Idaho
Idaho solar in 2026
Idaho gets enough sun. That is not the problem. The problem is that the grid is cheap and Idaho Power pays a separate, variable export credit instead of retail net metering. A generic production estimate can make a poor Idaho deal look fine. The useful question is how much solar you will use before it crosses the meter.
In Idaho, the valuable kWh is the one you use yourself
Low grid pricing raises the standard for an Idaho project. The long-run rooftop comparison only helps when production displaces purchased electricity or lands in valuable export periods. A large surplus forecast belongs in the risk column.
| Energy source | Type | Average price | What that means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho household power | Electricity | 12.35¢ per kWh | EIA's Idaho residential electricity average through May 2026. |
| Household natural gas | Natural gas | $10.82 per Mcf | 3.6 cents for a thermal kWh, with a Mcf equal to about 304 thermal kWh. |
| Self-owned solar output | Electricity | ~8.7¢ per kWh | Calculated across 25 years from Idaho's EnergySage cash cost of $3.09 per watt and PVGIS production. This is an output cost, not a promise about export compensation. |
EIA Table 5.6.A supplies the May 2026 electricity reading. The gas input is from EIA's residential natural-gas series, where a Mcf is about 304 kWh of thermal energy. The solar result follows our methodology page.
Idaho sun is regional, not one number
Twin Falls and Boise have solid modeled production, while Coeur d'Alene is a different solar proposition. That spread is too large for a statewide sales script. A quote should be built from your roof and utility schedule, then stress-tested with a lower self-consumption assumption.
| Idaho city | Annual PVGIS yield per kW | Modeled yearly output at 13.05 kW |
|---|---|---|
| Boise | 1,507 | 19,664 kWh |
| Idaho Falls | 1,470 | 19,186 kWh |
| Twin Falls | 1,540 | 20,102 kWh |
| Coeur d'Alene | 1,182 | 15,419 kWh |
Method: PVGIS v5.2 model runs by Solar Learning Lab on August 18, 2026, using the NSRDB radiation database. Assumptions: fixed roof mount, south facing, 30 degree tilt, 14 percent losses. Your roof will differ. The 13.05 kW example matches the EnergySage Idaho average system.
Idaho Power exports are not retail net metering
Idaho has no statewide net-metering statute. Idaho Power customers pay the retail rate for power they take from the grid and receive a variable Export Credit Rate for what they send out. Residential and small general-service systems are capped at up to 25 kilowatts. The on-site generation tariffs are not contracts and can change by Commission order.
The PUC cut export compensation 31% in the September 2025 order and suspended annual Export Credit Rate updates until 2028. Summer on-peak exports have a roughly 15.7-cent rate, but summer off-peak exports are roughly 3.4 cents and all non-summer hours roughly 2.9 cents. The homeowner response is direct: size tightly, move flexible load into solar hours, and price storage against actual interval use rather than a sales slide.
Use Idaho Power's customer-generation material and the 2025 order as the reference point, then confirm the tariff that applies to the account.
A tax deduction, not a magic rebate
| Item | Value | Fine print |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative Energy Device Deduction | 40% in the completed year, then 20% for three succeeding years | Idaho Code §63-3022C caps the deduction at $5,000 in any one taxable year. It is a deduction, not a cash rebate. |
| Statewide residential rebate | No verified rebate | The research did not verify a statewide residential solar rebate. Do not let a quote invent one. |
| Federal 25D | Ended December 31, 2025 | Providers of leases and PPAs may claim 48E, and CRS describes how some value can affect pricing. |
Read the Idaho program or statute cited here for the deduction rules.
Idaho Power makes timing part of the economics
The export-credit numbers do not move together. The PUC's September 30, 2025 order set approximate Idaho Power values of 15.7 cents per kWh for summer on-peak export, 3.4 cents for summer off-peak, and 2.9 cents for non-summer hours. That is why an annual production estimate is only half a solar proposal. It reports how much energy the roof produces, not when the household needs it or which export period catches the excess.
The comparison is revealing. Idaho's statewide residential price is 12.35 cents per kWh. Exporting in the summer on-peak window can look competitive with that benchmark. Exporting in the other stated windows does not. A quote that credits every kWh at one blended retail number is describing a different program. Ask for a split of expected on-site use and exports, plus the assumed seasonal and time-of-use value of the exports.
