Plug-In Solar in Ohio

Ohio still has no plug-in solar law. House and Senate bills that match each other cover kits up to 1,200 W, and they sit in committee, so the usual utility interconnection rules apply.

A home with a plug-in solar panel on the porch railing, the kind of kit Ohio's rules apply to

No plug-in solar law in Ohio yetBill HB 755
Utility rules are in effect.No cap on plug-in wattage.
18.8 centsThe EIA average price per kWh for a home, Jan to Aug 2026.
$200 each year.Before any utility solar fee, an 800 W kit in Columbus.

Your electric utility's approval comes first before you connect in Ohio. Choose an inverter with a UL 1741 listing that includes anti-islanding, or a UL 3700 listing.

Ohio Plug-In Bills

HB 755 (2026): Reps. introduced it 11 Mar 2026. Rader and Glassburn; referral to House Energy Committee came on 18 Mar 2026, no later action appears, and the 136th General Assembly remains in session. Portable solar devices at 1,200 W or less fall under the draft, provided they plug into the usual 120 V outlet and carry certification from UL or an equivalent NRTL. The draft takes them out of interconnection rules and agreements, blocks utility approval, any fees, and extra equipment, and directs the PUCO to write rules. Bill record
SB 383 (2026): the Senate version, whose title and sections match, was introduced on 19 Mar 2026 by Sens. Weinstein and Blessing introduced it, and on 25 Mar 2026 it went to the Senate Energy Committee. No further action is listed. Bill details

Today's Rule in Ohio

Hooking up: PUCO rules (Ohio Adm.) require an interconnection application to the local utility from any grid-tied generator. Code 4901:1-22). Applicants pay the fees that the utility's tariff sets for certified inverter systems exporting up to 25 kW, which get Level 1 review.

Ohio Adm provides for net metering. Under 4901:1-10-28, these rules apply to systems with utility interconnection. Credits follow the standard service offer energy rate rather than delivery charges, and they carry forward. Co-ops and municipal utilities don't have to offer net metering.

Kit Savings in Ohio

In Columbus, PVWatts estimates 1,327 kWh a year for every 1 kW of panels, and households in Ohio pay 18.8 cents for each kWh in 2026 so far. For an 800 W kit, it depends on where it goes:

Where the panels go	kWh a year	Saved a year
Tilted south on a stand	1,062	$200
Upright on a railing	669	$126
Facing east or west	849	$160

A Columbus Month by Month View

Jan64
Feb66
Mar85
Apr101
May109
Jun109
Jul111
Aug105
Sep102
Oct85
Nov70
Dec55

kWh produced by an 800 W kit, tilted south.

Ohio Kit Prices

Kit	kWh a year	Saved a year	Pays back in	Price
US Solar Supplier 1180 W EZ1 Kit	1,566	$295	3.1 years	$899
Bright Saver 360 W Balcony Kit	478	$90	4.6 years	$414
EcoFlow STREAM 800 W Kit	1,062	$200	5.5 years	$1,099

All tilted south and used at home. Compare all kits

What to Know in Ohio

Ohio offers retail electric choice. You can choose a generation supplier certified by the PUCO, and the local utility keeps delivering power. For power sold by these energy-only suppliers, Ohio holds the top spot in the US.
In 2024, homes paid an average of 15.99 cents/kWh. The rate rose from 15.38 cents in 2023.
A net metering credit covers only the energy part of your bill. It doesn't cover distribution or transmission, so the power you use yourself brings more value than the power you send back.

Do You Rent or Have a Balcony?

The mount is your landlord's or HOA's call; the hookup is your electric utility's. Look at balcony solar and solar for apartments.

Key Utilities

Ohio Power Company
Ohio Edison (FirstEnergy)
The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy)
Toledo Edison (FirstEnergy)

Next Steps for You in Ohio

Choose a size: a 400 W kit in Columbus makes about 531 kWh a year, while a 1,200 W kit makes about 1,592 kWh. Run yours
Follow HB 755 during the next session. Should it pass, that approval step may no longer be needed.

Sources

Check every state at a glance, or look at a neighbor: West Virginia, Michigan, Indiana.