Skip to content
RoofQualify

Solar in Franklin County, OH

Solar panels in Columbus, OH

4.1 peak sun hours per day. See what the data says about Columbus, then check your specific roof free.

Utility territory: AEP Ohio

Local context

What limits Columbus roofs

Columbus averages 4.1 peak sun hours per day in the regional data. Roof orientation, usable area, and shade can reduce production further for an individual property.

Solar data for Columbus

Peak sun hours / day
4.1 hrs

Modeled annual average.

Typical system size
6–10 kW

Residential, based on typical household load.

Estimated first-year savings
$900–$1,550

Per year for a typical 6–10 kW system. The high end assumes the larger array.

Roofs suitable for solar
58–70%

Modeled from regional adoption data.

Primary utility
AEP Ohio

Contact your utility for current net billing enrollment status.

Net metering / billing
Net Billing (RCP)

Ohio utilities credit exported solar only at the generation portion of the rate — recently about 3–5¢/kWh, well below the full retail rate, because distribution and transmission charges are not offset — so self-consumption maximizes value.

Estimates use the average Ohio current utility rate (before solar) of $0.20/kWh (EIA, retrieved Aug 2026) and modeled solar production; individual results vary with your rate, usage, roof orientation, and shading.

Personalized estimate

Estimate your first-year solar savings

Start with your bill or adjust the rate and typical system size for Columbus.

kW

Typical homes: 6–10 kW.

$/ kWh

Prefilled with the state residential average.

Estimated first-year savings

$1,200/ yr

$900–$1,550/yr for a typical 6–10 kW system — the low end is a smaller array, the high end a larger one.

Estimate — individual results vary with your rate, usage, roof orientation, and shading. Assumes an 85% system derate and 50% self-consumption; exported energy uses the local net-billing estimate.

City averages are a starting point — check your address for your verified result.

Frequently asked questions

How much sun does Columbus get for solar?

Columbus receives approximately 4.1 peak sun hours per day on average, based on modeled regional data.

What is the estimated first-year savings from solar in Columbus?

For a typical 6–10 kW system in Columbus, first-year savings are estimated at $900–$1,550 per year: the low end uses the smaller system, while the high end is up to the larger system. Estimates use the average Ohio current utility rate (before solar) of $0.20/kWh (EIA, retrieved Aug 2026) and modeled solar production; individual results vary with your rate, usage, roof orientation, and shading. These are educational estimates, not guarantees.

What can limit solar production in Columbus?

Columbus averages 4.1 peak sun hours per day in the regional data. Roof orientation, usable area, and shade can reduce production further for an individual property.

Data source: City figures are modeled estimates for general guidance — not a quote for any specific property.

Ready to check your roof in Columbus?

The city data above is a regional estimate. Enter your address to get a personalized result based on your actual roof.

Solar data for nearby Ohio cities

View all cities