Lansing Energy Guide: Solar, Batteries, Backup Power and EV

In short: Most Lansing homes are on the Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL), the city-owned utility. Its customers averaged about 92 minutes without power in 2024, far less than the state’s big utilities (EIA). BWL pays a $500-per-kW solar rebate, credits exports at 7.5¢ and bills every home on time-of-use prices.

This page covers what is specific to the Lansing area: BWL’s rules, Consumers Energy around the city, permits and charging. For statewide rules, see our Michigan energy guide.

Lansing at a glance

• Lansing Board of Water & Light: about 19.8¢ per kWh on average for homes in 2024; 92 minutes without power per customer and 0.86 interruptions (EIA-861, 2024). BWL reports one figure with no separate major-storm split.
• Consumers Energy (much of the surrounding area): 19.1¢; 503 minutes with major events, 155 without; 1.32 interruptions (EIA-861, 2024).
• Tri-County Electric Cooperative (rural parts of Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties): 18.0¢; 239 minutes with major events, 105 without (EIA-861, 2024).
• Sun: about 3.8 kWh per square meter per day (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,110 kWh a year per kW of panels.
• Top hazards: Ingham County is “very high” for strong wind and “relatively high” for cold waves, ice storms and tornadoes (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
• Public charging: 204 ports at 76 locations in Lansing and 35 in East Lansing (AFDC, October 3, 2026).

Your utility and what it means

• BWL, rates: every residential customer on the standard rate is billed by time of use: an energy rate of 15.04¢ per kWh off-peak and 17.78¢ on-peak, all year. On-peak is 1 to 8 p.m. on weekdays; nights, weekends and six holidays are off-peak. An optional Off-Peak Savers rate widens the gap (BWL, checked October 3, 2026).
• BWL, solar: a rebate of $500 per kW, up to $2,000 for 4 kW, and an outflow credit of 7.5¢ per kWh for power you send back. BWL builds the credit from its average on-peak energy cost (5.0¢), a capacity value (1.2¢) and a renewable energy credit value (1.3¢). Contact BWL before you buy.
• BWL, EV charging: a $1,000 rebate if you add a second meter on its Rate 22 for a hardwired charger, or $500 if you join the Off-Peak Savers rate instead.
• Consumers Energy: Distributed Generation credits exports at its power supply rate; the PowerMIDrive rebate pays $500 for a Level 2 charger (up to $1,000 if income-qualified) with the Nighttime Savers rate.

Backup power in Lansing

Which utility you have matters more than anything else. A BWL customer averaged about an hour and a half without power in 2024. A Consumers Energy customer just outside the city averaged about 8.4 hours with major storms, and Consumers had several large events in 2026, including about 346,000 customer outages from March 13 and 269,000 from July 1 across its system (MPSC). Strong wind is Ingham County’s top hazard.

Outage credits differ too. Consumers customers get an automatic $44-a-day credit under state rules once an outage passes 16, 48 or 96 hours, depending on how widespread it is (MPSC, September 2026). BWL is city-owned, so those rules do not apply; BWL instead offers a $25 credit, on application within three months, when its own equipment leaves you without power for 72 hours or more.

For BWL homes, a portable power station often covers typical outages. For Consumers and co-op homes, consider a home battery or a natural gas generator that can run the furnace and sump pump. Compare them in backup power options and use the battery backup calculator or the generator sizing tool. Safety first: the CPSC says generators run outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, never in a garage; fit battery-backed CO alarms, and have a licensed electrician install the transfer switch (generator installation).

Solar in Lansing

Panels here make about 1,110 kWh a year per kW by our rough estimate. On BWL, solar you use at home during weekday afternoons saves the 17.78¢ on-peak energy rate; exports earn 7.5¢. So a kW used entirely at home saves around $200 a year, while a kW exported entirely earns about $83 (our estimates). The lesson: size the system to your own daytime use, and make the house efficient first, as BWL itself advises.

BWL also gives buyers a price yardstick: it expects about $3.00 per watt installed, and the average array in its territory is 6 kW, roughly $18,000 before rebates. It warns against $0-down offers and door-to-door sellers and suggests at least three bids. Our solar potential tool and solar savings calculator help you check a quote; see solar installation and solar cost.

Batteries in Lansing

On BWL, a battery’s main job is shifting solar into the 1 to 8 p.m. on-peak window, since exports earn 7.5¢ while on-peak power costs 17.78¢. With short average outages, backup is a secondary benefit inside the city. Outside it, on Consumers or Tri-County lines, backup counts for much more. We found no BWL battery rebate. See home battery installation and home battery cost.

EV charging in Lansing

At about 30 kWh per 100 miles and BWL’s 15.04¢ off-peak energy rate, overnight home charging costs roughly $4.50 per 100 miles before fixed charges (an estimate). BWL’s choice of rebates is unusual: $1,000 with a separate EV meter, or $500 on Off-Peak Savers. Ask an electrician whether your panel needs an upgrade; the second-meter option avoids that for some homes, BWL notes. A Level 2 charger needs a licensed electrician and a permit. See EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.

Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Lansing: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.

Permits and inspections

• City of Lansing: the Building Safety office in Economic Development and Planning handles building and trade permits.
• East Lansing and surrounding townships: your own city or township building department.
• Utility approval: on BWL, the contractor submits an interconnection application before building; Consumers and Tri-County have their own processes. Check HOA rules in writing.

Cities we cover

• Lansing

Get help

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Lansing energy FAQ

What does BWL pay for solar?

A one-time rebate of $500 per kW, up to $2,000, and an ongoing outflow credit of 7.5¢ per kWh for power you send to the grid. Power you use yourself saves the full time-of-use rate. Confirm current terms with BWL’s distributed generation team before buying.

When is electricity cheapest on BWL?

Outside 1 to 8 p.m. on weekdays. On the standard rate, the off-peak energy price is 15.04¢ per kWh and on-peak 17.78¢, all year; weekends and six holidays are off-peak. Run the dishwasher, dryer and EV charger at night or on weekends.

Do BWL customers get outage credits?

BWL offers a $25 credit if its own equipment leaves you without power for 72 hours or more, and you must apply within three months. The state’s automatic $44-a-day credit covers utilities regulated by the MPSC, such as Consumers Energy, not city-owned BWL.

Which utility serves my Lansing-area home?

Look at your bill. Lansing, East Lansing and parts of nearby townships are on BWL; much of the surrounding area is on Consumers Energy; some rural homes are Tri-County Electric Cooperative members. Rebates, credits and rates differ, so check before getting quotes.

Sources

Utilities, prices and outages: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 data for 2024. BWL pages on solar, time-of-use rates, EV rebates and outage credits; Consumers Energy Distributed Generation and charger rebate pages. Storms and outage credits: Michigan Public Service Commission outage history and September 2026 release. City of Lansing Building Safety. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Charging: Alternative Fuels Data Center. Generator safety: CPSC. All checked October 3, 2026.