In short: Topeka has taken two major windstorms in two years: in July 2024 it was among the hardest-hit areas, and in June 2026 about 25,000 Evergy customers in the city lost power at once (Evergy). Evergy Kansas Central customers averaged 318 outage minutes in 2024 and paid about 14.3¢ per kWh (EIA).
This page covers Topeka and the homes around it in Shawnee County. Statewide rules, such as the Kansas net metering law and the 10-year property tax exemption for solar, are in our Kansas energy guide.
Topeka at a glance
- Evergy Kansas Central: serves the city. About 14.3¢ per kWh for homes, averaged over 2024; 318 outage minutes per customer with major events and 102 without; 1.7 interruptions a year (EIA-861, 2024).
- FreeState Electric Cooperative: serves rural parts of Shawnee County. About 16.4¢ per kWh; it reported about 515 outage minutes with major events and 407 without (EIA-861, 2024).
- Sun: about 4.3 kWh per square meter a day (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020), or roughly 1,250 kWh a year per kW of panels by our estimate.
- Top hazards: Shawnee County is “very high” for ice storms and winter weather and “relatively high” for lightning and tornadoes (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Public charging: 43 ports at 14 locations in Topeka (AFDC data, October 3, 2026).
Prices above are 2024 averages across all months; the statewide July 2026 figure is on the state page.
Your utility and what it means
- Evergy net metering: Evergy allows Kansas home systems up to 150 kW AC, but caps each one at what your last 12 months of use would need: yearly kWh ÷ 8,760 ÷ 0.144, or about 7.9 kW for 10,000 kWh a year. Future loads don’t count. Exported power offsets power you buy within each bill; a surplus becomes a credit that rolls forward and expires after 12 months. Kansas applications carry a $100 fee and need a production meter, and Evergy changes your meter only after a passed city or county inspection (a return trip costs $91).
- Evergy EV rebate: $500 toward a 240-volt EV outlet or hardwired charger if you enroll in a residential EV or time-of-use rate, or $250 if you don’t. You must own or lease an EV and use a certified electrician. Applications run until funds run out or March 14, 2027. Check the program page.
- Evergy Solar Subscription: Kansas Central customers can buy shares of utility solar at a fixed price instead of installing panels. You can’t combine it with net metering. See the subscription page.
- FreeState members: FreeState says it does not offer net metering. Its rider for home solar or wind is parallel generation, which needs the co-op’s approval, a $700 application fee per its page, and any grid upgrades at your cost. Read FreeState’s renewables page and get the credit rate in writing before you buy.
Backup power in Topeka
Topeka’s recent record is about wind. On July 31, 2024, storms with winds as high as 90 mph cut power to 117,000 Evergy customers; Evergy said the damage was most severe around Topeka and Salina, where more than 100 poles came down, and some outages lasted into the weekend. On June 8, 2026, straight-line winds left about 25,000 Topeka customers without power at the peak, and Evergy expected the city’s repairs to run until late on Wednesday, June 10. Add FEMA’s “very high” ratings for ice storms and winter weather, and Topeka homes need backup that lasts days, not hours.
A natural-gas standby generator is the usual answer for multi-day outages, including in winter, when the furnace blower and sump pump matter most. A home battery starts on its own and suits shorter gaps, or longer ones if solar can recharge it. A portable power station covers phones, Wi-Fi, lights and a CPAP machine. In summer storms, a fridge and freezer full of food are worth protecting too. Compare options in backup power and size yours with the generator sizing tool or the battery backup calculator.
Safety: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says to run a generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, with exhaust away from windows, doors and vents, and never in a garage. Install battery-backed carbon monoxide alarms. After a windstorm, stay well away from downed lines. A licensed electrician should install the transfer switch; see generator installation.
Solar in Topeka
At about 1,250 kWh a year per kW, each kW of panels would offset roughly $180 a year at Evergy Kansas Central’s 2024 average price (estimate, assuming all of it replaces power you would buy). That is a little less than in Wichita, which gets more sun. On Evergy, size the system to your own use; the size cap won’t allow more. On FreeState, without net metering, value depends on how much solar power you use as it’s made, so ask the co-op for its numbers. After the 2024 and 2026 storms, also check that your roof is sound before adding panels, and ask about wind ratings for the racking. Use the solar potential tool and the solar savings calculator, and read solar installation and how net metering works.
Batteries in Topeka
On Evergy, monthly netting means a battery adds little to solar savings; its value is backup and peak-time shifting on a time-of-use plan. On FreeState, where there is no net metering, a battery can store midday solar for the evening, which may matter more. Evergy’s home battery pilot ends in 2026, so don’t count on it. Read home battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging in Topeka
Topeka is the state capital, yet it has only 43 public ports, fewer than Olathe or Lenexa (AFDC data, October 3, 2026), so home charging matters. At about 30 kWh per 100 miles and 14.3¢, home charging costs about $4.30 per 100 miles (estimate), less off-peak. The Evergy rebate pays $500 if you also join a time-of-use rate. Try the EV charging cost calculator and read EV charger installation.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Topeka: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- Topeka: the city’s Development Services Division issues building permits; roof-mounted solar panels fall under residential exterior alterations. Applications go to DSDpermits@topeka.org or to 620 SE Madison, 3rd floor (785-368-3704). The residential permit application asks for the contractor’s city license number and the electrical contractor.
- Outside city limits: ask Shawnee County which permits a generator, battery, solar or EV circuit needs.
- Licensing: Kansas has no statewide electrician license, so ask installers for their city license and confirm it with Development Services. Gas standby generators involve gas work too. If you have an HOA, get its written approval first.
Cities we cover
- Topeka
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Topeka energy FAQ
How long did the June 2026 storm outage last in Topeka?
About 25,000 Evergy customers in Topeka lost power when the storm hit on the night of June 8, 2026. The next evening, Evergy said it expected Topeka’s restoration to be complete late on Wednesday, June 10. Across Kansas, 118,000 customers lost power, and Evergy replaced nearly 600 poles.
Does FreeState Electric offer net metering?
No, FreeState says it does not. Members can connect solar or wind under its parallel generation rider after the co-op approves the application; its page lists a $700 application fee, and any grid upgrades are at the member’s expense. Ask FreeState how exported power is credited before you sign a contract.
Do I need a permit for solar panels in Topeka?
Yes. Roof-mounted solar panels are permitted as a residential exterior alteration through the city’s Development Services Division, and the application asks for your contractors’ city license numbers. Evergy also needs the passed city inspection before it installs your new meter.
Can Topeka homes get solar power without rooftop panels?
Evergy Kansas Central customers can sign up for Evergy’s Solar Subscription and pay a fixed price for shares of utility solar. It isn’t available if you are on net metering, so it suits renters and shaded homes. Check the current share price and terms on Evergy’s page.
Sources
Utilities, prices, outages and solar counts: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 data for 2024. Evergy net metering guide, 2026 installer guide, Kansas EV charging rebate terms, Solar Subscription and battery pilot pages, and Evergy news releases of August 1 and 2, 2024, June 9, 2026 and September 10, 2026, read October 3, 2026. FreeState Electric Cooperative renewables page. City of Topeka Development Services permit information and application, checked October 3, 2026. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Charging: Alternative Fuels Data Center, October 3, 2026. Generator safety: CPSC.