Solar Incentives and Rebates in Idaho

Peak Sun Hours (PSH):		4-4.5
Cost of Grid Power:		$0.11/kWh
Number Of Installations:		8,092

What’s the Cost of Solar in Idaho?

Cost of Grid Power

Idaho power prices average $0.11/kWh, below the national average of $0.14/kWh and down slightly from last year.

In 2019 solar accounted for about 3% of in-state power generation. Aside from solar farms, about 10% of that was small-scale or privately owned solar. Also in 2019 the Idaho Public Utilities Commission unanimously rejected a change to net metering proposed by Idaho Power, keeping it so that homeowners are paid at retail cost for power they generate and send to the grid. However, at present Idaho does not have a net metering law, and interconnection generally remains largely ungoverned across the state map.

Cost of a Solar Install

The average cost of a 5kW (equivalent to saving almost 100 trees a year) solar power system starts around $10,000 in Idaho. That system would pay for itself through energy savings within 5.5-6.5 years. System life can span well over 25 years, and savings will improve with inflation.

Are Solar Panels Worth It In Idaho?

Idaho has a non-conventional solar tax credit, but it's a significant incentive. In Idaho homeowners can deduct 40% of a system's installation cost in the first year, at least up to a $5,000. For each of the next 3 years, homeowners can deduct 20% of the system cost from their state income tax. In this spaced-out way Idaho effectively offers a 100% tax deduction on the cost of a solar install.

What Incentives are Available in Idaho?

Data from DSIRE. For more info visit: https://www.dsireusa.org/

Name	Implementing Sector	Program Type	Administrator	DSIRE ID
Solar Easements	State	Solar/Wind Access Policy		7
Residential Alternative Energy Tax Deduction	State	Personal Tax Deduction	Idaho Tax Commission	137
Renewable Energy Project Bond Program	State	Bond Program	Idaho Energy Resources Authority	365
Solar Energy Equipment Certification	State	Equipment Certification		441
Alternative Fuel Tax Exemption	State	Corporate Tax Exemption	Office of Energy Resources	857
Income Tax Deduction for Energy Efficiency Upgrades	State	Personal Tax Deduction	Idaho Tax Commission	1227
Property Tax Exemption for Wind, Solar, and Geothermal Energy Producers	State	Property Tax Incentive	Idaho State Tax Commission	2786
Energy Efficiency Standards for Public Buildings	State	Energy Standards for Public Buildings		2963
Idaho Power - Irrigation Efficiency Rewards Program	Utility	Rebate Program		5810
Avista Utilities - Site-Specific Energy Efficiency Incentives	Other	Energy Analysis	Avista Corp.	14772
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) - Better Bricks Integrated Design Lab Daylighting	Other	Energy Analysis	Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA)	16099
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) - Energy Training Calendar	Other	Training and Information	Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA)	16100
Northwest Energy Education Institute (NEEI) - Energy Management Certification Programs	Other	Training and Information	Northwest Energy Education Institute (NEEI)	16102
Northwest Energy Education Institute - (NEEI) Energy Management Certificate	Other	Training and Information	Northwest Energy Education Institute (NEEI)	16118
Idaho Power - Green Power Program	Utility	Other	Idaho Power	16537
Idaho Power - FlexPeak Management	Utility	Energy Analysis	Idaho Power	17379
Avista Utilities - Custom and Site-Specific Rebates	Other	Energy Analysis	Avista Utilities	17551
U.S. Department of Energy - Industrial Assessment Center (IAC): Oregon State University	Federal	Energy Analysis	U.S. Department of Energy	17596
Avista Utilities - Energy Smart Grocer Program	Other	Energy Analysis	http://www.energysmartonline.org/utilities/avista_index.html	19551
U.S. Department of Energy - Boise State University Industrial Assessment Center (IAC)	Federal	Energy Analysis	U.S. Department of Energy	19671
Fall River Rural Electric Coop - myMeter for Business	Utility	Energy Analysis	Fall River Rural Electric Coop	21914
BetterBricks - Integrated Design Lab	State	Energy Analysis	Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA)	21924
Tech Help Idaho Manufacturing Specialists - E3 Operational Excellence Program	Other	Energy Analysis	Tech Help Idaho Manufacturing Specialists	22013
Avista - Energy Saving Tools	Other	Energy Analysis	Avista	22014
Idaho Power - Energy Saving Resources	Utility	Energy Analysis	Idaho Power	22015
Kootenai Electric Cooperative - Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebate Program	Utility	Rebate Program	Kootenai Electric Cooperative	22079

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