Ohio · Net metering · Mid-stack program

OH Net Metering

Sets the billing terms for excess solar generation sent back to the grid by residential customers in Ohio -- see the credit rate and how it shapes payback below.

Retail rate credit
stated benefit
Residential
eligible customers
16.3 yr
Ohio baseline payback
2
other Ohio programs
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Mid-stack program · mid directory

Ohio stacks 3 tracked programs; this net metering sits beside peer levers on a 16.3-year modeled baseline.

  • Stack3 programs
  • In-state #1/2
  • Type #32/46
  • Baseline16.3 yr

In-state directory place #1 of 2 (mid alphabet). National net metering directory #32 of 46. Amounts and eligibility change; verify with the official program page before relying on a dollar figure. Informational only - not financial advice. See our disclaimer.

Program description

Ohio IOUs offer full retail net metering for residential systems up to 25 kW.

Program at a glance

Program type
Net metering
Eligible customers
Residential
Stated benefit
Retail rate credit
State electricity rate
14.5¢/kWh
Ohio solar score
18/100

Solar's trajectory in Ohio

The market this incentive operates in: total installed solar capacity in Ohio reported to the EIA.

0 MW1.0 GW2.0 GW3.0 GW4.0 GW 20102012201420162018202020222024 3.2 GW
Ohio now has about 3.2 GW of installed solar, the backdrop programs like this one are built on.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, installed solar nameplate capacity As of 2024

Ohio's solar incentive stack

How this net metering sits among Ohio's 2 tracked programs, by type

programs

What this shows Ohio tracks 2 incentive types; net metering (1 program) governs the billing side, while the state's other tracked types handle upfront cost or ongoing payments.

Source DSIRE incentives registry As of 2024

Where this net metering sits in Ohio's mid-size stack

The OH Net Metering governs how Ohio credits excess solar generation sent back to the grid, one of the state's DSIRE-tracked solar policies. Eligibility is scoped to residential customers, with a stated benefit of Retail rate credit. DSIRE lists no scheduled sunset, though enabling legislation and appropriations can still be revised year to year.

That baseline is slower than most states, which raises the stakes for every incentive on the table. Ohio averages 4.2 kWh/m²/day of usable sunlight and residential rates of 14.5¢/kWh, producing an estimated 7,358 kWh/year and $1,067 of annual utility offset on a typical 6 kW system costing $17,400. That baseline already implies a 16.3-year simple payback and a 25-year modeled net of roughly $9,275 before this incentive - every dollar this net metering delivers compresses that payback further.

A handful of other levers are worth checking alongside this one. Ohio has 3 solar incentive programs indexed in DSIRE, including adjacent options like OH Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption. The state's net-metering policy is classified as full, which governs how excess generation is credited and often decides whether a given program is worth claiming for a specific household.

Frequently asked questions

What is the OH Net Metering among Ohio's mid-size programs?
The OH Net Metering is a net metering available to residential solar customers in Ohio. The stated benefit is Retail rate credit.
How does the OH Net Metering work?
Ohio IOUs offer full retail net metering for residential systems up to 25 kW.
Who is eligible for the OH Net Metering?
The program is available to residential customers in Ohio. Check the official program page for current eligibility requirements and deadlines. In-state directory place #1 of 2 (mid alphabet).
How does this incentive affect solar ROI in Ohio?
Ohio has an estimated 16.3-year payback for a 6 kW system before incentives, with about $1,067/year in modeled savings. A net metering like this lowers upfront cost or raises annual return, shortening that payback. Run the calculator for a figure based on your own bill.
Are there other solar incentives in Ohio?
Ohio has 3 solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE, including OH Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption. State programs are designed to stack on top of any available federal solar tax credit rather than replace it.

Incentive data from the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency); state solar economics from NREL and the U.S. EIA. See our methodology · Ohio solar data · ROI calculator · All incentives.