Missouri Solar Incentives: Tax Credits & Rebates Guide (2023)

Do your energy bills keep rising? If you want to give your wallet a break and live in Missouri, you should purchase a new solar energy system for your home. Now is an excellent time to buy solar energy systems because there have never been as many tax credits and rebates available to lower the costs associated with your purchase.

Although the initial cost of installing solar panels may appear scary, payback periods generally last less than 10 years, and you can experience savings for up to 25 years. Keep reading to learn how your purchase and installation of solar panels in Missouri can be made more financially accessible.

Why Go Solar in Missouri?

While there are many reasons to buy solar panels for residents of any state, Missouri is a great state to purchase and install a solar energy system on your property. In Missouri, solar energy production has been expanding and improving over the past decade. Now is a great time for homeowners to get in on this up-and-coming electricity source.

It has also never been cheaper to buy solar panels in Missouri, thanks to the state government’s implementation of several incentive programs to encourage the adoption of solar energy production among industrial, commercial, and residential property owners. Because solar policies in Missouri have begun encouraging the purchase of solar energy systems, the Missouri solar market will likely continue to grow for years to come.

Solar panels are a valuable means of generating electricity where sunlight is abundant. Missouri receives nearly 206 sunny days per year, one day above the national average of 205 days. The sunshine in Missouri should only further incentivize you to go solar because solar panels are highly efficient in sunny climates. Plus, installing solar panels will reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, reduce your carbon footprint, and ultimately help mitigate the onset of climate change.

Finally, solar panels can make your home far more valuable. According to Zillow, the average home experiences a 4.1% increase in value after adding a solar power system. With an average home value of $217,345 in Missouri, the average value increase from solar panels will be close to $8,911.

Are you sold on solar for your home? Get a free quote from local solar installers.

Missouri Solar Cost

The average cost of a solar panel installation in Missouri ranges from $11,730 to $15,870. On a cost-per-watt basis, solar panel installation in Missouri falls between $2.35 and $3.17. These costs have dropped considerably in recent years.

How Much Can You Save on Solar in Missouri?

You can save lots of money on your electricity bills when you purchase solar panels in Missouri. When solar panels produce electricity for your home, they can reduce the energy you pull from the grid, thus lowering your bills. 

With average electricity rates in Missouri around $0.12/kilowatt-hour (kWh), homeowners can save $53,100 over 20 years by installing a 5kW solar system. These energy savings are helped by the fact solar panels can last more than 25 years before needing to be replaced.

The Best Solar Incentives, Tax Credits, & Rebates in Missouri

Multiple public and private incentives in Missouri can help you save on your purchase of solar panels:

Incentive	Summary	End Date
Federal Solar Tax Credit (ITC)	Missouri residents can take advantage of the Federal Solar Tax Credit and get a 30% rebate of their total solar system cost applied to their tax returns.	2032
Missouri Solar Property Tax Exemption	The solar property tax exemption means that Missouri residents and property owners will not have to pay additional property taxes for the added value to their homes created by installing solar energy systems.	None
Net Metering	Net metering allows homeowners that create excess energy to use it as a credit on their next electric bill. All energy providers are required to offer this option to homeowners.	None
Kansas City Power & Light Solar Rebate	Kansas City Power & Light customers can receive rebates of $0.25 per watt of solar power installed in their homes.	None
Ameren Missouri Solar PV Rebate Program	Residents of St. Louis and customers of Ameren Missouri are eligible for rebates for installing a solar energy system. You can receive $0.25/watt up front, which amounts to $2,625 in savings for the typical 10.5-kW system.	None
Columbia Water & Light Solar Rebates	Customers of Columbia Water & and Light Electric Company can earn a rebate of $375 to $625 per kilowatt of solar power generation for systems less than 10 kW. Customers may also be eligible for a rebate between $300 and $500 for systems between 10 and 50 kW. Finally, you can get a $400 rebate for installing a qualifying solar water heater.	None
Liberty Utilities Solar Rebate	Liberty Utilities offers customers a rebate of up to $0.25 per watt for installing a solar energy system.	None
USDA REAP Grant	The Rural Energy for America Program assists agricultural producers and rural small businesses in reducing their energy costs and consumption by providing loan financing and grant funding to purchase and install renewable energy systems. Eligible participants in the REAP program are agricultural producers, with at least 50 percent of their gross income coming from agricultural operations and small businesses in eligible rural areas.	None
State Sales Tax Credit	The state of Missouri does not offer sales tax credits for purchasing solar energy systems.	None

Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a 30% federal tax credit for purchased home solar systems installed by the end of 2032. Homeowners can apply this credit to their income taxes, making it a great incentive available to all Americans, no matter where they live. The American solar industry has grown by more than 10,000% since the ITC was enacted in 2006, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and bringing billions of dollars into the American economy.

Missouri Solar Property Tax Exemption

The Missouri Solar Property Tax Exemption excludes the added value of a solar installation in Missouri from your home’s value for tax purposes. Because solar panels regularly increase the value of your home, this tax exemption is a great way of avoiding having to pay taxes on your home’s high value.

