Are Solar Panels Worth It in Missouri?
Missouri homeowners are asking this more than ever as utility rates creep up and solar technology becomes more affordable.
Though solar panels are always great for sustainability, most buyers need to consider the cash value of their energy savings against the cost of their purchase.
Solar’s productivity as a financial investment depends on many factors, but most Missouri property owners earn a net positive in the long run.
Brda Electric is here to help you run the numbers and see if solar is right for you.
What Impacts Your Solar Savings in Missouri?
Because every property is unique, every solar installation is a custom job. Calculating how much you can save on energy with solar is a complex equation that defies simple answers.
Some of the many variables at play include your:
- System size
- Utility pricing
- Roof orientation
- Incentive eligibility
- Property shade
- Financing method (cash, credit, loan)
- Equipment and add-on choices
- Permitting and inspection costs (where applicable)
With that in mind, remember that the figures below are estimates with a wide range of variability.
You can get a more accurate figure by consulting a solar electrician on a custom system.
What’s the Average Cost of Solar Panels in Missouri?
Statewide data helps ballpark your price range and savings potential.
A common comparison you’ll find when shopping around is “cost per watt,” a rate that compares the price of a new system to the energy it produces.
Recent Missouri data shows an average solar cost of roughly $3 per watt, placing a typical 7 kW system in the area of $20,000 (before incentives).
Though pricey for most budgets, Missouri enjoys lower solar prices compared to the national average, in part due to a strong stack of rebate, utility, and tax credit opportunities.
Missouri Solar Incentives, Rebates and Savings
Incentives shorten your payback period—the time until your system pays for itself—in one of two ways:
- By lowering your upfront costs, or
- Increasing the value of your solar energy
At the federal level, the Residential Clean Energy Credit is worth 30 percent of the total cost for qualifying solar systems placed in service by December 31, 2025.
Missouri supports solar at the state level by requiring utility providers to offer net metering, a program that allows solar owners to send their excess energy to the grid and receive credits on their electric bills.
Most of Missouri’s utility companies also offer at least one rebate for qualifying solar equipment purchases.
With a carefully planned installation, you can combine all these incentives into a single project to maximize your savings.
Estimating Your Long-Term Solar Savings
Solar is a long-term investment that starts to earn a return anywhere from 10 to 25 years post-installation.
That’s certainly not quick cash, but it’s a steady power source that offers extra protection from rising utility costs.
A simple way to ballpark your potential savings is to multiply your system’s expected production by your current electricity rate. The average Missouri homeowner will save over $33,000 on energy costs over their equipment’s lifetime.
A well-designed system can maximize your energy output—and, by extension, cash value—continuing to produce long after it’s paid off.
Locals in St. Louis County can see a more detailed cost analysis in Brda Electric’s ultimate buyer’s guide.
Are Solar Panels Worth It for Missouri Homeowners?
For most of Missouri’s long-term property owners, yes.
Missouri residents and business owners actually have better-than-average potential to earn big with solar.
- Equipment and labor prices are competitive
- Electric rates are climbing, increasing the value of energy savings
- Net metering allows owners to lower their utility expenses with surplus solar energy
Solar additions can also bolster your property value, often by 5–10 percent.
Other benefits are harder to quantify, but no less valuable. For example, pairing your panels with a wall battery provides backup power for outages.
Plus, every watt of solar energy you use or sell is a bit less carbon in the atmosphere.
How Brda Electric Helps You Maximize Solar Savings
Solar panels produce the best results when strategically planned, installed and maintained.
Here’s what the basic process looks like with Brda Electric:
- Site assessment and shade analysis to see if solar is a good fit for your property.
- Custom design to maximize energy production within your budget.
- Design approval and permitting (handled by us on your behalf).
- Code-compliant installation, testing, and smart technology setup.
- Scheduling post-installation inspection and utility interconnection (as needed).
- System officially placed in service.
- Preventive maintenance checks and cleaning to optimize performance.
Your Brda professional will also help you navigate the federal, state, and local incentives available to you.
In some cases, your electrician may advise an electrical service upgrade for safety. Other times, all you’ll need is a new circuit dedicated to your solar addition.
No matter your solar goals, Brda Electric can help you get the most from your investment.
Going Solar for a Brighter Missouri
Solar panels are often worth the cost in Missouri, especially when the system is designed for you.
Brda Electric can help you decide if solar is right for your home and, if so, how to get the greatest value from your investment.
Request a fast quote, and someone from our team will be in touch within one business day.