Home Solar in Utah:
Local installers, tax credits, and rebates.
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1,802,762
Utah residents who experienced power outages in a span of ten years¹
54%
Prices have fallen 54% over the last 10 years²
$1,500+
Average yearly savings for homeowner's who switch to solar³
Utah Solar
Utah is one of the sunnier places in the United States and boasts over 7% of its electricity production from solar. Much of Utah is desert and it also has mountains. It’s home to Salt Lake City and is generally sparsely populated. Utah state government policies favor solar tax incentives. Despite low energy prices and only moderately encouraging utility policies, the tax incentives and sheer abundance of sun make Utah a favorable place for businesses and residents to install solar panels and battery systems.
Let’s learn about some of those incentives, the utility policies associated with interconnection and setup, and special solar financing plans for solar panels and battery systems in Utah.
Incentive Programs, Tax Credits, and
Solar Rebates in Utah
Incentive | Description |
---|---|
Federal ITC - 30% | Solar PV systems installed in 2022 - 2032 are eligible for a 30% tax credit. The credit can only be claimed by on the original installation of the solar equipment located at a residence of yours. You must also purchase it using cash or financing, but you're not leasing the system or paying a solar company for the electricity produced by the system. |
Instant Rebate from EnergyPal | EnergyPal secures group discounts by leveraging the depth of our network. We pass these savings onto homeowners every day! |
WattSmart Battery Program Enrollment Incentive | This program uses renewable energy stored in customer-owned battery systems. By participating, you will earn an upfront enrollment incentive and ongoing bill credits while helping to keep electricity prices in Utah among the nation's lowest. This incentive is capped at 70% of battery equipment costs. |
WattSmart Battery Program Participation Incentive | By enrolling in the ConnectedSolutions Demand Response program, you will be rewarded for allowing the energy stored in your battery to be used at times of high demand. Incentives are based on the average kilowatt (kW) used per event, averaged over the season. Incentive paid as a refund to Homeowner. |
Find The Best Deals On Home Solar In Utah
Utah provides multiple solar energy rebates and incentives that help to reduce the overall cost of solar systems. Our EnergyPal Advisors can help you navigate all of the solar incentives available in Utah and also apply them to the available solar panel offerings.
In summary:
- Utah offers a 25% credit, up to $1,600, on a solar or solar-battery system. It’s applied to your owed income taxes.
- Customers of Rocky Mountain Power can get a cash incentive and annual bill credit for allowing the power company to pull energy from their batteries.
- Good solar easement and rights
Utah Rebates and Tax Breaks
Here are more details about the incentives available in Utah:
- The Renewable Residential Energy Systems Credit is the principal solar incentive in the state of Utah. Residential property owners can be reimbursed 25% of the cost of solar panels, solar systems, solar hot-water heaters, etc. The maximum rebate amount is $1,600, and the credit comes off of your income taxes for the year in which you install the equipment. It can be carried over for four years if needed.
- Rocky Mountain Power offers its customers an upfront cash incentive of $600 per kW if you enroll in a four-year commitment program that allows the electric company to pull energy from your battery. You are compensated $15 per kW of energy. Enrollment in the Wattsmart program is limited.
- Utah law does not allow developers to prohibit solar panel installations on your home. It also provides for solar easements.
Other Solar Energy Incentives
The US federal government helps residents and businesses pay for their solar systems. The federal investment tax credit (ITC) allows for a tax deduction of 30% of the cost of a solar system currently. Tax credits can be rolled over if you can’t use the whole credit this year. The ITC cannot be claimed for solar leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs) where the third party financier takes the credits themselves, but that is typically baked into a reduced lease/PPA monthly for you.
If you purchased a $20,000 system, your savings from the federal tax credit would look like this:
$20,000 X 0.30 = $6,000 savings
You also would save an additional $1,600 by taking advantage of the Utah tax credit. So if you spent $20,000 on that system, your cost would go down to $12,400.
Utility Policies
Utility policy factors determine what your utility provider pays you for the excess power you produce and what you save on your power bill by reducing electricity usage. Utah gets a medium score for utility policies.
Net Metering and Interconnection Policy
One important policy for solar customers is called Net Metering. Net Metering is a billing mechanism that allows solar customers to push electricity to the grid for credit that can be used later, like at night when your solar panels aren’t generating power. This incentivizes people to go solar, provides clean energy for others to use and prevents waste. Some states have poorer net metering policies than others, meaning that credits may not be able to be rolled over to the next month or year, or that you don’t earn full watt-for-watt credit for your excess energy.
Utah’s Net Metering program is less than favorable, but it does have one. You are not always paid full retail credit for your excess energy. If your provider is Rocky Mountain Power, your export rate ranges from $0.056 to $0.059 per kWh, which is about half of the going retail rate. Credits can be carried over into the next month and expire every year. The exact details depend on your electricity provider’s policies.
