based on the area of the panels; the current rate is $15 per square foot. To qualify, systems should meet all city, state, and federal standards and be interconnected to the grid under a net metering contract. Interested customers should schedule an energy audit with an OPU participating solar contractor.
Marshall Municipal Utilities - Solar Thermal Water Heater Rebate Program
Value:Up to $2,000
Residential customers of MMU, the municipal utility for the city of Marshall, may be eligible for special rebates on new solar water heaters. The incentive amount will depend on the physical size of the solar panels. Currently, MMU will pay $20 per square foot up to $2,000. Rebates add to state-level tax credits and exemptions. Additional information is available from the MMU website.
Austin Utilities - Solar Rebate Program
Value:Up to $1
Residential and commercial customers of AU, the municipal electric utility for the city of Austin, may be eligible for rebates on new solar PV systems and water heaters. Qualifying systems should meet all state and federal standards, be installed by a certified solar contractor, and be interconnected to the grid under a net metering arrangement. Should a system meet these qualifications, owners can earn a rebate of $500 for PV or $15/square foot of water heater collector area. Application forms are available from the AU website.
Minnesota Power - SolarSense Solar Rebate Program
Value:Up to $10,000
Minnesota Power customers may be entitled to rebates on new solar photovoltaic systems. To qualify, a system must meet all state and federal standards, be installed by a certified solar contractor, and be interconnected to the grid under a net metering contract. The incentive amount is determined through an NREL tool which considers the system's rated capacity and other design characteristics. Current rates are 56 cents/estimated kilowatt hour of production in the first year of the system's use. Minnesota Power must preapprove all incentives. Customers must therefore apply for the rebate before purchasing their system. Additional information is available from the website.
Value of Solar Tariff
Value:Varies
Net metering in Minnesota is set to be replaced by a Value of Solar (VOST) tariff program standardized by the Department of Commerce. No utility has implemented such a program as of 2021, though Xcel Energy is exploring retail-rate tariffs in a similar vein to VOST. VOST operates as an "inflow-outflow" program. Customers are technically billed for all electricity they generate, including excess generation (EG) sent to the grid. Rather than paying for all generated energy, however, they will only owe the cost of their "nettable energy" in that cycle. Nettable energy is equal to total power generated at the standard billed cost minus EG at a different "credit rate." As with net metering, should generation exceed consumption, the remaining credits will be applied to subsequent cycles. VOST contracts last for 20 years; credit rates are fixed for the length of the contract. "Virtual VOST" provisions exist to compensate microgrid subscribers in proportion.
Farm Opportunities Loan Program
Value:Varies
New sustainable farm equipment may be eligible for special financing through Minnesota's Farm Opportunity Loan Program. The program is administered by the state Rural Finance Authority in conjunction with various funding partners. Loans can cover up to 80% of purchase and installation costs. The RFA assumes responsibility for servicing 45% of the principal up to $45,000. Interest on the RFA portion is 3%; the remaining 55% will accrue interest at the current market rate. Additional information is available from the RFA website.
Dakota Electric Association - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Value:Varies
Residential and commercial customers of the Dakota Electric Association may be entitled to rebates on a variety of energy-efficient improvements. Available rebate offers will vary from time to time. Current offers include rebates on large appliances, lighting, insulation/weatherization, central/room HVAC, and new solar PV or geothermal heat systems. Rebate amounts depend on the type of project and how much efficiency it will add to the property. Additional information is available from the cooperative website.
Xcel Energy - Renewable Development Fund Grants
Value:Varies
NOTE: This program appears to be defunct as of 2013. Xcel Energy has administered a Renewable Development Fund since 1999. The fund's annual budget amounts to $9 million, the result of a state-set rate per nuclear waste reservoir at the Prairie Island, Minnesota plant. Additional funding comes from a surcharge on Xcel customer bills in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Grant programs supported by the fund usually take the form of requests for proposals (RFPs). Xcel details grant revenue and spending in an annual report submitted to the state legislature, and grant recipients produce similar supplementary reports on their projects' environmental impact. Additional information is available from the Xcel website.
