Solar Panels in Smithfield, UT: Cost, Payback & Savings

A typical 6.8 kW home solar system in Smithfield costs about $24,480 and pays for itself in about 24.5 years, saving roughly $614 over 25 years at Utah's average electricity price of 13.2¢/kWh. Power you send back to the grid earns only about 4.5¢/kWh here, which is built into these numbers.

Hard to justify on savings alonepayback 24.5 years
System size
6.8 kW
17 × 400 W panels
Upfront cost
$24,480
at US median $3.60/W
First-year savings
$785
solar worth 8.0¢/kWh after export credits
25-year net savings
$614
after paying for the system
Production
9,853 kWh/yr
106% of a typical home's use
Peak sun hours
5.2/day
1,449 kWh per kW per year

Monthly solar production in Smithfield

Estimated output of a 6.8 kW south-facing roof system. Jul is the strongest month (1,212 kWh); Jan the weakest (415 kWh).

02004006008001,0001,2001,400Jan: 415 kWhJanFeb: 472 kWhFebMar: 823 kWhMarApr: 932 kWhAprMay: 1,083 kWhMayJun: 1,163 kWhJunJul: 1,212 kWhJulAug: 1,105 kWhAugSep: 913 kWhSepOct: 745 kWhOctNov: 572 kWhNovDec: 417 kWhDec

Solar production (kWh) Typical home use, 774 kWh/month

Solar payback calculator for Smithfield

Pre-filled with Smithfield's sunshine and Utah's average electricity price. Enter your own bill and an installer's price per watt to see your payback.

Leave export credit blank where the utility offers full net metering. Where exports earn less, solar used at home as it's produced is worth the full price and the rest earns the export credit.

System
Cost
Year-1 savings
Payback
25-yr net savings

How Smithfield compares

Net metering, tax credits and incentives in 2026

Utah pays less than retail for exported solar power. Under Rocky Mountain Power export credit (Schedule 137), power you send to the grid earns about 4.5¢/kWh, against 13.2¢ for power you buy. We assume 40% of a no-battery system's output is used at home as it's produced (worth the full price) and the rest is exported, so each solar kWh is worth about 8.0¢. Using more of your solar yourself, by running appliances midday or adding a battery, raises that.

Rocky Mountain Power credits exports at 4.855¢ (June-September) and 4.033¢ (October-May) from March 2026, updated each March. Source.

There is no federal tax credit for buying home solar installed in 2026. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so the costs and paybacks on this page include no federal credit.

Utah and local utilities may still offer rebates, performance payments, property-tax or sales-tax exemptions. Search the DSIRE incentives database for Utah and ask installers which programs they apply for you.

Frequently asked questions

Is solar worth it in Smithfield, UT?

For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 24.5 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $614. Verdict: hard to justify on savings alone. Your own payback depends on your roof, your bill and the quotes you get.

How many solar panels do I need in Smithfield, UT?

A home using 774 kWh a month (the Utah average) needs about 17 panels of 400 W — a 6.8 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 1,449 to get the kW you need.

How much do solar panels cost in Smithfield, UT?

At 3.60 dollars per watt, a 6.8 kW system costs about $24,480 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.

How much sun does Smithfield get?

Smithfield averages 5.2 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 1,449 kWh a year.

Does Utah have net metering?

Not full retail net metering. Under Rocky Mountain Power export credit (Schedule 137), exported solar power earns about 4.5¢ per kWh, versus 13.2¢ for power bought from the grid. Solar you use at home as it's produced still saves the full price.

How much does electricity cost in Utah?

Residential electricity in Utah averages 13.2¢ per kWh, and a typical home uses 774 kWh a month (EIA).

Solar payback in nearby places

Solar guides