Solar in Kearney, NE
With Dawson Power District's electricity at about 12.1¢ per kWh and 1,511 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Kearney home today: about a 18.9-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 18.9 yrsNebraska: 19.7 yrs
- 25-year net
- $5,842after paying $16,500
- Sun
- 1,511kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 12.1¢33% below U.S. average
A typical Kearney home, by the numbers
| Utility | Dawson Power District |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 1,308 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 5.2 kW, about 12 panels, 7,857 kWh a year (50% of use) |
| Cost | $16,500 |
| First-year savings | $949 |
| Payback | 18.9 years |
| Exported power | Avoided-cost export credit (Nebraska rule) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 1.5% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Kearney
- Owner-occupied homes
- 61%
- Single-family detached
- 57%
- Median home value
- $245k
- Median year built
- 1983
- Population
- 34,246
Census ACS 2020–2024.
Installers working in Kearney
Public installation records for Nebraska don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Nebraska.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Kearney
Is solar worth it in Kearney, NE?
For a typical home in Kearney, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 5.2 kW system costs about $16,500 after state incentives, saves about $949 in year one and pays back in about 18.9 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Kearney?
About 1,511 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 4% more than the Nebraska average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Kearney?
Most homes in Kearney are served by Dawson Power District, at about 12.1¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Southern Public Power District.
How much do solar panels cost in Kearney?
A fair cash price is around $3.00 per watt before incentives, so about $16,500 for a 5.2 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Hastings 20.7 yrs
- Grand Island 25 yrs
- Norfolk 24.7 yrs
- Lincoln 21.8 yrs
- Fremont 19.8 yrs
- Papillion 22.2 yrs
- Omaha 16.5 yrs
- Bellevue 21.9 yrs
- All of Nebraska
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.