Solar in Missouri

Solar Landscape in Missouri

Missouri's electricity market is served by several large utilities, all of which are required to offer net metering under the Easy Connection Act. Ameren Missouri (Union Electric Company) is the state's largest utility, serving the greater St. Louis area and much of eastern Missouri. Evergy Missouri (formerly Kansas City Power & Light) serves the Kansas City metro area. Liberty Utilities serves the Joplin area, and Empire District Electric (now part of Liberty) serves southwest Missouri.

Columbia Water & Light, a municipal utility, offers generous solar rebates and low-interest solar loans, making Columbia one of the most solar-friendly markets in the state. City Utilities of Springfield also serves a significant customer base in southwest Missouri.

Permitting

Missouri does not have statewide uniform solar permitting standards. Permitting requirements differ across the state's 114 counties and more than 900 incorporated municipalities. Each jurisdiction sets its own process, fees, and timelines.

No Missouri jurisdictions have been confirmed as SolarAPP+ participants as of March 2026. Columbia, MO has a relatively streamlined online permitting process with 3-5 business day review. St. Louis has a dedicated solar permitting resource. Rural unincorporated areas may require paper applications reviewed over 4-6 weeks.

Typical residential solar permitting in Missouri takes 3-30 business days depending on the jurisdiction. Urban areas tend to have faster, more standardized processes. The overall installation timeline from contract to permission to operate is generally 6-12 weeks.

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