Plug-In Solar in Kentucky
Kentucky still has no plug-in solar law, and lawmakers have filed no bill. Any grid-tied kit therefore goes through the usual utility net metering and interconnection steps.
- No plug-in solar law in Kentucky yetNo bill yet
- Utility rules are what apply.There's no cap on plug-in watts.
- 14.2 centsJan to Aug 2026, the EIA home price average per kWh.
- $156 per year.For an 800 W kit set up in Louisville, with no utility solar fee included yet.
You need approval from your electric utility before connecting in Kentucky, plus an inverter listed under UL 1741 with anti-islanding, or under UL 3700.
Kentucky's Rule Today
Hooking up: PSC interconnection guidelines cover investor-owned utilities and co-ops, but not TVA distributors. Level 1 handles systems with certified inverters up to 30 kW, charges no application fee, and the utility has to reply within 20 working days.
Net metering: for systems up to 45 kW the law (KRS 278.465 to 278.468) requires net metering, until a utility reaches 1% of its peak load. Power you export earns a dollar bill credit, and the PSC sets the rate for each utility. Credits carry forward, but they're never cashed out.
Savings from a Kit in Kentucky
Each 1 kW of panels in Louisville yields 1,376 kWh a year according to PVWatts, and Kentucky households pay 14.2 cents for every kWh they use in 2026 so far. An 800 W kit's output depends on where the panels sit:
| Where the panels go | kWh a year | Saved a year |
|---|---|---|
| Tilted south on a stand | 1,100 | $156 |
| Upright on a railing | 693 | $98 |
| Facing east or west | 880 | $125 |
Each Month in Louisville
- Jan71
- Feb71
- Mar90
- Apr98
- May107
- Jun109
- Jul107
- Aug111
- Sep105
- Oct90
- Nov76
- Dec65
An 800 W kit makes this many kWh, tilted south.
Kentucky Kit Prices
| Kit | kWh a year | Saved a year | Pays back in | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Solar Supplier 1180 W EZ1 Kit | 1,623 | $230 | 3.9 years | $899 |
| Bright Saver 360 W Balcony Kit | 495 | $70 | 5.9 years | $414 |
| EcoFlow STREAM 800 W Kit | 1,100 | $156 | 7.0 years | $1,099 |
Tilted south, all used at home. Compare all kits
What to Know in Kentucky
- Power is on the cheaper side: the 2024 home average was 12.79 cents/kWh, and the all-customer average ranked 40th of the states, so each kWh a kit makes saves less than in high-cost states.
- You have no retail electric choice: according to EIA, energy-only suppliers made zero sales, so your local utility or co-op decides the rules and the export credit.
- If you started net metering at LG&E or KU on 24 Sep 2021 or later, each kWh you send to the grid earns a dollar credit instead of a credit matching one kWh for one kWh.
Are you renting, or on a balcony?
The mount is your landlord's or HOA's decision; your electric utility makes the hookup decision. Take a look at balcony solar and apartment solar.
Main Utilities
- Kentucky Utilities (KU)
- Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E)
- Kenergy Corporation
- Kentucky Power
Next Steps for You in Kentucky
- Choose a size: in Louisville, about 550 kWh a year comes from a 400 W kit, and about 1,651 kWh from one rated 1,200 W. Try yours.
- Bring up a plug-in bill with your state lawmakers, like the ones other states passed.
Sources
- Definitions for KRS 278.465 through 278.468 (KRS 278.465)
- Availability of net metering (KRS 278.466)
- DSIRE Kentucky Interconnection Standards
- Home or business net metering from LG&E and KU
- EIA State Electricity Profile tables, Kentucky 2024
- EIA Table 5.6.B, 2026 prices and NREL PVWatts, Louisville
Look at every state at a glance, or check a neighbor: Indiana, Tennessee, Ohio.