Solar in Boise City, ID
With Idaho Power's electricity at about 12.6¢ per kWh and 1,468 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Boise City home today: about a 17.9-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 17.9 yrsIdaho: 18.3 yrs
- 25-year net
- $3,891after paying $8,649
- Sun
- 1,468kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 12.6¢30% below U.S. average
A typical Boise City home, by the numbers
| Utility | Idaho Power |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 899 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 3.7 kW, about 9 panels, 5,433 kWh a year (50% of use) |
| Cost | $14,415, or $8,649 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $540 |
| Payback | 17.9 years |
| Exported power | 4.5¢/kWh (Idaho Power) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 1.8% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Boise City
- Owner-occupied homes
- 63%
- Single-family detached
- 64%
- Median home value
- $485k
- Median year built
- 1986
- Population
- 237,242
Census ACS 2020–2024.
Installers working in Boise City
Public installation records for Idaho don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Idaho.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Boise City
Is solar worth it in Boise City, ID?
For a typical home in Boise City, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 3.7 kW system costs about $8,649 after state incentives, saves about $540 in year one and pays back in about 17.9 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Boise City?
About 1,468 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 3% more than the Idaho average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Boise City?
Most homes in Boise City are served by Idaho Power, at about 12.6¢ per kWh on average.
How much do solar panels cost in Boise City?
A fair cash price is around $3.45 per watt before incentives, so about $14,415 for a 3.7 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Meridian 17.6 yrs
- Kuna 17.6 yrs
- Eagle 18 yrs
- Nampa 18.1 yrs
- Caldwell 18.3 yrs
- Twin Falls 17 yrs
- Pocatello 17.7 yrs
- Lewiston 18 yrs
- All of Idaho
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.