Solar Panels in Franklin, OH: Cost, Payback & Savings
A typical 8.0 kW home solar system in Franklin costs about $28,800 and pays for itself in about 13.1 years, saving roughly $33,537 over 25 years at Ohio's average electricity price of 18.7¢/kWh.
Monthly solar production in Franklin
Estimated output of a 8.0 kW south-facing roof system. Jul is the strongest month (1,199 kWh); Dec the weakest (484 kWh).
Solar production (kWh) Typical home use, 846 kWh/month
Solar payback calculator for Franklin
Pre-filled with Franklin's sunshine and Ohio's 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 Franklin compares
- Each kW of panels here produces about 1,303 kWh a year — 2% more than the Ohio median and 5% less than the US median city (1,371 kWh).
- Payback ranks #56 of 203 Ohio 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
Ohio offers net metering: power you send to the grid is credited at or near the retail price, so every solar kWh is valued at 18.7¢ 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.
Ohio and local utilities may still offer rebates, performance payments, property-tax or sales-tax exemptions. Search the DSIRE incentives database for Ohio and ask installers which programs they apply for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it in Franklin, OH?
For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 13.1 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $33,537. 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 Franklin, OH?
A home using 846 kWh a month (the Ohio average) needs about 20 panels of 400 W — a 8.0 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 1,303 to get the kW you need.
How much do solar panels cost in Franklin, OH?
At 3.60 dollars per watt, a 8.0 kW system costs about $28,800 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.
How much sun does Franklin get?
Franklin averages 4.6 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 1,303 kWh a year.
Does Ohio have net metering?
Yes. Power sent back to the grid is credited at or near the retail price (18.7¢ per kWh on average).
How much does electricity cost in Ohio?
Residential electricity in Ohio averages 18.7¢ per kWh, and a typical home uses 846 kWh a month (EIA).
Solar payback in nearby places
- Springboro13.0 yrs
- Middletown13.0 yrs
- Miamisburg13.0 yrs
- West Carrollton City12.9 yrs
- Monroe12.9 yrs
- Centerville12.8 yrs
- Trenton12.8 yrs
- Lebanon13.0 yrs