Solar panels in Wyoming: cost, payback and the rules that matter
Wyoming homes pay 14.0¢ per kWh for electricity, the 42nd highest of 51, up 7.8% in a year. A typical home needs 16 panels. With no federal tax credit they pay for themselves in about 13.7 yrs.
Four facts that decide solar in Wyoming
1. The sun. One kilowatt of panels makes about 1,598 kWh a year in the median Wyoming city, from 1,584 in Casper to 1,598 in Cheyenne.
2. The price of electricity. Every kWh your panels make is worth what you would otherwise pay: 14.0¢ in Wyoming today.
3. What your utility pays for exports. Most Wyoming utilities still credit exported solar close to the retail rate, but rules differ by utility and change often.
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 Wyoming.
Wyoming's homes
243,318 households; 71.8% own their home. 153,115 owner-occupied single-family houses: the main market for rooftop solar. The median home was built in 1981; 23.8% heat with electricity.
ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau.
Plan a specific Wyoming home
Solar in every Wyoming city with 50,000+ people
| City | Sun hrs/day | kWh per kW | Best tilt | Typical kW | Payback (NM) | Payback (NB) | Solar ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne | 5.5 | 1,598 | 40° | 6.7 | 13.5 yrs | 22.1 yrs | 9.9 |
| Casper | 5.4 | 1,584 | 40° | 6.7 | 13.7 yrs | 22.2 yrs | 10.0 |
NM = exports credited at retail (net metering); NB = exports at ~30% of retail (net billing). Systems sized to the Wyoming average home. $3.00/W, cash, 25 years.
Rule changes that affect Wyoming
All changes and deadlines →- 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 Wyoming
How much do solar panels cost in Wyoming?
A 6.7 kW system, the size the average Wyoming home needs, costs about $16,750 to $25,125 before incentives in 2026.
Is solar worth it in Wyoming?
In the median Wyoming city, solar pays for itself in about 13.7 yrs if exported power earns the retail rate, or 22.2 yrs if it earns about 30% of retail. Most utilities here still offer some form of net metering; check yours.
Is there a solar tax credit in Wyoming?
We know of no statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Wyoming; 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 Wyoming home need?
About 16 panels of 420 watts for the state-average 863 kWh a month. Sunnier cities need fewer: Cheyenne gets 1,598 kWh per kW a year, Casper 1,584.