Missouri Net Metering

Missouri passed a law in 2007 that requires all electric utilities to offer “true net metering” to customers with solar PV systems up to 100 kW. This policy means that your solar panels will be connected to the public-utility power grid, and surplus power created by your panels will be transferred to the grid. You can offset the cost of power drawn from the electricity grid due to net metering. The minimum compensation you’ll receive is the avoided-cost rate, which is below the retail rate. While the policy specifics of net metering programs will vary among providers, this remains massively beneficial for solar owners.

Utility Solar Rebate Program

Several utility companies offer rebates for installing photovoltaic (PV) systems (solar energy systems):

• Ameren Missouri Solar PV Rebate Program: If you live in or near St. Louis, you’re probably an Ameren Missouri customer. If you are, you are most likely eligible for a rebate for installing a solar energy system. Although the rebate’s size depends on your system’s size, you can receive $0.25/watt upfront, which amounts to $2,625 in savings for the typical 10.5-kW system.
• Columbia Water & Light Solar Rebates: If you are a customer of Columbia Water & and Light Electric Company, you can earn a rebate of $375 to $625 per kilowatt of solar power generation for systems less than 10 kW. You may also be eligible for a rebate between $300 and $500 for systems between 10 and 50 kW. Finally, you can get a $400 rebate for installing a qualifying solar water heater.
• Kansas City Power & Light Solar Rebate: If you are a Kansas City Power & Light customer, you may be eligible for a rebate of $0.25 per watt of solar power installed on your home.
• Liberty Utilities Solar Rebate: Like the Ameren incentive, Liberty Utilities offers customers a similar rebate plan. This means you could be eligible for a rebate of up to $0.25 per watt for installing a solar energy system if you are a customer of Liberty Utilities.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program

The state of Missouri offers access to energy-efficient power systems and upgrades through the Ygrene™ PACE financing program. You may be eligible to receive this assistance if your energy projects include solar, HVAC, lighting, energy controls, roofing, or windows. Moreover, Set the PACE St. Louis, a program only available to St. Louis residents, offers 100% upfront, fixed-rate, long-term financing for qualified energy upgrades, including energy efficiency, water efficiency, and renewable energy systems.

Commercial Missouri Solar Incentives

Solar Incentives for Nonprofits and Businesses in Missouri

Unfortunately, Missouri does not offer financial incentives specific to nonprofits or businesses. However, your business may be eligible for the ITC, which was extended to businesses as a part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Now, many non-tax-exempt businesses can receive a 30% rebate on the total solar installation cost through the end of 2032.

USDA REAP Grant

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created a program designed to increase investments in clean energy called the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP assists agricultural producers and rural small businesses to reduce their energy costs and consumption by providing loan financing and grant funding to purchase and install renewable energy systems. Eligible participants in the REAP program are agricultural producers, with at least 50 percent of their gross income coming from agricultural operations and small businesses in eligible rural areas.

State Sales Tax Credit

Missouri does not offer sales tax credits for purchasing solar energy systems.

Final Thoughts: The Best Missouri Solar Incentives

Missouri is a great state to invest in residential, commercial, or industrial solar energy systems, especially because the state has implemented a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). An RPS is a regulatory mandate to increase the production of renewable energy such as wind, solar, biomass, and other alternatives to fossil fuels. Because of its RPS, Missouri is committed to growing its solar industry.

With financial assistance from the federal government, the state government, and additional local incentives, Missouri residents have a great deal of support to draw from when purchasing solar panels. The time is right to get into the solar game, with utility prices soaring and the cost of solar energy dropping fast. If you are interested in purchasing, plenty of great companies can install solar on your home.

House Method’s Solar Ranking and Review Methodology

At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. That’s why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each solar energy company/service according to our methodology.

Our research team dug deep into the fine print of contracts, combed through more than one hundred customer reviews, and thoroughly investigated each solar energy company’s services, costs, and products. We’ve done the homework for you by researching nearly all the solar energy companies on the market so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home.

We developed a formula to objectively determine the best solar energy companies and give each a score out of 10 based on the following criteria:

• Services Offered (2.0): What does each solar provider offer as a basic service with any solar installation plan? In-house labor led to companies being ranked higher than those that contracted their labor out to third parties. Similarly, battery installation and panel monitoring were key factors that we looked for in each provider.
• Warranty Period (2.0): Solar warranties can cover labor, components, or both. The length of these warranty plans is of chief importance. Companies that offer 25-year warranty coverage got our highest score in this category.
• Other Offerings (2.0): Solar companies that provide secondary services are rated highly. These include obtaining permits to operate (PTO), providing financing and price matching options, and mobile performance tracking options.
• Company Reputation (1.5): Our main metrics for rating company reputation were BBB accreditation and rating and complaint response rate. These are reliable indicators of quality. Many of our best providers have a 100% complaint response rate.
• Customer Service (1.5): Availability via phone and online is key for modern home service providers in any niche. Those that offer both, along with clearly posted business hours and in-person estimates, are rated highly.
• Availability (1.0): Companies with availability in more than 40 states received our highest score in this category. We rated providers with a more limited presence progressively lower, depending on exact reach.

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