Solar in Ottumwa, IA
With Alliant Energy (Interstate Power & Light)'s electricity at about 18.4¢ per kWh and 1,364 kWh of sun per kW, solar is a close call for a typical Ottumwa home today: about a 15.8-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 15.8 yrsIowa: 22.7 yrs
- 25-year net
- $14,634after paying $22,675
- Sun
- 1,364kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 18.4¢3% above U.S. average
A typical Ottumwa home, by the numbers
| Utility | Alliant Energy (Interstate Power & Light) |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 739 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5.9 kW, about 14 panels, 8,049 kWh a year (91% of use) |
| Cost | $22,675 |
| First-year savings | $1,484 |
| Payback | 15.8 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (Alliant Energy (Interstate Power & Light)) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 1.6% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Ottumwa
- Owner-occupied homes
- 62%
- Single-family detached
- 73%
- Median home value
- $106k
- Median year built
- 1955
- Population
- 25,430
Census ACS 2020–2024.
Older housing stock. Many homes here were built before 1975. Have the roof and electrical panel checked before signing; a roof or panel upgrade can add thousands. Roof first?
Installers working in Ottumwa
Public installation records for Iowa don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Iowa.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Ottumwa
Is solar worth it in Ottumwa, IA?
For a typical home in Ottumwa, solar is a close call at 2026 prices: a 5.9 kW system costs about $22,675 after state incentives, saves about $1,484 in year one and pays back in about 15.8 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Ottumwa?
About 1,364 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 0% less than the Iowa average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Ottumwa?
Most homes in Ottumwa are served by Alliant Energy (Interstate Power & Light), at about 18.4¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by MidAmerican Energy, Access Energy Cooperative.
How much do solar panels cost in Ottumwa?
A fair cash price is around $3.75 per watt before incentives, so about $22,675 for a 5.9 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Iowa City no payback
- Des Moines no payback
- Marshalltown 15.9 yrs
- Cedar Rapids 15.9 yrs
- Ankeny no payback
- West Des Moines no payback
- Urbandale no payback
- Marion 16 yrs
- All of Iowa
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.