Duke Energy Ohio Solar

Who This Page Is For

Duke Energy Ohio serves much of southwestern Ohio, including Greater Cincinnati. If your bill says Duke Energy Ohio, this page is the utility context. Cincinnati-area permits and neighborhoods are covered on solar in Cincinnati, Ohio.

AEP Ohio and AES Ohio customers should use their own guides: AEP Ohio solar and AES Ohio solar. Statewide programs are on Ohio solar incentives.

What a Duke Energy Ohio Bill Is Made Of

Keep these pieces separate when you read a Duke Energy Ohio bill:

• Duke Energy Ohio distribution — the wires company that delivers power and processes interconnection / net metering
• Standard generation service (SSO) — default generation supply if you have not chosen a competitive supplier
• Competitive retail electric supplier (CRES) — an alternate generation supplier you may have chosen; it can change the generation line without changing who owns the wires
• Interconnection — the application and agreement that allow the array to operate in parallel with Duke’s system
• Net metering (Rider NM) — how Delivered vs exported energy is measured and credited under Duke’s tariff
• Export / excess-generation credits — under Rider NM, excess is credited using the Rider RE kWh charge on the applicable tariff, not every stacked retail component

Ohio’s Energy Choice “Price to Compare” for Duke Energy Ohio is a generation-only figure that changes over time. As of September 2026 it has been published near $0.1069/kWh for residential generation. That is not the homeowner’s complete utility cost — distribution, riders, and other charges still apply. We prefer reading your actual bill over building a quote around a temporary Price to Compare.

Self-consumed solar still offsets usage at the house before it ever shows as an export. Exported kilowatt-hours do not automatically eliminate every component of the retail bill.

Duke Energy Ohio Net Metering (Rider NM)

Duke’s controlling residential net-metering tariff is Rider NM (P.U.C.O. Electric No. 19, Sheet No. 48.6, effective January 2, 2019). Net metering is available to qualifying customer-generators on request, first-come, first-served.

A qualifying generator must be fueled by solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, or hydropower (or use a microturbine or fuel cell); located on the customer’s premises; operated in parallel with Duke’s transmission and distribution facilities; and intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer’s electricity requirements.

Rider NM defines net metering as measuring the difference, in a billing period, between the electricity Duke supplied to the customer and the electricity the customer generated and delivered to Duke.

How Credits Work on a Duke Bill

If Duke delivered more kWh to the house than the house delivered to Duke in the billing period, the customer is billed for that kWh difference.

If the house delivered more kWh to Duke than Duke supplied, the customer receives an excess-generation credit. Rider NM calculates that credit using the kWh charge from Rider RE (Retail Energy) on the applicable rate tariff. That is not the same as saying every exported kilowatt-hour is worth the full stacked residential rate.

The customer may request in writing a refund that amounts to, but is not greater than, an annual true-up of accumulated credits over a twelve-month period. That is a written-request right in the tariff, not an automatic mailed check.

We read your actual Duke bill against the current rider rather than quoting a temporary cents-per-kWh headline.

Metering and Interconnection

Net metering uses a single meter that can register flow in each direction. If the existing meter cannot measure two-way flow, Duke installs an appropriate meter at the customer’s expense upon written request.

Interconnection is a separate step. Rider NM requires an application for Interconnection Service and an Interconnection Agreement under Rate IS – Interconnection Service. Statewide interconnection standards sit in Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4901:1-22. The statewide net-metering rule is OAC 4901:1-10-28, including the 120% sizing test at interconnection.

Application fees and timelines are set in Duke’s interconnection materials and can change. We confirm the current packet when we prepare your options.

Options We Compare for Duke Customers

We compare Propel (prepaid third-party ownership), cash, loan, and PPA for your home, utility, usage, and goals. See solar financing in Ohio and solar PPA in Ohio.

Hardware cost drivers are on solar panel cost in Ohio. Whether solar makes sense for this house is a separate question: is solar worth it in Ohio.

Duke Energy Ohio Solar — FAQs

Does Duke pay full retail for exported solar?

Not under Rider NM’s excess-generation formula. Excess is credited using the Rider RE kWh charge on the applicable tariff. Self-consumed solar still offsets usage at the house before it ever shows as an export.

Can I get a refund of leftover credits?

Rider NM allows a written request for a refund no greater than an annual twelve-month true-up of accumulated credits. It is not described as an automatic check.

Do I still need interconnection if I only want net metering?

Yes. Rider NM requires Interconnection Service under Rate IS before net metering applies.

Official Sources

• Duke Energy Ohio Rider NM (Sheet No. 48.6, effective January 2, 2019)
• Ohio Administrative Code 4901:1-10-28 (net metering)
• Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4901:1-22 (interconnection)

Last reviewed: September 2026. Duke tariffs and fees can change.