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Utah Solar Calculator

Enter your Rocky Mountain Power bill — get system size, Wattsmart battery rebate, property tax exemption, and 25-year savings based on Utah's excellent 5.8 PSH solar resource.

Your Utah solar inputs
$
kW
Utah solar estimate
20 × 400W panels (8 kW system)
Monthly usage1,182 kWh/mo
Annual production (UT 5.8 PSH)13,549 kWh/yr
Annual savings (net metering)$1,412/yr
Gross system cost$21,840
Federal ITC (30%)-$6,552
Net cost after incentives$15,288
Property tax exemption (est.)$3,058
Payback period10.8 yrs
25-year savings$35,303
Utah's state solar tax credit expired in 2021. No state credit is available — but the 30% federal ITC, property tax exemption, and Wattsmart battery rebate still make Utah solar financially strong. Net metering is transitioning — lock in current net metering rates before policy changes.
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How to Use This Calculator

Enter your bill and select your utility

Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp) serves the vast majority of Utah residents at approximately $0.11/kWh — one of the lowest rates in the West. Enter your average monthly electric bill, select your utility, and enter your planned system size in kilowatts. The calculator instantly shows annual production, savings, and payback based on Utah's excellent 5.8 peak sun hours (PSH).

Understand Utah's net metering transition

Utah enacted net metering changes that are gradually transitioning from full retail-rate credit. The calculator estimates export credit at 85% of retail, reflecting the current blended rate. Customers who install before further policy changes may be grandfathered under better terms — installing sooner locks in better net metering rates for up to 20 years.

Add battery to capture the Wattsmart rebate

Rocky Mountain Power's Wattsmart Battery program pays $400 per kWh of battery capacity, up to $2,000. A Tesla Powerwall (13.5 kWh) would receive the maximum $2,000 rebate. Combined with the 30% federal ITC applied to the battery cost, battery storage in Utah has never been more affordable. Note: Utah's state solar tax credit expired in 2021 and is no longer available.

The Formula

Monthly kWh = Monthly Bill ÷ Electricity Rate Annual Production = System kW × 1000 × 5.8 PSH × 365 × 0.80 efficiency ÷ 1000 Self-consumed kWh = Annual Production × 0.65 Exported kWh = Annual Production − Self-consumed kWh Annual Savings = (Self-consumed × Retail Rate) + (Exported × Export Rate) Export Rate = Retail Rate × 0.85 (transitioning net metering) Gross Cost = System kW × 1000 × $2.73/W + Battery ($12,000 if added) ITC Credit = Gross Cost × 30% Wattsmart Rebate = min(Battery kWh × $400, $2,000) — with battery only Net Cost = Gross Cost − ITC Credit − Wattsmart Rebate Payback = Net Cost ÷ Annual Savings

Utah averages 5.8 peak sun hours — St. George in southern Utah reaches 6.2+ PSH, making it one of the sunniest cities in the US. Salt Lake City averages 5.7 PSH and Provo averages 5.6 PSH. The $2.73/W installation cost reflects Utah's competitive solar market. Utah has no state solar tax credit (expired 2021) but offers a 100% property tax exemption on installed solar systems.

Example

Sarah — Salt Lake City with Wattsmart battery

Sarah is in Salt Lake City on Rocky Mountain Power paying $130/month at $0.11/kWh. She wants an 8 kW system with a battery to take advantage of the Wattsmart rebate.

Monthly bill$130 (Rocky Mountain Power, $0.11/kWh)
System8 kW + battery
LocationSalt Lake City, UT (5.7 PSH)

Result

Annual production~13,266 kWh/yr
Annual savings~$1,350/yr
Gross system cost~$33,840
Federal ITC (30%)-$10,152
Wattsmart battery rebate-$2,000
Net cost after incentives~$21,688
Payback period~16 years
25-year savings~$33,750

Utah's low electricity rate means longer payback than high-rate states — but the 5.8 PSH resource means more production per dollar of system cost. Paired with the property tax exemption, Sarah's home value increases without increasing her property tax bill, adding significant non-cash value to her investment.

FAQ

Yes. Utah's residential solar tax credit — which offered 25% of system cost up to $1,600 — officially expired at the end of 2021 and is no longer available for new installations. The 30% federal ITC (Investment Tax Credit) remains fully available through 2032. Utah homeowners should focus on maximizing the federal credit, property tax exemption, and the Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart Battery rebate as their primary incentives.
Rocky Mountain Power's Wattsmart Battery program offers $400 per kWh of battery capacity, up to a maximum of $2,000. A 13.5 kWh Tesla Powerwall qualifies for the full $2,000. The rebate is paid by Rocky Mountain Power as part of their demand management program. You must apply through an approved solar installer — ask your installer to confirm current program availability and terms, as incentive programs can change. This rebate is in addition to (not instead of) the 30% federal ITC.
Utah passed legislation transitioning net metering away from full retail-rate credit over time. Customers who installed solar before policy changes were grandfathered at better rates. Current installers receive a blended export rate that is slightly below retail, moving toward avoided-cost pricing over the transition period. Installing sooner locks in better export rates for your system's life — typically 20-25 years. Rocky Mountain Power's net metering details are filed with the Utah Public Service Commission and your installer can provide the current export rate at time of installation.
Yes. Utah law provides a 100% property tax exemption for the added value of a residential solar system. When an appraiser values your home, the solar system's value is excluded from your assessed value for property tax purposes. Utah's average property tax rate is approximately 0.6-0.8% of assessed value. On a $25,000 solar system, this saves roughly $150-200 per year in property taxes over the system's life — a meaningful additional benefit that is not reflected in the direct electricity savings calculation.
Utah's high desert climate combines to create exceptional solar conditions: low humidity (fewer clouds), high elevation (thinner atmosphere = less absorption), and more than 300 sunny days per year in most of the state. St. George in southern Utah averages 6.2+ PSH — comparable to Phoenix, Arizona. Even Salt Lake City, despite winter inversions, averages 5.7 PSH annually. The combination of excellent solar resource at a low latitude means Utah solar systems produce more energy per kW installed than many higher-rate states, partially offsetting Utah's lower electricity rate.

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🔋 Battery Bank Calculator
Size your battery system for Utah backup power needs.
📈 Solar Savings Calculator
25-year savings projection with utility rate escalation.

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