Oklahoma Solar Incentives (Rebates, Tax Credits & More in 2024)

Below is a breakdown of all of the solar incentive perks available in your area. We include the average savings that each provides, wherever possible.

What Do Oklahomans Need to Know About the Federal Solar Tax Credit?

The federal solar tax credit allows you to claim 30% of the cost of a new solar system on your taxes – essentially cutting the amount you pay by nearly a third. With the typical Oklahoma solar power system installation costing $36,740, the average credit value comes in at $11,022, well above the national average.

The tax credit dates back to 2005 and was originally set to phase out beginning in 2021. It would then no longer be available starting in 2024.

This changed in August 2022 when Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This piece of legislation pushed the expiration date forward by 10 years and increased the credit rate for 2022 back up to 30%, including solar panel installations that took place earlier in the year before the bill was signed.

The new planned rate decreases are as follows:

• 30% for installations completed between 2022 and 2032
• 26% for installations completed in 2033
• 22% for installations completed in 2034
• The credit will expire in 2035 and will no longer be available thereafter

How to Claim the Federal ITC in Oklahoma

Claiming the federal credit is straightforward, and you’ll only have to fill out a single form to get access to the $8,500+ tax credit. You can follow the steps below to ensure you get access to this perk.

• Step 1: After your system is installed and commissioned, print out IRS form 5695. This is the form for claiming residential energy credits for clean energy systems.

• Step 2: Fill out the form with information about your solar power system, including the size and cost. You’ll also need information about the company that handled the installation process.

• Step 3: File the form when you file your taxes or provide the form to your accountant at the end of the year.

We should mention that you can usually skip these steps if you use tax software to file, like TurboTax. These programs prompt you for information about renewable energy installations, so you can provide the required information directly instead of using the printable form.

EcoWatch’s Opinion on the Federal ITC in Oklahoma

The federal solar tax credit is by far the most valuable perk when installing a new system – and well worth your time. The application process is easy and fairly quick, but the potential value you’ll see from the incentive is outstanding at over $11,000, on average.

This credit is a crucial part of saving money on solar panels no matter where you live. It’s particularly helpful in places like Oklahoma, where other solar incentives are lacking.

However, it’s important to remember that this perk is not a solar rebate, and you’re not guaranteed to get access to the full amount. The amount you can take as a credit is limited by what you owe on your income taxes. If you owe nothing or the government owes you, you can’t take any of the credit.

Thankfully, you don’t have to take the full credit all at once, and you can roll over unused credit for up to five years total (including the first year). That means you can still take the whole credit amount if you owe at least $2,204 on your taxes each year following the installation.
Watch Below: Is Solar Actually Worth it In Oklahoma?

Net Metering in Oklahoma

Net metering — also called net energy metering or simply NEM — is a billing policy that helps solar customers realize the maximum value their panels can provide. Through interconnection, this perk monitors the excess power your system generates and sends to the grid. It then credits you for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) you send. 

The more power your panels generate, the more you can potentially save on future electricity bills.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) — the governing body for energy costs and net energy metering in the state — mandates net energy metering for all investor-owned utilities (IOUs). These include:

• Liberty Utilities (used to be Empire District Electric Company),
• Public Service Company of Oklahoma and
• Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E)

However, the amount of credit you receive for energy you produce is set at the avoided cost rate, which is below the retail value you’d pay for incoming electricity. This is less than ideal, although any NEM policy will help you save money over time.

You can also be charged a fee for enrolling in the program. It’s possible that the program in your area will disappear in the future, although there is no evidence to suggest that it will any time soon.

How to Enroll in Net Energy Metering in Oklahoma

Enrolling in net energy metering is typically a quick and painless process, and most solar customers in the state won’t have to do anything themselves to take part. The majority of reputable solar installers in the state will tackle the interconnection application process for you, so enrollment is more or less automatic for most homeowners.

We still recommend you follow the steps below to ensure you get access to this perk, as it can save you a large amount of money on your energy bills.

• Step 1: Call your utility company to make sure you’re eligible for NEM. Investor-owned utilities are required to offer the program, but electric cooperatives and municipal utilities can opt to offer it as well. You’ll also want to make sure that you have a bidirectional meter installed. Most homes have already been upgraded to include one, but you can get one installed for free if you don’t have one already.

