Solar in Oklahoma City: OG&E, hail reality and net billing

Local market

Solar in Oklahoma City by the numbers

Metro population

1,430K

Typical cost per watt

$2.70

Paid lead cost

$80.00 to $150.00

Installer density

Moderate

Climate for solar

How much sun does Oklahoma City get?

Oklahoma City gets around 5.1 peak sun hours per day with 234 sunny days per year, strong for solar. Hail is the dominant climate risk; central Oklahoma sees several significant hail events per year, with the March to June storm season being peak. UL 61730 Class 4 impact-rated panels are essential. Tornado-prone weather requires proper structural attachment.

Who delivers power here

Utilities serving Oklahoma City

Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E), investor-owned, serves most of the Oklahoma City metro, Various electric cooperatives (CKenergy, Caddo Electric Cooperative) serve rural outlying areas, Edmond Electric and OG&E both serve parts of Edmond.

For how exports are credited and what the statewide rules look like, see the Oklahoma solar market guide.

Permits and inspection

Pulling a residential solar permit in Oklahoma City

City of Oklahoma City Development Services typically runs residential solar permits in 2 to 4 weeks. SolarAPP+ is not accepted. Surrounding Oklahoma and Cleveland county jurisdictions (Norman, Edmond, Moore) run their own permits with 2 to 4 week typical timelines. OG&E interconnection post-install typically runs 4 to 6 weeks.

Running a solar company here

Running a solar company in Oklahoma City

Running a solar company in Oklahoma City means working in a market constrained by non-retail export compensation and dominated by hail risk. The best OKC operators spec UL 61730 Class 4 impact-rated panels as standard, size systems to self-consumption, and sell on long-term rate protection rather than fast payback. Lead costs run $80 to $150 on Google search.

Questions people ask

Solar in Oklahoma City: FAQ

Does OG&E have net metering?

Not retail-rate. OG&E credits residential solar exports at the utility's avoided cost rate (approximately $0.03 per kWh), substantially below the retail rate of about $0.12. The 2014 Oklahoma Corporation Commission order permits utilities to charge solar customers fixed grid-connection fees in addition to standard rates.

How long does a solar permit take in Oklahoma City?

City of Oklahoma City Development Services typically runs residential solar permits in 2 to 4 weeks. Surrounding cities (Norman, Edmond, Moore) run 2 to 4 weeks typically. OG&E interconnection post-install adds 4 to 6 weeks.

How much does solar cost in Oklahoma City?

Oklahoma City runs about $2.70 per watt installed for residential, meaning a 7 kW system typically costs around $18,900 gross. After the 30 percent federal tax credit, net cost is approximately $13,200. Hail-rated Class 4 panels are standard spec and included in that range.

Is solar worth it in Oklahoma City?

For OKC homes with high electricity use and south-facing roofs sized to self-consumption, yes but slowly: payback typically runs 11 to 15 years with the federal tax credit. The combination of non-retail export compensation and no state incentives stretches payback. Hail resilience with Class 4 panels is essential; cheap non-rated panels regularly fail.