Plug-In Solar in Wisconsin
Since Wisconsin has no plug-in solar law, grid-tied generators rely on the state interconnection rule and on application and agreement forms from your utility.
- No plug-in solar law in Wisconsin yetNo bill yet
- Utility rules are what apply.There's no cap on plug-in wattage.
- The 19.1 cents figure.Average home price per kWh from the EIA, Jan to Aug 2026.
- $207 per year.Milwaukee: an 800 W kit, before any utility solar fee.
Wisconsin hookups need your electric utility's approval first, plus an inverter with a UL 1741 listing that has anti-islanding, or a UL 3700 listing.
Wisconsin's Rule Today
Chapter PSC 119 of Wisconsin Administrative Code covers generators up to 15 MW. The application and agreement forms come from your utility or co-op, and you send them back to the utility; systems at 20 kW or below count as Category 1 and rely on the short agreement (Form 6029).
Net metering is available below a size threshold to customers of investor-owned and municipal utilities. Utilities also offer parallel generation tariffs, which carry buyback rates for the excess power you generate.
Savings from a Kit in Wisconsin
PVWatts estimates that each 1 kW of panels in Milwaukee produces 1,360 kWh each year, while homes in Wisconsin pay 19.1 cents per kWh in 2026 so far. Numbers below cover an 800 W kit, split by where it goes:
| Where the panels go | kWh a year | Saved a year |
|---|---|---|
| Tilted south on a stand | 1,088 | $207 |
| Upright on a railing | 685 | $131 |
| Facing east or west | 870 | $166 |
Milwaukee Month by Month
- Jan58
- Feb76
- Mar99
- Apr98
- May113
- Jun111
- Jul122
- Aug113
- Sep97
- Oct78
- Nov63
- Dec59
An 800 W kit makes this many kWh when tilted south.
Kit Prices for Wisconsin
| Kit | kWh a year | Saved a year | Pays back in | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Solar Supplier 1180 W EZ1 Kit | 1,604 | $306 | 2.9 years | $899 |
| Bright Saver 360 W Balcony Kit | 489 | $93 | 4.4 years | $414 |
| EcoFlow STREAM 800 W Kit | 1,088 | $207 | 5.3 years | $1,099 |
Tilted south, all used at home. Compare all kits
Wisconsin Facts Worth Knowing
- Wisconsin power prices run fairly high. Back in 2024, homes here averaged 17.18 cents/kWh, so every kWh a kit generates saves more than in cheap-power states.
- The five top electricity sellers are all investor-owned utilities. Their customers can get net metering, while the PSC lists net metering only for municipal customers and customers of investor-owned utilities.
Are you renting, or is your setup on a balcony?
The mount is your landlord's or HOA's decision; the hookup is your electric utility's. See balcony solar and apartment solar.
Key Utilities
- Wisconsin Electric Power Company
- Wisconsin Power & Light Company
- Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
- Northern States Power Company
Next Steps for You in Wisconsin
- About 544 kWh a year is what a 400 W kit makes in Milwaukee, and about 1,631 kWh for a 1,200 W kit. Pick your size, then see your numbers.
- Ask the lawmakers in your state about a plug-in bill of the kind other states have passed.
Sources
- Customer-Owned Electrical Generation, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Legislature: Chapter PSC 119
- EIA State Electricity Profile tables, Wisconsin 2024
- NREL PVWatts, Milwaukee plus EIA Table 5.6.B, 2026 prices
Check a neighbor, or every state at a glance: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan.