Solar in Idaho: is it worth it in 2026?
Idaho is one of the hardest states to make solar pay for itself. Three things decide that: electricity here is among the cheapest in the country (50th most expensive of 51), its sun ranks 12th, and exported power earns much less than the retail rate. Of the 51 states and DC, Idaho has the 51st-fastest payback for a typical home.
The average home here pays about $110 a month for 933 kWh. A 7 kW system sized for that home would knock about $705 off the first year's bills, 53% of the total.
Checked November 12, 2026
What makes solar pay off in Idaho
- Size the system to what you use during the day, not to your whole year: extra power sent to the grid earns about 30% of the retail rate. A battery, or running the dishwasher, laundry and EV charging while the sun is up, raises the value of every panel.
- Cheap power stretches payback. At 11.8¢ per kWh, the price you pay matters more than anything. At $3.34 per watt, the high end of what companies quote, payback for a typical system here goes past 25 years.
Payback by system size
An average Idaho home uses about 11,196 kWh a year. Here's how systems sized to cover part or all of that work out, bought with cash at $2.57 per watt:
| Covers | Size | Price | Makes a year | Payback | 25-year savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52% | 4 kW | $10,280 | 5,872 kWh | over 25 years | −$20 |
| 72% | 5.5 kW | $14,135 | 8,074 kWh | 24 years | $957 |
| 98% | 7.5 kW | $19,275 | 11,010 kWh | 24 years | $2,259 |
| 125% | 9.5 kW | $24,415 | 13,946 kWh | 25 years | $1,080 |
The 5.5 kW system pays back fastest, but the 7.5 kW system saves the most over 25 years, though only if the extra power is used at home. Assumes exported power earns about 30% of the retail rate, prices rise 2.5% a year and one inverter replacement.
How Idaho credits power you send to the grid
Reduced credit (net billing)
Net billing: exported power earns an export credit rate. Rocky Mountain Power's averages about 4.2 cents per kWh; Idaho Power's cut its export rate in September 2025, to about 3 cents most hours.
We haven't found a single published export rate for Idaho, so the calculators assume about 30% of the retail rate. Ask your utility for its rate and enter it.
By utility
- Idaho Power: A time-varying export credit: about 15.7 cents per kWh on summer on-peak hours, 3.4 cents summer off-peak and 2.9 cents the rest of the year, for June 2025 to May 2026. It's updated each June.
Before you sign in Idaho
Check the license. Look the company up with the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (contractor registration), by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license number too.
Idaho has no solar-specific sales law that we know of, so its general consumer protection law applies.
In every state, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule lets you cancel a contract signed at your home until midnight of the third business day.
How to choose a solar company · Contract checklist · Before you sign
Idaho compared with its neighbors
| State | Electricity | kWh per kW | Typical payback | Exported power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 11.8¢ | 1,468 | 24 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Washington | 13.2¢ | 1,088 | 17 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Oregon | 15.5¢ | 1,121 | 15 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Nevada | 13.3¢ | 1,753 | 14 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Utah | 13.0¢ | 1,484 | 22 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| Wyoming | 13.4¢ | 1,533 | 14 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Montana | 13.0¢ | 1,344 | 15 years | Full credit (net metering) |
Questions about solar in Idaho
How long does solar take to pay for itself in Idaho?
About 24 years for a typical 7 kW system bought with cash at the 2026 median price of $2.57 per watt, with no federal tax credit and one inverter replacement. A bigger or smaller system, a different price, or your own usage will change that; the table above shows other sizes.
Does Idaho have net metering?
Not full net metering. Net billing: exported power earns an export credit rate. Rocky Mountain Power's averages about 4.2 cents per kWh; Idaho Power's cut its export rate in September 2025, to about 3 cents most hours.
Is there a solar tax credit in Idaho in 2026?
Not from the federal government for buyers: the 30% homeowner credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. For a typical 7 kW system in Idaho, that credit was worth about $5,397 and brought payback down to 19 years, instead of 24 years now. Leasing companies can still claim a business credit, so ask for a lease or PPA price too. Your state energy office lists any state rebates.
Is a solar battery worth it in Idaho?
On bill savings alone, not quite: a 13.5 kWh battery at about $15,650 would move about 3,548 kWh of solar power a year from the grid to your evenings in a typical Idaho home, adding about $4,332 of savings over 15 years. That doesn't cover its price, so the system's payback goes from 24 years to over 25 years; the rest is paying for backup during outages. Time-of-use rates, battery rebates and utility payments for sharing your battery can tip it; try your numbers in the payback calculator.
Is plug-in solar legal in Idaho?
There's no plug-in solar law yet in Idaho, so your utility may treat a kit like any rooftop system.
How do I check a solar company's license in Idaho?
Look the company up with the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (contractor registration) (dbs.idaho.gov) by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license too.
More guides: What changed for solar in 2026 · Lease or buy? · Plug-in solar · Is my solar system working?
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), final 2025 data: Annual State Historical Spreadsheets (Form EIA-861, released October 7, 2026) and Electric Power Annual (October 21, 2026); NREL PVWatts (National Solar Radiation Database), statewide averages; Idaho PUC: Rocky Mountain Power export credit rate; Idaho PUC: decision on Idaho Power's export credit rate (October 2025); EnergySage: median quoted price, first half of 2026.