Solar in Kalispell, MT
With Flathead Electric Cooperative's electricity at about 10.7¢ per kWh and 1,154 kWh of sun per kW, solar is not worth it for a typical Kalispell home today: it does not pay back within 25 years.
- Payback, typical home
- NeverMontana: 19.6 yrs
- 25-year net
- −$1,292after paying $18,380
- Sun
- 1,154kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 10.7¢41% below U.S. average
A typical Kalispell home, by the numbers
| Utility | Flathead Electric Cooperative |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 1,184 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 6.2 kW, about 14 panels, 7,152 kWh a year (50% of use) |
| Cost | $18,380 |
| First-year savings | $765 |
| Payback | never within 25 years |
| Exported power | Full retail net metering (Montana rule) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 1.8% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Kalispell
- Owner-occupied homes
- 55%
- Single-family detached
- 58%
- Median home value
- $428k
- Median year built
- 1985
- Population
- 28,504
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 78%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 6,354 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Kalispell
Public installation records for Montana don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Montana.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Kalispell
Is solar worth it in Kalispell, MT?
For a typical home in Kalispell, solar is not worth it at 2026 prices: a 6.2 kW system costs about $18,380 after state incentives, saves about $765 in year one and does not pay back within 25 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Kalispell?
About 1,154 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 10% less than the Montana average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Kalispell?
Most homes in Kalispell are served by Flathead Electric Cooperative, at about 10.7¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by USBIA-Mission Valley Power.
How much do solar panels cost in Kalispell?
A fair cash price is around $2.90 per watt before incentives, so about $18,380 for a 6.2 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Missoula 17.3 yrs
- Great Falls 15.5 yrs
- Helena 15.5 yrs
- Butte-Silver Bow 15.7 yrs
- Bozeman 16.3 yrs
- Billings 15.1 yrs
- All of Montana
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.