In short: Kentucky Utilities (KU), which serves Lexington, Georgetown and Richmond, charged homes about 11.9¢ per kWh in 2024. Its customers lost 582 minutes of power that year, but only 83 on normal days; storms such as Hurricane Helene caused the rest. KU credits exported solar at 7.534¢, and the city runs its own Solarize program.
This page covers Lexington and Fayette County plus Georgetown (Scott County) and Richmond (Madison County). Statewide rules, licensing and averages are on our Kentucky energy guide. Here we compare KU with the co-ops around it, and add the city’s solar programs and Lexington’s own electrical permit rules.
Lexington at a glance
- Kentucky Utilities (KU): serves Lexington, Georgetown and Richmond. About 11.9¢ per kWh for homes (2024 average). Outages in 2024: 582 minutes per customer with major storms, 83 on normal days, 1.3 interruptions (EIA-861).
- Blue Grass Energy: the co-op serving parts of Fayette, Scott and Madison counties. About 12.3¢; 597 minutes with storms, 182 on normal days.
- Clark Energy: serves parts of Fayette and Madison. About 13.3¢; 1,301 minutes with storms, 269 on normal days.
- Sun: 4.06 kWh per square meter per day (NASA POWER), about 1,185 kWh a year per kW of panels by our rough estimate.
- Top hazards: cold waves, ice storms, lightning, strong wind, tornadoes and winter weather all rated “relatively high” in Fayette County (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Public charging: 106 public ports in Lexington, 31 in Richmond and 15 in Georgetown (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
KU. New solar customers take KU’s NMS-2 rider: the power you use yourself saves the full rate, and every kWh you send to the grid earns a bill credit of 7.534¢ (tariff effective February 16, 2026). KU’s standard residential rate since September 1, 2026 is 11.396¢ per kWh plus $0.58 a day, before fuel and other adjustments. Credits offset energy charges only, roll forward and are never paid in cash. Systems are capped at 45 kW, most applications carry no review fee, and KU sets the net meter after your local inspection. Adding a battery does not count as a capacity change, so older NMS-1 customers can add storage and keep their kWh credits.
KU also offers Solar Share, a community solar subscription from its farm in Simpsonville. The City of Lexington itself has bought more than 100 shares since 2021.
Blue Grass Energy and Clark Energy. These co-ops set their own net metering terms. Blue Grass Energy’s net metering page says it needs a copy of the building permit with final inspection sign-off before it sets a net meter. We could not confirm either co-op’s export credit, so ask before you sign.
Backup power in Lexington
For KU customers, about 86% of 2024’s outage minutes came on major event days. When Hurricane Helene’s remnants hit on September 27, 2024, more than 205,000 LG&E and KU customers lost power, and the companies named Lexington and Richmond among the hardest-hit areas. Co-op members face longer outages on ordinary days too: Clark Energy averaged more than 21 hours in 2024. Fayette County’s ice storm and winter weather ratings mean a winter outage can come when heat matters most.
- KU homes in town: a portable power station or home battery covers most outages; plan for a day or more if you depend on a sump pump or medical equipment.
- Co-op homes on the edges of the metro: long outages favor a standby generator on natural gas or propane, or a battery with solar to recharge.
The CPSC says to run portable generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house with exhaust pointed away, never in a garage, with battery-backed CO alarms inside. A licensed electrician installs the transfer switch. See the generator sizing tool, our backup power guide and generator installation.
Solar in Lexington
Each kW of panels in Lexington makes about 1,185 kWh a year by our estimate. Used at home at KU’s 2024 average of 11.9¢, that is worth about $140 a year; exported at 7.534¢, about $89. For Blue Grass Energy members, self-use is worth about $146. Size panels to what you use during the day. These are estimates, not quotes.
Lexington earned Gold SolSmart accreditation in 2025, a national program for local governments that make solar easier. The city’s Solarize Lexington program offers a free roof assessment, a vetted installer and discounted wholesale pricing across Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Scott and Woodford counties. The 2026 round’s interest forms were due October 2, 2026, with contracts signed by October 16; watch the city’s page for the next round. Each contract is between you and the installer. Richmond’s Madison County is outside the program area.
The federal 25D credit ended for systems completed after 2025. Use the solar potential calculator, compare solar costs and net metering rules, and read solar installation.
Home batteries in Lexington
With exports credited at about two-thirds of KU’s base energy rate, a battery keeps more of your solar at home and gives you backup through ice storms and wind events. For co-op members, the backup role is the bigger reason. See battery installation, home battery cost and the battery backup calculator.
EV charging in Lexington
Lexington has 106 public charging ports, Richmond 31 and Georgetown 15. At home, at about 30 kWh per 100 miles, KU’s 2024 average works out to about $3.56 per 100 miles or $427 for 12,000 miles a year (our estimate). KU’s optional time-of-day rate is 7.811¢ off-peak, which covers nights and weekends, and 24.040¢ on-peak; it is limited to 500 customers, first come, first served. KU also pays a $25 sign-up bonus in its Optimized EV Charging Program, which shifts your charging time. Call KU about a possible service upgrade before adding a Level 2 charger. See EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Lexington: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government: its electrical permit page says permits are required for all electrical work in Fayette County and cost $10 each. Contractors must hold, or employ, a master electrician license and have an LFUCG business license. Homeowners may pull permits only for a home they own and live in, not for rentals, duplexes, vacant property or mobile homes. Inspections go through the Commonwealth Inspection Bureau.
- Solar: the city’s solar page says every residential solar installation needs a permit before work starts; most installers apply for you.
- Georgetown and Richmond: permits come from your city or county.
Check the contractor’s state electrical license (lookup on the Kentucky page) and your HOA’s rules on panels and generators.
Cities we cover
- Lexington
- Georgetown
- Richmond
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Lexington energy FAQ
What does KU pay for exported solar in Lexington?
A bill credit of 7.534¢ per kWh sent to the grid under the NMS-2 rider effective February 16, 2026. Power you use as it is produced saves the full retail rate instead. The Kentucky Public Service Commission resets the credit in KU’s rate cases.
What is Solarize Lexington?
A city program that assesses your roof for free and connects you with one vetted installer at discounted wholesale prices. It covers Fayette and five neighboring counties. The 2026 sign-up closed October 2, 2026; check the city’s page for the next round, and remember the program never calls or knocks unless you filled out its form.
Can I pull my own electrical permit in Lexington?
Yes, for a home you own and live in. Permits cost $10. You can’t pull a homeowner permit for a rental, duplex, vacant property or mobile home; those need a contractor with a master electrician license and an LFUCG business license.
Do co-op members near Lexington have more outages?
In 2024, yes. KU customers averaged 83 outage minutes on normal days; Blue Grass Energy members averaged 182 and Clark Energy members 269. Counting storms, Clark Energy’s figure reached 1,301 minutes, so co-op members have more reason to plan for longer backup.
Sources
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 for 2024 (sales, reliability, service territories), read October 3, 2026. KU electric tariff (Rate RS effective September 1, 2026; NMS-2 and RTOD-Energy effective February 16, 2026), net metering, EV and Hurricane Helene pages. Blue Grass Energy net metering page. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government electrical permit, solar and Solarize Lexington pages. FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025). NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026. CPSC generator safety guidance.