Solar Setup Fees
You must pay for any setup and interconnection costs and have a bi-directional meter (necessary for Net Metering), which you may have to pay for. Customers of Rocky Mountain Power must pay $60 to join the Net Metering program.
Electricity Prices
Electricity prices in Utah are low. Usually you don’t want high prices, but with solar, the higher the prices, the more you save, and the more economical a solar system becomes.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, the average total cost of electricity in Utah is $0.103 per kWh for residents. The national average for all states is $0.134 per kWh, ranging from $0.967 to $0.288 per kWh.
Rate Design
Rate designs are comprised of monthly fees and either a flat or tiered rate you pay for electricity. Good rate designs, which save you money when you conserve energy, are tiered and have low fixed monthly fees. Poor rate designs have flat rates and high fixed monthly fees.
Utah is about average when it comes to the quality of its electricity bill rate design. It has a flat rate program but low fixed fees (around $8–$10 per month). Some providers also have a time-of-use program that encourages the use of batteries and solar battery systems.
You still pay fixed monthly fees when you go solar because you are still tied to the grid. Being tied to the grid is a good thing, because otherwise you might not have power at night or if your system stopped working suddenly. Even if you go off of the grid and rely on a battery source, the high cost of the battery would not outweigh the low monthly fee and the savings obtained from a net metering program and the Wattsmart program.
PACE Programs
PACE stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy and is a financing program for solar projects that is tied to the home instead of the homeowner. A residential PACE program is not available in Utah.
Home Solar Financing in Utah
There are three pathways to powering your home with solar energy in Utah: purchasing the solar system outright, obtaining a loan for its financing, or opting for a leasing program. Solar systems can be financed by bank loans, solar installer financing, new home mortgages, energy loans and home equity loans or lines of credit. Cash works too. Regardless of your choice, solar panels can reduce your home energy expenses, contributing to financial savings and a cleaner power supply. Our Energy Advisors can guide you to the best solar deals in Utah. Here's a comparison:
Solar Purchase
- Optimal Return-On-Investment
- Potential Reduction of Bills to near $0
- Enhances Property Value
Outright Solar Purchase: Homeowners with a stronger financial position often cover the full cost of solar upfront, yielding the highest return-on-investment over the system's lifespan. By paying in cash, homeowners in Utah can claim tax credits and rebates, avoid interest charges, and directly enjoy the savings on their electricity bills. Some of our customers experience virtually no electricity expenses from the moment they install solar. We offer top-tier products at attractive cash prices.
Solar Loan
- No Initial Expenses
- Ownership of the System
- Appreciates Property Value
Solar Loan Financing: Utilizing a solar loan enables you to save and own your solar system, as our financiers cover the upfront expenses (similar to an auto loan). Homes equipped with solar systems command higher value due to their lower operational costs. Depending on the chosen solar loan, you can achieve greater monthly savings or complete your financing earlier. Our team will help you secure the most favorable rates and terms to match your requirements. To learn about our latest offerings, connect with us
Solar Lease
- No Initial Investment Required
- Complete Maintenance Coverage
- Lower Monthly Payments
- Guaranteed Rates
Solar Leasing: Leasing solar panels provides an accessible and cost-effective path to solar adoption. With zero upfront costs—often referred to as “$0 down solar financing“—installation and maintenance are entirely managed, and your home benefits from the energy generated by the solar panels. You pay a consistent monthly fee and save compared to your existing electricity bill. The reduced electricity rate are what many homeowners like about this option.
Talk to your EnergyPal Advisor about financing solar options in Utah. We regularly source the best deals and terms for our customers. Let us guide you through the finance and application process from A-Z.
Find The Best Deals On Home Solar In Utah
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth going solar in Utah?
In most cases, yes, solar will save you a significant amount of money. Solar panels produce electricity and reduce how much power you have to purchase from your electric company. The typical homeowner in Utah pays around 10.85¢ cents per Kilowatthour.
What is the payback period for solar panels in Utah?
Homeowners who install a solar array sized to meet 100 percent of their energy needs can still pay off the upfront cost in as little as 5-6 years. The typical payback period in Utah averages 10.8 years.
How much are solar panels in Utah?
As of August 2023, the average solar panel cost in Utah is $2.69/W. Given a solar panel system size of 6 kilowatts (kW), an average solar installation in Utah is $11,298 with 30% tax credit applied.
What incentives are available for solar in Utah?
Solar installations in Utah are eligible for the 30% solar tax credit. Connect with us to learn more about all the local Utah incentives, tax credits & rebates you qualify for.
¹https://www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/backup-power-ups-surge-it-power-distribution/backup-power-ups/blackout-tracker-/blackout-tracker-annual-report-2018-mz153043en.pdf
²https://www.seia.org/solar-industry-research-data
³https://www.energy.gov/articles/4-reasons-go-solar-summer
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