Solar power in Montana
Going solar in Montana is a great investment for your home. State law requires privately-owned utilities to offer full retail net metering to their customers. Montana also has a personal tax credit that residents can claim when they install a renewable energy system on their property.
Full net metering, the state tax credit, and the 26% federal tax credit make going solar an excellent choice for Montana homeowners.
Compare solar quotes from the top solar companies in Montana
Montana solar power facts
$2.62 watt
Average cost: 5kW solar power system
?8 Years 8 Months
Average payback time
$30,443
Average lifetime savings
?6¢ kWh
Levelized cost of solar energy
25¢ kWh
If you don't get solar
?7,216 kWh
Annual power production
Cash flow graph based on cash purchase of a 5.56kW system
This 5.56kW system would offset 100% of your energy usage if your typical monthly bill in Montana is $86, however, your situation may vary so try our solar calculator to get a result tailored to you.
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Solar companies in Montana that provide pricing through the SolarEstimate marketplace.
How much can solar panels save you in Montana
Average total cost of solar panel installation in Montana
| System Size | Cash purchase After 26% solar tax credit |
Financed purchase After 26% solar tax credit |
|---|---|---|
| 3kw | $6,016 | $6,497 |
| 4kw | $7,903 | $8,535 |
| 5kw | $9,694 | $10,470 |
| 6kw | $11,455 | $12,372 |
| 7kw | $13,105 | $14,154 |
| 8kw | $14,741 | $15,920 |
| 9kw | $16,250 | $17,550 |
| 10kw | $17,760 | $19,181 |
How much do solar panels cost in Montana?
$2.62 per watt
Cash purchased solar system
Before 26% solar tax credit
$2.87 per watt
Financed solar system
Before 26% solar tax credit
$0.0¢ /kWh
Lease/PPA
Ave 15 year term, 2.5% price escalator
What are the pros and cons of installing solar panels in Montana?
The advantage of installing solar panels in Montana is the state-mandated net metering requirement. Privately-owned utilities must offer kilowatt hour (kWh) credits for excess energy generated by solar systems. The state also offers a tax credit to homeowners who install renewable energy systems. This tax credit is capped at $500. Montana law also offers property tax exemptions for solar energy systems.
SolarPowerRocks provides a great breakdown of solar incentives and policy for each state within the US.
The disadvantage of installing solar panels in Montana is that there is very little in the way of utility-based rebates. Also, Montana does not receive as much sunshine as other states so a solar system here will produce less than a system in a sunnier state, like Arizona.
However, the available state-based incentives combined with the federal tax credit more than make up for what the state lacks in sunshine. With the incentives that are currently available, now is the best time to go solar in Montana!
Best solar companies in Montana
Find local city information
Find local information for cities in Montana
Compare solar quotes from the top solar companies in Montana
Best brands of solar panels
To find the best brands of solar panels you can use America's most trusted solar panel comparison and reviews website, SolarReviews.
However, reviews of solar panels can be a bit meaningless because most consumer owners have not had any issues and so while solar company reviews are very important when choosing solar installers they are of less use when choosing solar panels.
For more information to help you make an informed decision about this topic, I would recommend this article about buying solar panels.
How much electricity will solar panels produce in Montana
Solar panels produce different amounts of energy in different locations.
Around the Helena area solar panels installed on a south-facing 30-degree pitch roof will typically produce:
1,358kWh
per year per 1kW of peak DC
(direct current) capacity
For more information about how your location, roof direction, and roof tilt affects solar power production use the solar panels calculator and enter your zip code.
I want to buy a solar panel kit and install it myself
What rebates, solar tax credits, and other solar incentives are available in Montana?
Net metering in Montana
Solar, by its nature, generates the most power during the middle of the day when most people are at work or school and little power is being used in the home. The net metering policy in Montana mandates that for every surplus kWh generated by solar (like the excess energy your system creates during the day) utilities must provide a credit that is equal to the full retail rate of electricity that will be applied to future bills to offset costs. However, at the end of the annual billing cycle, any excess credits on your bill will expire without compensation.
Residential Alternative Energy System tax credit
Montana offers residents a tax credit when they install a renewable energy system on their property. The tax credit is equal to 100% of the costs, up to $500. If there are two taxpayers living in a household, the two can file jointly for a $1,000 tax credit. The credit is then applied to the homeowner’s income taxes.
This is a great opportunity to save on the installation of a solar system.
Property tax exemption
Montana homeowners save big on their property taxes when they install residential solar panels. Installing a solar system on one’s property would usually cause an increase in property taxes, however, the property tax exemption excludes 100% of the assessed costs associated with the solar system from the homeowner’s property taxes. The exemption lasts for 10 years.
Montana Solar Calculator
Regardless of what you want to know about the economics of installing solar panels for your home or business in Montana, we have a solar calculator that can show you exactly the information you require.
What you can find out about installing solar panels in Montana using our full monthly solar calculator
This solar calculator requires you to input your address, utility company, your average monthly power spend - It tells you:
- What size solar system do you need?
- Answers the question of How many solar panels do I need?
- How many square feet of roof space you need for solar panels
- Solar electricity production in annual kWh (kilowatt-hours) you can expect from your solar system in Montana
- The value of solar tax credits and other incentives you are entitled to based on the estimated size of system you need, your location and your utility provider.
- Likely cost based on an average of prices charged for solar systems of that size in the last year in Montana or Helena ;
- The likely payback period on your solar panels and your investment return.
- Your total lifetime solar savings based on each of the major solar finance options, a cash purchase, a cash purchase funded with a HELOC sol (home equity line of credit) and a zero-down PPA or third party lease product.
If you want to see all of the above but also see live pricing, the three best solar deals available in your city and get binding quotes from each of these solar companies then use this Montana solar panels calculator. This calculator requires you to also input your name and contact details because most of our 200+ installer partners will only authorize the sharing of their live solar pricing where we have validated that you are a real homeowner with a home in their service area. We respect the privacy of your data and only share your contact details with the solar companies you ask us to get binding quotes from.
Going solar in Montana
Check out all of the ways energy providers of Montana can help you be more energy-efficient and save money.
The following programs are available:
| Incentive Name | Eligibility | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit | Federal | Personal Tax Credit |
| Net Metering | State | Net Metering |
| Residential Alternative Energy System Tax Credit | State | Personal Tax Credit |
| Renewable Energy Systems Exemption | State | Property Tax Incentive |
Find your local rebates and incentives
Your city may have further incentives to offer. Please keep in mind that the best source of up-to-date information on incentives is the solar installers who specialize in your area.