Owatonna Public Utilities - Residential Conserve and Save Rebate Program
Value:Varies
Residential customers of OPU, the municipal utility for the city of Owatonna, may be eligible for rebates on energy-efficient appliances. Qualifying appliances will vary from time to time, but currently include fridge/freezers and room air conditioners certified by ENERGY STAR. To qualify for a rebate, the owner must recycle their previous appliance. OPU will cover any fees incurred from the recycling of appliances as a part of the rebate. Additional information is available from the OPU website.
Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) Tariff
Value:Varies
Utilities in Minnesota are required to participate in Community-Based Energy Development tariff programs (C-BED) to support the construction and onboarding of new renewable energy facilities, including solar and wind farms. C-BED contracts last for 20 years. During the term, the state will pay utilities at a fixed rate for the energy they produce. The underlying goal is for utilities to more easily recoup the costs for their renewable facilities. Additional information is available from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission website.
Value-Added Stock Loan Participation Program
Value:Varies
The Minnesota Rural Finance Authority (RFA) operates a stock financing program to aid farmers in purchasing shares of nearby wind farms or biomass energy facilities. Loans are offered by private banking partners, though the RFA sets loan terms and low interest rates for up to 45% of the principal. Qualifying applicants must not be worth more than $450,000. Additional information is available from the RFA website.
Minnesota Power - Power Grant Program
Value:Varies
Minnesota Power manages a large-scale energy efficiency grant program. Up to $50,000 in awards may be available to businesses and farmers investing in energy efficiency improvements, including new renewable energy systems and experimental technologies. Grants depend on the applicant's need and projected energy savings. They are supplemented by rebates of $200/kW of the improvements' rated capacity. Additional information is available from the Minnesota Power website.
Fix-Up Loan
Value:Varies
Minnesota homeowners making energy efficiency or accessibility improvements may be eligible for special loans from the state Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). "Fix-Up Loans" have a maximum of $15,000 in principal at market-rate interest. Applicants have direct access to MHFA lending partners and can negotiate loan terms. They may also use the contractors and builders of their choice. Lending partners differ between the 11-county Twin Cities area and the rest of the state. Additional information is available from the MHFA website.
Rural Minnesota Energy Board PACE Program
Value:Varies
The St. Paul Port Authority operates a PACE program in Duluth, Mankato, and certain Twin Cities suburbs and exurbs. Property owners will have access to an open market of local lenders offering competitive loans and terms for energy efficiency improvements. Effectively, funding comes from the government; repayment will therefore take the form of a tax lien senior to the property's mortgage. Residential structures are not eligible for PACE loans due to regulatory concerns from the FHFA. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are prohibited from acquiring a mortgage with an active PACE lien. Additional information is available from the Port Authority website.
Minnesota PACE Program (MinnPACE)
Value:Varies
The St. Paul Port Authority operates a PACE program in Duluth, Mankato, and certain Twin Cities suburbs and exurbs. Property owners will have access to an open market of local lenders offering competitive loans and terms for energy efficiency improvements. Effectively, funding comes from the government; repayment will therefore take the form of a tax lien senior to the property's mortgage. Residential structures are not eligible for PACE loans due to regulatory concerns from the FHFA. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are prohibited from acquiring a mortgage with an active PACE lien. Additional information is available from the Port Authority website.
Interconnection Standards
Value:Varies
Distributed generation and interconnection practices are standardized by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Standards were last updated in 2019 and continue to be amended regularly. Unlike states which use tiers and levels to organize energy systems, Minnesota uses permit processes as benchmarks. Systems at a qualifying capacity level may be eligible for a "Fast Track" permit review. All systems must follow recognized standards such as those set by IEEE or UL. Customers may be required by their utility to carry liability insurance coverage or install additional safety features.
Renewable Development Fund (RDF)
Value:Varies
Xcel Energy has administered a Renewable Development Fund since 1999. The fund's annual budget amounts to $9 million, the result of a state-set rate per nuclear waste reservoir at the Prairie Island, Minnesota plant. Additional funding comes from a surcharge on Xcel customer bills in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Funding supports incentive programs and other initiatives to adopt renewable energy. The University of Minnesota's Institute for the Environment also taps into the fund for its own research. Additional information is available from the Xcel website.
