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Your Guide to Solar Panels in Arkansas: 7 Steps to Solar Panels in Arkansas
By Dan Simms /
Solar Panel Cost in Kansas (2023 Local Savings Guide)
Here’s a quick look at the estimated cost of solar in Kansas:
- Average Cost Per Watt: $2.59
- Cost of Average System: $16,317*
- Cost of Energy Without Solar: $44,765
- Payback Period: 11 Years**
- Lifetime Savings of Going Solar: $21,455
*Average system size is calculated using data from the Energy Information Administration. This price is after tax credit.
**Payback period is calculated assuming the system is purchased in cash.
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Cost of Solar Panels in Kansas
Solar panel systems in Kansas usually cost around $2.59 per watt, which is lower than the national average of $2.66 per watt. The average home in the state requires a 9-kilowatt system to offset a monthly energy bill of about $114.1 That means the typical home solar panel system in Kansas would be $23,310 before the federal tax credit or $16,317 after the credit. This total is just slightly below the national average due to the lower per-watt cost and a similar system size requirement.
Solar energy systems in Kansas are priced on a per-watt basis, so the size of the system you require to offset your energy bills will be the biggest cost factor. For each additional kilowatt you need to power your home, you can expect to add about $2,590 to your total. The table below provides some standard system sizes in Kansas, along with estimated pricing for each before and after the federal tax credit.
| Size of Solar Panel System | Kansas Solar Panel Cost | Cost After Federal Tax Credit |
| 6 kW | $15,540 | $10,878 |
| 7 kW | $18,130 | $12,691 |
| 8 kW | $20,720 | $14,501 |
| 9 kW | $23,310 | $16,317 |
| 10 kW | $25,900 | $18,130 |
| 11 kW | $28,490 | $19,943 |
| 12 kW | $31,080 | $21,756 |
Want to see a list of the most reputable and experienced solar panel installation companies in Kansas? Click here.
Blue Raven Solar
Best Solar Financing
Pros
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
Cons
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Astrawatt Solar
Outstanding Regional Installer
Average cost
Pros
- Comprehensive service offerings
- Excellent reputation
- Award-winning company
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
Cons
- Limited service area
- Relatively young company
SunPower
Best National Provider
Pros
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
Cons
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
What Determines the Cost of Solar Panels in Kansas?
Solar panel systems in Kansas average around $16,317 after the federal tax credit is applied. However, your system price could end up being $7,000 more or less than that average based on a few different criteria.
We’ll explain some of the more important cost factors for solar energy systems below.
Solar Equipment
Most of the money you’ll pay to go solar is for the equipment, so it stands to reason that the type of equipment you install will be the most prominent cost factor. In Kansas, there are two things to consider that can influence the type of equipment you install.
First, Kansas residents enjoy an average of 230 days of sunlight per year, which is well above the national average of 205. With an abundance of sun, many Kansas homeowners are able to install panel brands with slightly lower efficiencies and still manage to eliminate energy bills.
In some areas with minimal sunlight, more costly and more efficient panels are required, but that doesn’t apply in Kansas. You can therefore save some money by opting for lower-efficiency panels.
Second, Kansas homeowners are well acquainted with extreme weather, as severe thunderstorms, hail storms and tornadoes are quite common in the area. As a result, power outages are common, so solar batteries are a popular option in Kansas.
These add-on products will drive up your price of going solar, but they’re convenient to have in case of blackouts.
Solar Financing in Kansas
The majority of solar customers pay for their panels with cash or solar loans. If available, you can also go solar with solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs), but we don’t recommend them and they don’t result in you owning your system.
Assuming you’re choosing between cash payment and a solar loan, which one you go with will affect your overall pricing. Cash purchases mean a large up-front layout, but you’ll avoid interest payments, keeping your total costs lower than opting for a solar loan.
Unfortunately, solar loans in Kansas almost always have to be secured through lenders, as there are no government-backed financing options for renewable energy. The state has yet to initiate Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing programs, and there are no loan options, grants or rebates available to make solar more accessible and affordable to low-income households.
Kansas Solar Installation Company
Your solar panel installation cost will vary based on the installer you choose. An identical system and equipment setup from two different installers could come in at widely differing prices.
Each company sets its own pricing for equipment and installation and carries different solar panel brands with varying prices. You can see a perfect example by looking at two of the top solar companies in Kansas: Astrawatt Solar and SunPower.
Astrawatt is a regional company that installs tier-one and tier-two solar panel brands including REC, Tesla, SolarEdge, Enphase and Silfab. These panel brands are less expensive than Maxeon panels, which is the only option available from SunPower.
As a result, choosing SunPower could mean paying thousands more for your system than if you chose Astrawatt, solely because SunPower’s equipment is more expensive.
It’s worth considering the value provided by each company you’re looking at before committing, as some brands provide higher efficiencies and better warranties than others. Cost is important, but the cost-to-value ratio is even more important.
Additional Considerations and Costs in Kansas
Below are some additional considerations to take into account before moving forward with solar panel installation in Kansas.
- Permits: Kansas requires building permits for solar system installation. You should confirm with your installer that it will take care of the permits for you, as this is standard practice in the industry; however, you’ll likely see the permit fee on your bill.
- Licenses: The State of Kansas doesn’t require solar installer licenses, but each municipality governs licensing separately. Check with your local jurisdiction first for what’s required and then ensure your installer is property licensed to complete the work in your area.
- Warranties: Solar warranties are something you should be on the lookout for and even prioritize with respect to your budget. Warranties protect your system from damage, ensure a baseline efficiency and protect you against any damage to your home caused by the installation. The best warranties include all three components.