• Step 2: Choose a solar installer in your area and make sure that it will handle the NEM application. Most reliable companies will do this for you, but you’ll have to confirm you want to be enrolled, given the charge involved.

• Step 3: Complete your home solar project.

• Step 4: Check your energy bills for a month or two after the installation process to make sure that you’re accruing credits. If you aren’t, contact your installer to assess what the issue is.

EcoWatch’s Opinion on Net Energy Metering in Oklahoma

Net energy metering is an outstanding perk, although Oklahoma’s local policy leaves a lot to be desired. The OCC essentially offers the worst-case scenario when it comes to NEM—the avoided cost rate for exported electricity—although having a policy is always better than not having access to the program at all.

The biggest issue we have with net energy metering in Oklahoma is that electric companies can impose a charge for enrollment. We’d also prefer that utility companies offer credits based on the full retail price of the energy.

That said, taking part in NEM will still very likely save you money on your electric bills over time. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), this program is one of the most valuable perks available for solar customers in the country.¹ 

Thankfully, the process of enrolling is straightforward and shouldn’t take any time or effort at all in most cases. Your installation company will usually handle the process for you.

Local Solar Incentives in Oklahoma

There hasn’t been much in the way of state rebates and statewide incentives available for solar installation in Oklahoma since 2015, when the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) goal expired. It has yet to be replaced with a new one.

However, there are local perks for other energy efficiency upgrades that you can couple with your solar installation. We’ll include a list of these benefits below.

• Edmond Electric Efficiency Incentives: Customers of Edmond Electric can receive rebates for installing  things like geothermal heat pumps, general heat pumps, insulation and other efficiency upgrades.

• Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OEC) Efficiency Incentives: There are cash-back incentives available for OEC customers who install things like heat pumps, geothermal equipment and electric water heaters.

• OG&E Efficiency Incentives: OG&E has a slew of cash-back perks for things like AC tune-ups, efficient windows, insulation services and LED lighting.

• Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA) Ways I Save Electricity (WISE) Rebate Program: OMPA customers can take cash-back incentives for heat pumps, geothermal equipment installations, insulation, new HVAC equipment and other energy-efficient equipment.

• Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO): PSO has a handful of cash-back rebate opportunities for new appliances, insulation services and HVAC equipment.

• Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative: This energy provider includes rebates for things like heat pumps, LED lighting, smart thermostats and other energy-saving devices.

Contact your electric company to see if it offers additional incentives, or you can check on the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency for more information. There also might be perks you can take that are offered by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Which Tax Incentives Are The Best In Oklahoma?

Oklahoma isn’t the most generous state when it comes to solar incentives, but the two that are available to Oklahoma residents can save you a huge amount of money.

First, we suggest you make sure you take the federal credit. This provides the biggest value for most customers, as long as they owe money on their income taxes for one to five years after the installation. It takes just a few minutes to apply for, and it provides an average potential savings of over $11,000.

Second, we recommend applying for net energy metering if it’s available from your electric company. Even if there’s a charge imposed for taking part in the net metering program, we think it’s well worth the investment.

Not only does NEM boost your long-term energy savings, but it also helps pay off your panels more quickly and adds more value to your home. It’s especially helpful because of the above-average energy consumption in the state. NEM can help offset the electricity you need to purchase, even during times of minimal production — like on cloudy days or at night.²

Both of these incentives would be helpful anywhere, but they’re especially important to take advantage of since there are no other perks available in the Sooner State.

What’s The Near-Term Outlook For More Incentives In Oklahoma?

As of right now, there is nothing to suggest that there will be any major changes to the solar perks available in the near future.

If there is a change, we’d expect it to be to the net energy metering policy. This program has gone through several changes in the past, and it’s generally the perk that gets changed first in other states. As more customers convert to solar in the area, it’s possible that the enrollment charges will increase or that the opportunity for interconnection will disappear altogether.

Outstanding Regional Installer

4.5/5

Get Free Quote

Regional Service

Outstanding Regional Installer

4.5/5

Get Free Quote

VIEW MORE

The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.