Solar Panels in Hays, KS: Cost, Payback & Savings
A typical 6.8 kW home solar system in Hays costs about $24,480 and pays for itself in about 13.5 years, saving roughly $26,853 over 25 years at Kansas' average electricity price of 15.2¢/kWh.
Monthly solar production in Hays
Estimated output of a 6.8 kW south-facing roof system. Jun is the strongest month (1,099 kWh); Dec the weakest (581 kWh).
Solar production (kWh) Typical home use, 876 kWh/month
Solar payback calculator for Hays
Pre-filled with Hays's sunshine and Kansas' average electricity price. Enter your own bill and an installer's price per watt to see your payback.
Leave export credit blank where the utility offers full net metering. Where exports earn less, solar used at home as it's produced is worth the full price and the rest earns the export credit.
How Hays compares
- Each kW of panels here produces about 1,552 kWh a year — 6% more than the Kansas median and 13% more than the US median city (1,371 kWh).
- Payback ranks #5 of 40 Kansas places we cover.
- Sunshine varies little across a state; electricity price, installed cost and how utilities credit exported power drive most of the difference between states.
Net metering, tax credits and incentives in 2026
Kansas offers net metering: power you send to the grid is credited at or near the retail price, so every solar kWh is valued at 15.2¢ here.
There is no federal tax credit for buying home solar installed in 2026. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so the costs and paybacks on this page include no federal credit.
Kansas and local utilities may still offer rebates, performance payments, property-tax or sales-tax exemptions. Search the DSIRE incentives database for Kansas and ask installers which programs they apply for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it in Hays, KS?
For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 13.5 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $26,853. Verdict: solid long-term investment. Your own payback depends on your roof, your bill and the quotes you get.
How many solar panels do I need in Hays, KS?
A home using 876 kWh a month (the Kansas average) needs about 17 panels of 400 W — a 6.8 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 1,552 to get the kW you need.
How much do solar panels cost in Hays, KS?
At 3.60 dollars per watt, a 6.8 kW system costs about $24,480 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.
How much sun does Hays get?
Hays averages 5.5 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 1,552 kWh a year.
Does Kansas have net metering?
Yes. Power sent back to the grid is credited at or near the retail price (15.2¢ per kWh on average).
How much does electricity cost in Kansas?
Residential electricity in Kansas averages 15.2¢ per kWh, and a typical home uses 876 kWh a month (EIA).
Solar payback in nearby places
- Great Bend13.4 yrs
- Dodge City13.0 yrs
- Salina13.7 yrs
- Hutchinson13.5 yrs
- McPherson13.7 yrs
- Garden City12.9 yrs
- Newton13.6 yrs
- Junction City14.3 yrs