- HOAs: Unfortunately, Kansas does not have solar rights laws that guarantee your homeowners’ association can’t prevent you from installing solar — so you’ll have to check with your HOA, if you have one, for approval before proceeding.
- Environmental zoning: There are strict zoning laws in Kansas for solar installations, but these generally oversee larger scale installations, like community solar farms. Most residents shouldn’t have zoning issues with rooftop systems.
See also: Find out how much solar power your roof can produce with our solar calculator
Kansas Solar Incentives
For Kansas homeowners who see the average cost of $23,310 to go solar and think that clean energy isn’t for them, the solar incentives in KS can quickly change their minds. The state and federal governments provide solar incentives to reduce the financial burden of installing solar panels. We’ll discuss some of the more valuable incentives below.
| Kansas Solar Incentive | How it Affects the Cost of Solar Panels in Kansas |
| Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption | Home improvements that increase your property value — like installing solar — also bump up your property taxes. However, the Property Tax Exemption in Kansas means you won’t pay more in taxes because you increased your home value with solar. This could save hundreds or, more likely, thousands of dollars in property taxes over time. |
| Net Metering | In Kansas, all investor-owned utilities (IOUs) are required by state law to offer net metering to residents. Through these programs, if you use fewer kilowatt-hours of energy than your system produces, you can feed the extra power into the local grid in exchange for credits to use against your future electric bills. Learn More |
| Local Solar Rebates & Incentives | Depending on your city, county and utility company, you may be eligible for additional incentives. Your solar installer should be able to help you identify these, but we recommend doing some research on your own as well to be sure you don’t miss out on any money-saving opportunities. |
| Federal Solar Tax Credit | All homeowners in the U.S. can claim a tax credit worth 30% of installed systems costs called the solar investment tax credit, or ITC. This tax incentive is available for homeowners who install residential systems through 2032. |
The Best Solar Panel Brands Available in Kansas
There are many brands of solar panel that are suitable for Kansas, all of which come at different prices and with varying levels of efficiency. Below is a table that compares the best solar panel brands in Kansas and provides some relative pricing to help you decide which options might be right for you.
| Solar Panel Brand | Average Cost Per Watt ($-$$$$$) |
| LG Solar | $$$ |
| Canadian Solar | $$ |
| JA Solar | $$ |
| Mission Solar | $$ |
| Panasonic | $$ |
| Q Cells | $$ |
| REC | $$$ |
| Silfab | $$$ |
| SunPower | $$$$$ |
| Tesla | $$ |
| Trina Solar | $$$ |
Ready to see what an appropriately-sized solar system will cost for your Kansas home? Just select one of our preferred providers below, and we’ll have a reliable installer provide you with a free estimate.
Read More About Going Solar
FAQs: Solar Panel Cost Kansas
The EcoWatch team gets questions daily from Kansas homeowners about the process of going solar and the costs involved. If you have specific questions that aren’t answered here, reach out to our team of solar experts at solar@ecowatch.com.
Solar panel systems in Kansas typically cost $2.59 per watt. With the average system size being 9 kilowatts, that means the standard system in the state will cost $23,310 before the federal tax credit, or $16,317 after the credit.
However, it’s impossible to say with certainty what your system will cost because the size needs to be estimated based on your home’s square footage and energy efficiency, the size and direction of your roof, shading on your property, your monthly energy needs and more. The best way to get an accurate price is to have a reputable solar installer assess your home and provide a customized solar quote.
Yes! Solar panel systems increase home value in Kansas, and estimates from Zillow suggest that you could see a 4.1% boost in home value.3 In Kansas, where the average home value is $197,505 at the time of publication, that’s an average bump in the value of around $8,098.4 Your increase might be even higher if you live in more costly areas, like Kansas City.
This value increase is only enjoyed by homeowners who use a cash purchase or solar loan to acquire their photovoltaic system. Homeowners who use a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) to get PV equipment will not see a value bump.
In nearly every case, it is better to buy or finance your solar panels than it is to lease them.
Solar leases and PPAs don’t increase your property value like a loan or cash purchase would, so you’ll miss out on an average of $7,993 in home value. Leases take the longest for solar panels to pay for themselves and might never let you break even, so purchasing will save you far more over time. Additionally, you won’t get the federal tax credit if you lease, so that’s another $6,993 you won’t have access to if you lease.
Solar panels are never really free, and solar companies that market “free panels” are likely trying to get you to enter into a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA). These options save you far less in the long term and are not recommended if you can avoid them.
Solar panels in Kansas can be considered free, though, as they usually pay for themselves over time. The average solar panel payback period in Kansas is 12 years, after which the panels have paid for themselves and continue to save you money on your energy bills. If you also consider the property value increase and the federal tax credit, solar panel systems are an excellent investment for most residents in Kansas.
Yes, it is possible to eliminate your energy costs in Kansas by converting to solar power. However, the less-than-ideal net metering program in the Sunflower State means it will be slightly more challenging to do so than in other areas. Still, the lower-than-average electricity rates, abundant sun, and relatively low cost of solar make it a distinct possibility for many homeowners.
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Top Installers For Kansas
Comparing authorized solar partners
Average cost
Pros
Cons
BBB Rating
Year founded
Service Area
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Warranty Coverage
-
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
A+Best Solar Financing2014Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, SolarEdge, Silfab, SunPower25-year manufacturer warranty; 10-year workmanship warranty, 2-year production guarantee
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