There is a policy timeline behind the caution. Idaho Power had proposed a 60% reduction in April 2025; the final order reduced compensation by 31%. Before that, a January 2024 change moved the average from 8.8 cents per kWh to 6.18 cents per kWh. The PUC then suspended annual ECR updates until 2028, with the next formal comment opportunity expected in April 2028. The present values should be treated as tariff terms, not as a permanent contract.
The utility's own study valued exported rooftop energy at 2.8 to 4 cents per kWh, while the Crossborder Energy study put it at 18.3 cents per kWh. Homeowners do not have to resolve that dispute. They do need a design that does not depend on its most optimistic outcome. A smaller array, flexible daytime use, and storage considered against actual interval demand are the honest Idaho conversation.
Idaho Power customer-generation information and the export-credit reporting.
Model the exports as a haircut, because they are
This calculator values a baseline kWh at the statewide retail rate. Idaho Power does not. A house that uses its production during the day can outperform the baseline; a lightly occupied house that exports heavily can fall well short. Run a smaller system first.
Slider bounds come from four PVGIS runs across Idaho. The range reflects location, not the shading, roof direction, snow cover, or equipment on your particular roof.
Cash quotes in Idaho cluster near $3.09 per watt, against a $3.50 national 2024 median (LBNL). Use your quote.
Assumptions you can change
Use the rate on your actual lease or PPA quote. There is no published statewide average we trust enough to hardcode.
Cash purchase
$22,866 after state credit
- Year 1 benefit
- $109/mo
- Payback
- 16 years
- 20 year net position
- $8,737
No state tax credit is modeled. Idaho offers a qualifying-cost deduction, not an upfront rebate, and exports have a variable utility credit.
Solar loan
$285/mo 15 yr payment
- Year 1 net
- -$177/mo
- Upfront
- $0
- 20 year net position
- -$19,758
We price loans at $4.29 per watt: the EnergySage cash figure plus the $1.20 national loan-over-cash spread LBNL documents, since dealer fees get built into loan pricing.
Lease / PPA
$0 down you buy the power
- Year 1 net
- -$102/mo
- Upfront
- $0
- 20 year net position
- -$26,860
A lease or PPA provider may claim the federal 48E business credit. Get the export-credit assumption in writing.
Estimates, not quotes. Inputs use the Idaho average rate from EIA, our own PVGIS production runs, and EnergySage August 2026 cost data. We are a solar installer and we also partner with other solar companies. See our disclosures.
Idaho checks that prevent an expensive surprise
- Ask for hourly or interval data, then ask the installer to show self-consumption versus exports by season. Idaho Power has different summer and non-summer export values.
- Do not treat the 15.7-cent summer on-peak figure as an all-day rate. The same program cites roughly 3.4 cents off-peak in summer and 2.9 cents outside summer.
- Keep the 25-kilowatt customer-generation ceiling in view for a large shop, farm, or combined load.
- The Idaho deduction can be meaningful, but it is spread over years and capped at $5,000 in any one taxable year. Have a tax professional confirm your situation.
- Get the disclosure required under the Idaho Residential Energy System Disclosure Act and read the language about regulatory changes to compensation.
Idaho installers to put through a utility-first interview
These firms give Boise and Meridian buyers a practical starting list. The sales conversation should begin with Idaho Power export treatment. Any bidder who talks only about panel count is avoiding the actual economic question.
Idahome Energy
Boise, ID
4.8(278 Google reviews)
Native Solar
Meridian, ID
4.9(205 Google reviews)
EGT Solar
Meridian, ID
4.9(99 Google reviews)
Horizon PWR
Meridian, ID
4.1(199 Google reviews)
Blue Raven Solar (listed as SunPower)
Boise, ID
4.5(909 Google reviews)
Google Maps ratings as of August 2026, via the DataForSEO SERP feed. Zero companies paid us and none are endorsed by us. We did not verify a single statewide solar licensing authority. Confirm the applicable Idaho contractor and electrical requirements, utility terms, and local permits before signing.
Get an Idaho solar estimate
This four-question estimate uses the EIA and PVGIS inputs on the Idaho page. We are a solar installer and we also partner with other solar companies. Details are in our disclosures.
What does your monthly electric bill look like?
Idaho average is $109 per month (EIA, 2024).