Solar Panels in Washington, UT: Cost, Payback & Savings
A typical 5.6 kW home solar system in Washington costs about $20,160 and pays for itself in about 21.3 years, saving roughly $4,514 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.
Monthly solar production in Washington
Estimated output of a 5.6 kW south-facing roof system. May is the strongest month (984 kWh); Dec the weakest (552 kWh).
Solar production (kWh) Typical home use, 774 kWh/month
Solar payback calculator for Washington
Pre-filled with Washington'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.
How Washington compares
- Each kW of panels here produces about 1,730 kWh a year — 16% more than the Utah median and 26% more than the US median city (1,371 kWh).
- Payback ranks #1 of 67 Utah places we cover.
- Sunshine varies little across a state; electricity price, installed cost and how utilities credit exported power drive most of the difference between states.
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 Washington, UT?
For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 21.3 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $4,514. 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 Washington, UT?
A home using 774 kWh a month (the Utah average) needs about 14 panels of 400 W — a 5.6 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 1,730 to get the kW you need.
How much do solar panels cost in Washington, UT?
At 3.60 dollars per watt, a 5.6 kW system costs about $20,160 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.
How much sun does Washington get?
Washington averages 6.3 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 1,730 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
- Saint George21.4 yrs
- Hurricane21.6 yrs
- Cedar City21.6 yrs
- Santaquin23.4 yrs
- Payson23.8 yrs
- Spanish Fork23.8 yrs
- Mapleton24.0 yrs
- Springville23.9 yrs