Best Solar Companies in Idaho - CNET

Nov 10, 2024

Idaho's state solar tax credit combined with the federal solar tax credit can mean big savings on rooftop solar installation in the Gem State.

Idaho gets a lot of sun. Solar panels can help you capture it.

Idaho gets three-quarters of its in-state electricity from renewable sources, the fourth highest share of any state. While most of that comes from hydropower, the state is taking steps to make sure rooftop solar panels on the homes of Idahoans are part of the mix.

If you live in Idaho, you can take advantage not only of the 30% federal solar tax credit, but also a state tax deduction of 40% of the cost of your solar panel system. You can also deduct 20% more each year for up to three more years, with caps of $5,000 per year and $20,000 total.

That's a big incentive, and it helps balance out the fact that electricity is pretty cheap in the Gem State. The average electricity cost was 11.05 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2023, among the lowest in the country, and the average electricity bill per month was less than $107.

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If you're looking for energy independence and freedom from fluctuating electricity prices, here's what you should know about going solar in Idaho -- starting with the best solar installation companies operating within the state.

EnergyPal is more than just a middleman. It'll handle your solar installation from beginning to end while also allowing you to benefit from its proprietary engine and competitive bidding process. The company offers a range of hardware for panels, batteries and inverters, has plentiful financing options and offers responsive customer service support.

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EnergyPal is both a marketplace and an energy advisor. It uses its proprietary quote builder engine to customize your solar system; then it'll contract with a local company and act as your single point of contact for everything from installation to permitting. Hardware options include solar panels, batteries and inverters from QCells, REC, Silfab, Aptos, Tesla, Enphase, SolarEdge and FranklinWH. You can expect a workmanship guarantee of 5-10 years, with manufacturer warranties of up to 30 years depending on the hardware. No weatherization warranty is offered. Customers can also take advantage of third-party monitoring tools, from Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla and others. While EnergyPal isn't rated by the BBB, it receives positive customer reviews online and scores a 4.7 on Trustpilot.

Include Freedom Forever in your search if you want the backing of a national company that installs a wide variety of the most popular solar equipment available. Freedom Forever also extends a couple of products that take some of the pain and risk out of going solar, like a production guarantee and an escrow option with cash purchases. Online reviews say customer satisfaction has been low of late, though the company says that's changing.

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Freedom Forever, one of the largest American solar installers, installs some of the most popular residential equipment. It offers a production guarantee and an uncommon cash escrow option is a welcome step toward a less stressful process.

Freedom Forever has had customer service issues, with complaints of paying for a nonfunctional system while dealing with poor communication and long waits. Some recent customers have had flawless experiences, but those reviews appear alongside many more negative ones. The company says things have turned around after a bad stretch, but it’s worth monitoring.

Purelight Power is the new kid on the block, but that doesn't mean it's second-rate. The solar company has been expanding rapidly into multiple states and has an in-house team that takes customers through every step of planning, permitting and installation. Warranty periods are fairly standard, but the company offers solar panels from companies like Silfab, SEG and Tesla Solar, battery options from Tesla Powerwall and Franklin Home Battery, and microinverters from Tesla.

Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Washington

Purelight Power was only founded in 2019, but the company has expanded rapidly and now operates in eight states. Like many other solar companies, Purelight has an in-house team that handles the solar installations and it works with credit unions and financing partners to offer a "zero down offer," which works the same as a solar loan. It doesn't offer solar leases or power purchase agreements, but you can purchase cash. Hardware offerings are strong, with tier-one solar panels from Silfab, SEG and Tesla Solar. While they aren't CNET's top-ranked panels, they're reliable and well-known brands. Battery options are stronger, with the Tesla Powerwall and Franklin Home Battery being among the best solar battery options around. Warranty periods are standard, with a 25-year production warranty for most solar panel offerings, with some longer at 30. Purelight Power offers a standard 10-year warranty for labor and weatherization.

Tesla's solar branch seems to be the least loved of Elon Musk's ventures. Even Tesla's Solar Roof seems to get more love.

If price is the thing you won't budge on, consider Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs quality panels and makes the closest thing there is to a household name in solar storage: the Powerwall.

Where you might miss out is customer service. Discussion online seems to suggest Tesla's service is a bit of a gamble.

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Solar panels from Tesla are likely to be the cheapest option where they are available. You can save thousands of dollars, without sacrificing on quality of equipment or the warranties that protect it.

What you might sacrifice is customer service. From delays to price changes, to slow responses, to system malfunctions, social media reports of negative experiences aren't hard to find, including some who regret their choice. This is true of all solar companies, but the quantity of reports concerning Tesla is concerning.

Serving residential, commercial and agricultural customers in Idaho and Colorado, Big Dog Solar specializes in solar installations. The company provides three residential customer options: grid-tied, off-grid and grid-tied with battery storage. Staying connected to the grid and adding battery storage is beneficial for net metering credits and for use during lower production times, such as winter. Big Dog guides customers through the installation process and offers a 25-year quality of work warranty. The website currently does not display financing options, but the company provides a free custom quote.

