We earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This doesn't affect our rankings or reviews. How we review
Last updated: May 2026
Avg. sun hours/day
4.1 hrs
Avg. electricity rate
$0.13/kWh
Active incentives
4
Each MWh of solar generation produces 1 OH-SREC, sold on the Ohio market typically at $5–$15 per certificate — significantly lower than NJ, MA, or PA SREC markets. A 7 kW residential system earns ~$40–$120/year in SREC revenue.
Ohio operates an SREC market under HB 6 (2019, modified) but with a much smaller solar carve-out than peer states. The 2019 legislation reduced the renewable portfolio standard targets and effectively removed the in-state-only requirement, suppressing Ohio SREC prices to $5–$15 range vs $30–$100 in stronger SREC states. Modest revenue but stacks with net metering. Aggregators (SREC Trade) handle registration and quarterly sales for residential generators.
1:1 retail-rate net metering for residential systems ≤ 25 kW under Ohio's investor-owned utilities. Annual reset cashes out unused balance at the utility's energy-only rate.
Ohio's net-metering rules under PUCO regulations provide retail-rate compensation for residential customer-generators ≤ 25 kW. AEP Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio, FirstEnergy (Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating, Toledo Edison), and Dayton Power & Light all participate. Annual reset at the utility's energy-only rate (no distribution/transmission). Cooperatives have varied participation. Net metering combines with the (modest) Ohio SREC market.
Property tax exemption for the value added by solar PV systems on residential and commercial property, available via county application under specific renewable-energy provisions.
Ohio Revised Code provisions permit county-level exemptions for solar energy systems' assessed value. Implementation is inconsistent across Ohio's 88 counties; consult the local County Auditor for specific treatment. Residential solar PV is more reliably treated as personal property exempt from real-estate assessment in many counties, but practice varies.
Standard 5.75% Ohio state sales tax applies to residential solar equipment. Local sales tax adds 0.75–2.25%. Total combined 6.5–8.0% on equipment.
Ohio does not exempt residential solar PV equipment from sales tax. Combined state and local rates apply (typically 6.5–8.0% depending on county). Installation labour is generally exempt under construction-services rules; equipment is fully taxable.
Expired for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025.
Federal Section 25D expired 2026-01-01. Ohio's modest SREC market, retail-rate net metering, and limited tax exemptions result in post-ITC residential solar payback in the 13–16 year range — workable but stretches the financial case. See /guides/solar-after-itc-expired.
Our calculator uses Ohio's actual sun hours (4.1 hrs/day) and electricity rates.
Calculate my savings →