Federal ITC 26% (tax credit)
State tax credit: Yes ($5,000)
Net metering (by utility)
There can be solar tax credits and incentives available at the federal, state and local levels. The calculator above will show you the value of all incentives your home is eligible for.
The Idaho Public Service Commission UNANIMOUSLY rejected Idaho Power’s late-2019 attempts to destroy net metering, whew! However, on December 20, 2020, the PUC also declined to allow customers with new solar installations to receive the old compensation rates for their excess solar energy. If you install solar in Idaho now, you may end up getting lower bill credits for energy your solar installation makes that you don't use yourself.
We're expecting to see the PUC come to a decision about net metering sometime in 2021, and we'll update this page at that time. Read on to learn all you need to know about going solar in Idaho - solar panel policy, incentives, and savings!
Learn what solar incentives are available to Idaho homeowners
See what Idaho solar incentives you qualify for based on your utility company and city
Find out how much these incentives and/or Idaho solar tax credits will reduce your cost to go solar and add batteries
The federal solar investment tax credit will have the biggest impact on the cost you will face to go solar in Idaho
This perk is commonly known as the ITC, short for “Investment Tax Credit”. If you install your photovoltaic system in 2020, the federal tax credit is 26% of the cost of your solar panel system. This is 26% off the entire cost of the system including equipment, labor and permitting.
Example: If your solar energy system costs $20,000, your federal solar tax credit would be $20,000 x 26% = $5,200.
The federal tax credit falls to 22% at the end of 2022.
With net metering in some states, you get full retail rate credit for the amount of electricity you send back into the grid with your solar panels.
Net Metering requires your utility to monitor how much energy your solar power system produces and how much energy you actually consume, and make sure you get credit for any surplus. It’s an essential part of strong solar policy, because it’s a big money saver for you. Idaho currently has no law requiring utilities to offer net metering, or governing interconnection (getting on the grid to get net-metered), and again, people who install solar panels on their homes now will not be eligible for long-term net metering under the state's pre-2020 rules.
For now, all three of the state’s three investor-owned utilities — Avista Utilities, Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power — have independently decided to offer net metering programs until the PUC comes to a decision. The framework of all three programs is similar. All of the programs limit individual system size, but those limits won't affect homeowners much.
All three programs also handle residential net metering the same way: all surplus energy produced is applied as a credit to your next month’s bill at the full retail rate. So for every kW extra you produce one month, you pay for one less kW the next. Avista specifies (sadly) that surplus credit reverts back to the utility without compensation after 12 months. Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power do not specifically address “rollover” limits or other annual surplus accounting policies.
Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power have been in communication with the state public utilities commission on a plea to pay much less than retail rates in the future, though the PUC has denied to hear their requests for the near term. As it stands, now may be a good time to lock in your net metering by going solar so the rates don’t diminish.
The state of Idaho doesn't offer any cash rebates for going solar, or really much of any other kind of incentive, either. We'd like to see the state get into helping homeowners go solar, but honestly, we're not holding our breath. Most folks in Idaho prefer the government to stand aside, and that's going to have to do.
There is one smart incentive for Idaho homeowners who go solar, and it's going to lower your taxes. Very on-brand, Idaho.
Instead of a more straightforward tax credit for installing solar, Idaho decided to enact a 100% tax deduction. So, when you go solar, you can take 40% of your installation cost as a deduction in the first year, up to a maximum of $5,000. Then, for the next 3 years, you can deduct 20% of the cost each year from your state income for tax purposes.
For example, an average sized 6kW system installed for $18,000, you can deduct $7,200 from your state income for reporting purposes in the first year, and $3,600 for the next three years.
At current Idaho personal income tax rates, you can expect this deduction to be worth about $1,100 total over the four year period.
