Solar Costs and Savings
Most people have a lot of questions about switching to solar. How much does it really cost? How much money can you actually save? And when is solar not a good choice?
As one of Idaho’s top solar providers, One Truss has offered expert guidance and frank information to a wide variety of satisfied customers. Whether you’re considering a solar panel project for your home, business, government facility, or school, we’re well aware of current solar costs. We’re also aware of incentives and programs that could reduce the cost of your solar installation, both now and in the future.
Comparing the Cost of Solar to Traditional Energy
The easiest way to make a direct comparison is your energy bill. On average, Idaho residents pay one of the highest electricity bills in the nation at $135 per month for residential and $725 for commercial. Those figures approximate to $1,620 and $8,700 per year, respectively.
This provides a simple shorthand we can use to determine how quickly a solar installation will pay for itself. For example:
- The average cost to install a 6 kW system in Idaho is $14,786 after Federal incentives.
- This would replace the annual electricity bill of $1,645
- Which means it would take roughly 8 years for the system to pay for itself and start seeing incredible savings!
Here’s a comparison chart showing what your solar might cost per month:
|
Avg. Cost/Month | Avg. Annual Cost | Cost Over 10 Years | Potential 10-Year Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fossil fuel (traditional) | $135 | $1,620 | $16,200 | $0 |
| Renewable solar ($14,786 paid upfront) |
$25 Mostly Grid Fees |
$300 | $3,000 |
$13,800 ($986 after equipment cost) |
| Renewable solar ($0 up front lease) |
$85 Includes equipment lease |
$1,020 | $10,200 | $6,000 |
