Solar Companies in Columbus, Ohio

What Columbus homeowners actually pay for power

Columbus homeowners in Franklin County, including Hilliard, Dublin, Westerville, Grove City, Gahanna and Reynoldsburg, are typically served by AEP Ohio. AEP Ohio customers pay about 19.5¢ per kilowatt-hour all-in — supply plus delivery plus riders, not the supply rate alone. That number is the reason most Columbus homeowners start comparing solar: every kilowatt-hour your roof produces is one you stop buying at that price.

See the full breakdown on our AEP Ohio rate page, read why AEP Ohio bills are so high, or compare every utility in the state on Ohio electric rates.

Central Ohio demand is rising fast

Data centers around New Albany and western Licking County are adding more electric demand to central Ohio than the grid has seen in decades. AEP Ohio has asked regulators for new rules just to manage it, and the cost of that growth shows up in PJM capacity prices and transmission riders on every Columbus bill. How data centers affect Ohio bills →

Columbus suburbs and roofs

Most homes in Hilliard, Dublin, Westerville, Grove City and Pickerington were built in the last 40 years, with simple roof lines and asphalt shingles that still have life left. Those are the easiest homes to put solar on. Many have HOAs that set rules on where panels can go, so we read your covenants before designing anything.

Why Ohio rates keep climbing

Ohio utilities buy the power for their standard offer through PJM, the regional grid operator. PJM’s capacity auction cleared at a record price for 2025/26 and at its new price cap for 2026/27, and that cost passes through to AEP Ohio customers. Transmission riders added more in 2026. None of it is something AEP Ohio decides on its own, and none of it is likely to reverse soon.

Solar changes the arithmetic because it fixes part of your cost. A power purchase agreement in Columbus means no upfront payment: a licensed partner installs and owns the system, you buy the power it produces at a set rate, and you keep buying the rest from AEP Ohio as normal.

How Ohio credits the power you send back

Ohio net metering credits exported power at the energy (generation) part of your utility’s standard offer, not the full retail rate, and the credit carries forward on your bill. That makes Ohio a use-it-yourself state: the power your panels make is worth the most when your home uses it as it is produced. That is why we size Ohio systems to your actual usage rather than oversizing, and why a battery that stores midday solar for the evening earns more here than in a full-retail state. How Ohio net metering works →

Energy community status in Franklin County

On Baker Tilly’s 2026–27 IRA energy-community map, all of Franklin County is shown as likely qualifying under the statistical-area test. For a lease or PPA, that can add a bonus to the federal credit the system owner claims, which supports the economics behind $0-down pricing. It is confirmed address by address, and it does not change anything you claim yourself.

What solar costs in Columbus

There is no single answer, and any site giving you one without seeing your roof is guessing. What decides it is your usage, your roof’s orientation, shading and condition, and the 19.5¢ rate you pay AEP Ohio today. If your roof does not work, we say so on the first call rather than after you sign.

The federal residential purchase credit ended for systems bought after December 31, 2025, and Ohio has no state solar tax credit. What carries the economics in Ohio is the rate you avoid buying from your utility. For a lease or PPA, the commercial clean-energy credit stays with the system owner, which is what makes $0 down possible.

Common questions from Columbus homeowners

Who is my electric utility in Columbus?

Most of Franklin County, including Columbus, Hilliard, Dublin, Westerville, Grove City, Gahanna and Reynoldsburg, is AEP Ohio territory. A few municipal and cooperative areas exist on the edges, so we check your address. Your bill names your utility at the top; if it does not match, call us at (832) 263-8055 and we will check your address against the service map.

Does solar still make sense now that the federal credit ended?

For a lease or PPA, yes — the credit belongs to the system owner, not you, and that is what makes $0 down possible. For a purchase, the math changed in 2026 and we will show you the honest version.

What happens if I sell my house?

A lease or PPA transfers to the buyer. The new owner takes over the same rate, and the paperwork is handled for you.

How long does an install take in Columbus?

Installation is typically one to three days. Permits with your city or township and interconnection with AEP Ohio take longer, and both are handled for you.