Showing data for:
Prices based on a 10.3kW system, after 26% federal tax credit
17 solar companies in Idaho provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.60 1,589 Reviews
Ana B, 1 week ago
March 11, 2022 blue raven installed solar panels in my house. The installers put a hole about 3 inches wide from the siding to the bedroom on the 3rd floor. The installers acknowledged the damaged, took pictures and "patched" it up until someone comes to take care of it. Some guy came April and fixed the inside and was not able to fix the outside, didn't even know about it nor was he prepared for the job. This was after a cancellation due to car issues. I was told someone will come for the outside hole. I had to keep calling to get someone to come back, they finally came out May 19, 2022. This person was also unprepared. He was not aware of what needed to be done, had no ladder, and stated he will have to see what blue raven wants to do. NO ONE has been here since, nor called or emailed. I held back the inspection for this EXACT reason, along with other issues. I spoke to Joshua Hill who is in the inspections team of some sort. He convinced me to get the inspection done and reassured me the repair will be done promptly. It is now June 27, 2022. The inspection was done on June 15, 2022. I have called and just keep being told it's on the work order and the company will reach out. It's funny how this company kept harassing to do the inspection, even got some lady claiming she is in the legal team for this inspection to scare me which didn't work. Now here we are. Now, here I am and no one gives a crap to fix the damage done. I CANNOT power wash my home which needs to be done, I keep getting notifications from the HOA. Since March the hole has been exposed to all elements, rain, humidity, moisture, etc. These elements cause mold and so much other damage. Anyone wanting to get solar, DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! Even the sales girl was a pain to deal with after the issues. She was all great and dandy when getting the deal, after she put her nose in things that have nothing to do with her nor the business. I have all the messages to back up my story. This is not over!
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Ana B, 1 week ago
March 11, 2022 blue raven installed solar panels in my house. The installers put a hole about 3 inches wide from the siding to the bedroom on the 3rd floor. The installers acknowledged the damaged, took pictures and "patched" it up until someone comes to take care of it. Some guy came April and fixed the inside and was not able to fix the outside, didn't even know about it nor was he prepared for the job. This was after a cancellation due to car issues. I was told someone will come for the outside hole. I had to keep calling to get someone to come back, they finally came out May 19, 2022. This person was also unprepared. He was not aware of what needed to be done, had no ladder, and stated he will have to see what blue raven wants to do. NO ONE has been here since, nor called or emailed. I held back the inspection for this EXACT reason, along with other issues. I spoke to Joshua Hill who is in the inspections team of some sort. He convinced me to get the inspection done and reassured me the repair will be done promptly. It is now June 27, 2022. The inspection was done on June 15, 2022. I have called and just keep being told it's on the work order and the company will reach out. It's funny how this company kept harassing to do the inspection, even got some lady claiming she is in the legal team for this inspection to scare me which didn't work. Now here we are. Now, here I am and no one gives a crap to fix the damage done. I CANNOT power wash my home which needs to be done, I keep getting notifications from the HOA. Since March the hole has been exposed to all elements, rain, humidity, moisture, etc. These elements cause mold and so much other damage. Anyone wanting to get solar, DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! Even the sales girl was a pain to deal with after the issues. She was all great and dandy when getting the deal, after she put her nose in things that have nothing to do with her nor the business. I have all the messages to back up my story. This is not over!
4.58 177 Reviews
Randall, over 1 month
I evaluated dozens of solar companies online, and narrowed it down to three for proposals. IWS was the most thorough and transparent of the companies I worked with. They reviewed the property, electrical, and sent pics to engineering before providing a quote which gave me confidence that the quote would be accurate. The install team was friendly and professional and did an excellent job on cleanup. I had my roofer inspect the mounts and he was impressed to the point he recommended them to another one of his customers. The calculations provided in the quoting process appear to be spot on. My installation has been running for about 2 months now.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$15,000 ($3.00 per watt)
Randall, over 1 month
I evaluated dozens of solar companies online, and narrowed it down to three for proposals. IWS was the most thorough and transparent of the companies I worked with. They reviewed the property, electrical, and sent pics to engineering before providing a quote which gave me confidence that the quote would be accurate. The install team was friendly and professional and did an excellent job on cleanup. I had my roofer inspect the mounts and he was impressed to the point he recommended them to another one of his customers. The calculations provided in the quoting process appear to be spot on. My installation has been running for about 2 months now.
