Solar panels in Idaho: cost, payback and the rules that matter
Idaho homes pay 13.0¢ per kWh for electricity, the 49th highest of 51, up 12.0% in a year. A typical home needs 19 panels. With no federal tax credit they pay for themselves in about 24.8 yrs.
Four facts that decide solar in Idaho
1. The sun. One kilowatt of panels makes about 1,515 kWh a year in the median Idaho city, from 1,261 in Coeur d'Alene to 1,558 in Twin Falls.
2. The price of electricity. Every kWh your panels make is worth what you would otherwise pay: 13.0¢ in Idaho today.
3. What your utility pays for exports. Idaho Power moved to net billing: exports earn ~3–16¢ depending on season and time. Source
4. Incentives. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (IRC §25D) ended for systems whose installation is completed after December 31, 2025 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, P.L. We don't know of a statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Idaho.
Idaho's homes
713,005 households; 72.1% own their home. 472,844 owner-occupied single-family houses: the main market for rooftop solar. The median home was built in 1991; 35.2% heat with electricity.
ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau.
Plan a specific Idaho home
Solar in every Idaho city with 50,000+ people
| City | Sun hrs/day | kWh per kW | Best tilt | Typical kW | Payback (NM) | Payback (NB) | Solar ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | 5.4 | 1,519 | 38° | 8.0 | 15.2 yrs | 24.7 yrs | 10.3 |
| Meridian | 5.3 | 1,515 | 37° | 8.0 | 15.2 yrs | 24.7 yrs | 10.3 |
| Nampa | 5.3 | 1,515 | 37° | 8.0 | 15.2 yrs | 24.7 yrs | 10.3 |
| Caldwell | 5.3 | 1,510 | 37° | 8.0 | 15.2 yrs | 24.8 yrs | 10.4 |
| Idaho Falls | 5.3 | 1,509 | 38° | 8.0 | 15.3 yrs | 24.9 yrs | 10.4 |
| Pocatello | 5.3 | 1,524 | 37° | 8.0 | 15.1 yrs | 24.8 yrs | 10.3 |
| Coeur d'Alene | 4.5 | 1,261 | 38° | 9.2 | 18.1 yrs | 25+ yrs | 12.4 |
| Twin Falls | 5.4 | 1,558 | 37° | 7.6 | 14.8 yrs | 23.9 yrs | 10.1 |
NM = exports credited at retail (net metering); NB = exports at ~30% of retail (net billing). Systems sized to the Idaho average home. $3.00/W, cash, 25 years.
Rule changes that affect Idaho
All changes and deadlines →- Idaho: Idaho Power’s export credit rates are held until its next filing · Export rules
- Federal: In-service deadline for the lease/PPA solar credit · Tax credits
- Federal: National data: solar prices fell to a median $3.60 per watt · Prices
- Federal: Construction-start deadline passed for the lease/PPA credit · Tax credits
- Federal: The 30% homeowner solar tax credit is gone · Tax credits
Questions about solar in Idaho
How much do solar panels cost in Idaho?
A 8.0 kW system, the size the average Idaho home needs, costs about $20,000 to $30,000 before incentives in 2026.
Is solar worth it in Idaho?
In the median Idaho city, solar pays for itself in about 15.2 yrs if exported power earns the retail rate, or 24.8 yrs if it earns about 30% of retail. Idaho Power moved to net billing: exports earn ~3–16¢ depending on season and time.
Is there a solar tax credit in Idaho?
We know of no statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Idaho; utilities and cities sometimes offer rebates. The 30% federal credit ended for homeowner systems installed after December 31, 2025.
How many solar panels does a Idaho home need?
About 19 panels of 420 watts for the state-average 944 kWh a month. Sunnier cities need fewer: Twin Falls gets 1,558 kWh per kW a year, Coeur d'Alene 1,261.