Xcel Energy - Solar*Rewards Program
Value:Varies
Solar*Rewards is the formal name for Xcel Energy's net metering and distributed generation tariff incentive programs nationwide. Under Minnesota law, renewable energy customers hold ownership of renewable energy credits (RECs) they generate. With a Solar*Rewards contract, the customer agrees to sell all RECs to the utility for a fixed amount of time and have a bidirectional meter installed on their system to track energy sent back to the grid. In exchange, the utility will provide fair compensation for both excess generation and credits accrued. To qualify for incentives, a new PV system must pass an engineering audit and not exceed 20 kW of DC capacity. Leased systems do not qualify for Solar*Rewards contracts. Additional information is available from the Xcel website.
Marshall Municipal Utilities - Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
Value:Varies
Residential customers of MMU, the municipal utility for the city of Marshall, may be eligible for rebates on new energy-efficient systems and appliances. Available rebate offers will vary from time to time. Current offers include incentives for ENERGY STAR-certified fridge/freezers, washer/dryers, dishwashers, central/room HVAC, water heaters, dehumidifiers, and solar/geothermal systems (through a separate program). Customers may also receive financial assistance to certify their entire home with ENERGY STAR through an initiative targeted at new construction. Additional information is available from the MMU website.
Are solar panels worth it in Norman County, MN?
For those expecting to remain in their homes after the solar system's payback period, installing solar panels is a smart choice in Norman County. If you install a 5 kW solar system in Norman County, MN, you might save $49,216.8 over 20 years on average, with a break even point at approximately 0 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Norman County, MN
In addition to 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. The news has recently pointed out that total reliance on your utility is not always ideal.
On average, there are 0.77 outages per customer each year in Minnesota. On average, each outage lasts for 63.3 minutes. Major events like wildfires, planned maintenance, or aging infrastructure can considerably extend these durations.
View the component below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Norman County.
A solar panel system, with or without a backup battery, could help mitigate the effects of future outages you might face.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Norman County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Norman County, MN?
Your Energy Needs - While the upfront cost is greater, the price per watt decreases with larger solar panel systems. Homeowners often discover that setting up a solar system to fully cover their electric bill is a smart choice, leading to the most savings.
Make & Model - Similar to other products, solar panels come in a range of makes and models. Considering the brand preferences that your installer may have, it's crucial to pick a recommended contractor. The employment of high-quality materials is likely to yield a more positive long-term experience for buyers.
Solar Panel Type - It's clear why monocrystalline panels are now the standard in the industry. These panels cost more but yield more energy. Many installers in the industry utilize panels constructed from this material.
Your Property - Each property and residence is unique. Issues like trees, irregular terrain, or additional considerations may add to the complexity of the installation. Most solar installers currently use satellite imagery to assess your home and factor in these considerations into the preliminary cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Differences in employee wages across companies result in expenses that are transferred to the consumers. Reviews for work and customer service are frequently higher for businesses that pay higher wages.
Permitting & Interconnection - The local permitting and utility interconnection fees, which differ by region, will impact your final installation price. Quality installers will factor these costs into your first quotes to prevent unexpected expenses.
See what solar panels cost in other Norman County cities
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Who are the best solar installers in Norman County?
Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
Norman County, MN Solar Panel Cost FAQs
In November, 2024, the average cost of solar panels per watt in Norman County, MN is $0/W. Post federal tax credit, a 5 kW solar panel system installation in Norman County, MN will roughly cost $0.
If you live in Minnesota, you can find 20 rebates and incentives through different utilities and government agencies. On top of that, most individuals are eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit.
Cash payments offer the highest savings, yet multiple financing options now available for solar panels are financially beneficial as well. Many installers have partnerships with financing companies and will provide this information in your initial quotes.
Yes, homeowners in Norman County, MN generally see a payback time of 0 years for 5 kW solar panel systems, with electricity savings averaging $49,216.8 over a 20-year period.