4.56 29 Reviews
Norman, over 1 month
December 2021 ALL of the folks were very responsive and easy to work with, they did not continually contact me about the project after plan submission. After looking at about 4 different company's this is the one i choose and it turned out that it was a great choice. The system was installed 12/2021 and as of today 5/2022 I am on my second monthe of NO POWER BILLS! From the time i contacted EGT the sales rep and all of the folks in the office were extremely helpful in answering my questions even when walking into the office, they even proposed several installations based on my questions and concerns. The Master Electrician and installation crew were some of the most wonderful and professional folks i have worked with. It is one of the best experiences when a crew shows up on ahead of schedule and gets the job complete with no issues and ahead of schedule. If you are looking for solar installation then I would recommend you choose this company the uses there OWN contractors and employees to get the job done. THANK YOU ALL
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Norman, over 1 month
December 2021 ALL of the folks were very responsive and easy to work with, they did not continually contact me about the project after plan submission. After looking at about 4 different company's this is the one i choose and it turned out that it was a great choice. The system was installed 12/2021 and as of today 5/2022 I am on my second monthe of NO POWER BILLS! From the time i contacted EGT the sales rep and all of the folks in the office were extremely helpful in answering my questions even when walking into the office, they even proposed several installations based on my questions and concerns. The Master Electrician and installation crew were some of the most wonderful and professional folks i have worked with. It is one of the best experiences when a crew shows up on ahead of schedule and gets the job complete with no issues and ahead of schedule. If you are looking for solar installation then I would recommend you choose this company the uses there OWN contractors and employees to get the job done. THANK YOU ALL
4.47 20 Reviews
Anonymous, over 1 month
We had a project to construct a lean-to adjacent to our barn and wanted to cover it in solar panels. The Solar Stone gave us a detailed estimate, power generation prediction and explained the entire Washington State incentive variations and application process which helped us become more informed.<br /><br />The entire construction process went smoothly despite some weather conditions mid-December and we were able to get the project signed off before the New Year. They were communicative throughout the project and it was a pleasure working with them.<br /><br />Solar projects should be installed by skilled professionals who know what they're doing when it comes to installing expensive equipment you're wanting to use for 25+ years. The Solar Stone are those professionals and I'd recommend them to anyone.
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Anonymous, over 1 month
We had a project to construct a lean-to adjacent to our barn and wanted to cover it in solar panels. The Solar Stone gave us a detailed estimate, power generation prediction and explained the entire Washington State incentive variations and application process which helped us become more informed.<br /><br />The entire construction process went smoothly despite some weather conditions mid-December and we were able to get the project signed off before the New Year. They were communicative throughout the project and it was a pleasure working with them.<br /><br />Solar projects should be installed by skilled professionals who know what they're doing when it comes to installing expensive equipment you're wanting to use for 25+ years. The Solar Stone are those professionals and I'd recommend them to anyone.
4.46 12 Reviews
Dave, over 1 month
The team at Pell Solar took care of us from start to finish. They helped us understand the technology, right-sized our system and installed quickly and professionally. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough
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Dave, over 1 month
The team at Pell Solar took care of us from start to finish. They helped us understand the technology, right-sized our system and installed quickly and professionally. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough
4.42 8 Reviews
Anonymous, over 1 month
We spent quite a bit of time researching different solar companies before deciding on who to go with. Genuine Solar provided the best deal by far. The salesmen were great to work with and responded to questions in a timely manner throughout the entire process.
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Anonymous, over 1 month
We spent quite a bit of time researching different solar companies before deciding on who to go with. Genuine Solar provided the best deal by far. The salesmen were great to work with and responded to questions in a timely manner throughout the entire process.
4.17 6 Reviews
Larry W Wilson - Retired, over 1 month
We are very impressed with the proposal, engineering, layout, site visit, and final installation. We monitor the results daily and we are right on schedule. Of course no one has control of the weather but it is on track as we expected. We had six craftsman on our projects at different times. All were very professional in all aspects of installation. Even in 94 degree heat they worked extremely hard and continuously. I am retired from the electrical industry and held several positions in management of Fortune 100 companies including owning a partnership in an electrical transformer manufacturing company. This crew was experts in their field, never thought of cutting corners, installed with quality products, and installed properly in accordance with NEC. I can not say enough about the entire installation and highly recommend AltEnergy Staunton for those considering a solar project. You will not be disappointed!
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Larry W Wilson - Retired, over 1 month
We are very impressed with the proposal, engineering, layout, site visit, and final installation. We monitor the results daily and we are right on schedule. Of course no one has control of the weather but it is on track as we expected. We had six craftsman on our projects at different times. All were very professional in all aspects of installation. Even in 94 degree heat they worked extremely hard and continuously. I am retired from the electrical industry and held several positions in management of Fortune 100 companies including owning a partnership in an electrical transformer manufacturing company. This crew was experts in their field, never thought of cutting corners, installed with quality products, and installed properly in accordance with NEC. I can not say enough about the entire installation and highly recommend AltEnergy Staunton for those considering a solar project. You will not be disappointed!
4.06 5 Reviews
Anonymous, over 1 month
Creative Solar gave me an excellent bid on a top line solar system for my house and garage, plus updating my 80-yr-old electrical supply. They more than beat the competition. The installation was flawless. Special compliments to the crew who were quick and left a clean, well placed set of panels, meters and hookups. They are just what I needed to bring everything up to the current code. It looks beautiful and everything works perfectly. It has been powering the house since August and accumulating a little surplus for the snowy days. It added to the value of my home well beyond the final cost . They also helped coordinate a solar credit to the renewable power program at the Univ. of Utah. A top quality, professional job well done.
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Anonymous, over 1 month
Creative Solar gave me an excellent bid on a top line solar system for my house and garage, plus updating my 80-yr-old electrical supply. They more than beat the competition. The installation was flawless. Special compliments to the crew who were quick and left a clean, well placed set of panels, meters and hookups. They are just what I needed to bring everything up to the current code. It looks beautiful and everything works perfectly. It has been powering the house since August and accumulating a little surplus for the snowy days. It added to the value of my home well beyond the final cost . They also helped coordinate a solar credit to the renewable power program at the Univ. of Utah. A top quality, professional job well done.
4.06 3 Reviews
Mattie L, over 1 month
wow... I am surprisingly pleased with my experience at Saveco. I had gathered several quotes and was about to sign with a company - then Saveco surprised me with a custom video going over the Consumer Protection Guide. After speaking to the salesman - Paul - I realized there were things I overlooked. He gave me some very useful tools and information to do more thorough research on what I wanted and what system would be best for me. After going through that process, I knew I didn't want anyone else installing my solar but Saveco! I've been pleased with the system so far.
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Mattie L, over 1 month
wow... I am surprisingly pleased with my experience at Saveco. I had gathered several quotes and was about to sign with a company - then Saveco surprised me with a custom video going over the Consumer Protection Guide. After speaking to the salesman - Paul - I realized there were things I overlooked. He gave me some very useful tools and information to do more thorough research on what I wanted and what system would be best for me. After going through that process, I knew I didn't want anyone else installing my solar but Saveco! I've been pleased with the system so far.
3.93 4 Reviews
Jim, over 1 month
I solicited bids from 3 different companies. I was most impressed with Gietzen . They did quality work as we agreed upon at a fair price. I am very pleased and would recommend them to anyone.
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Jim, over 1 month
I solicited bids from 3 different companies. I was most impressed with Gietzen . They did quality work as we agreed upon at a fair price. I am very pleased and would recommend them to anyone.
Idaho State Energy Loan Program - Low interest Loans for Renewable Energy projects ranging from $1,00 to $15,000 for single family loans