Since 2010, EGT Solar installs custom solar designs for homes and businesses in the central and southern regions of Idaho. EGT Solar states it keeps every part of the process in-house with licensed contractors, which is helpful for clear communication and updates throughout the process. The company offers financing options, including loans through a third party, with rates ranging from 2.99% to 6.99%.

Headquartered in Boise, Idahome Solar provides solar panel and battery installations, repairs and maintenance. Though the business was founded in 2019, it's fully licensed, keeping every part of the process in-house. Idahome Solar says it donates to local nonprofits and sponsors athletic programs at local schools. The website does not detail financing options but offers a free estimate.

Solar panels aren't an impulse purchase. This is a big project costing tens of thousands of dollars, and you should approach it carefully. Your first step: Identify several companies that could potentially do the work.

Once you have a list of potential installers, narrow the list to those who offer the products and services you're looking for and those with good customer reviews and reputations. Get detailed quotes from multiple companies -- they should come to your house and look at your roof, as well as consider your energy usage and needs. Choose not just based on price, but who can do the job and who offers the best warranties and service.

Want something smaller than a whole-home solar system? See our picks for the best portable solar panels and solar generators.

Here's a look at the average cash price for a typical solar panel system in Idaho before factoring in tax credits and incentives, according to data from FindEnergy.com.

The following map will show you the total cash price, cost per watt and system size for a typical solar panel system in your state, according to data from FindEnergy.com. The prices displayed don't factor in tax credits or state incentives. Certain states don't have any FindEnergy solar data and are grayed out on the map.

Even with solar prices decreasing 52% in the last decade, installation is a substantial investment. Solar tax credits and incentives are available to make choosing green energy more affordable. Applying for the federal residential clean energy credit, a federal incentive, saves 30% on the total cost of a solar system and appears as a credit on your next filed tax return. The credit is valid from the beginning of 2022 through 2032 before decreasing to 26%.

Idaho does not offer property or sales tax exemptions for a solar installation. This means, you could see a raise in your property taxes since a solar panel install can raise the value of your home and sales tax is likely added to your total price tag.

Here are other solar incentives in Idaho.

Residential alternative energy tax deduction

An income tax deduction of 40% of the cost of a solar system is applied the year of installation, then a 20% deduction the following three years. The maximum deduction for one year is $5,000 and $20,000 in total.

Net metering

Idaho does not have regulations for net metering, so rates and policies may vary by the utility company. Avista offers net metering in which you receive electricity credits in exchange for excess generated energy. The credits can be applied to your next electricity bill.

Rocky Mountain Power net billing (PDF)

Solar customers sell excess energy back to the utility company in exchange for credits.

Energy loan program (PDF)

The state offers low-interest loans for renewable energy projects on homes and businesses. Single-family homes can receive loans up to $50,000.

Residential clean energy credit (PDF)

Receive a 30% federal tax credit on your next return for solar systems installed through 2032. The credit decreases in 2033 to 26% then 22% in 2034. The credit is set to expire after 2034.

CNET recently ranked states based on their residential solar policies: the laws and regulations affecting consumer-level solar panel installation and adoption. These policies play a major role in determining how accessible and affordable a solar panel system is to the average resident.

Each state was evaluated through a methodology and scored based on eight categories. The final score was converted to a letter grade.

Here's how your state scored on CNET's solar policy test.

Grade: F

Incentives available:

Strongest scoring categories:

A massive state solar tax credit will help residents recoup much of the cost of their solar panel system through income tax rebates. While this tax credit depends on having a high enough income tax liability to take advantage of it, a maximum total deduction of $20,000 is enough to cover a substantial amount of the cost of a solar panel system.

Categories to improve:

It's never good to see utility-governed net billing; leaving the credits for sending energy to the grid in the hands of the utility companies means residents are going to see unfavorable rates, increasing their solar payback periods. While Idaho has a fantastic solar tax credit, it's also missing other basic state incentives, such as a property and sales tax exemption on solar panel systems.

Solar panels can be a major investment. Consider all of your payment options before making a final decision. While some options have more potential benefits, it depends on your budget.

Cash: A cash purchase is best for a quicker return on investment since there are no fees and interest like with a loan. If you are planning ahead, consider putting savings flagged for solar purchase in a high-yield savings account which can earn interest while it sits.

Loans: Solar loans are an option but may result in interest and fees, which can add up to paying more in the long run. You can also consider home equity or personal loans from a bank or other lender, or a home equity line of credit. Home equity financing comes with its own risks -- your home is the collateral -- but might offer lower rates and better terms.

Other options: Solar leases and power purchase agreements are options to experience savings from solar without owning the panels yourself. For solar leases, you pay a fixed monthly price to the solar company, which installs and owns the panels. Power purchase agreements differ because you pay a fixed price per kilowatt-hour of electricity the solar panels use. You won't be eligible for the tax credits for those systems -- the company that owns them will get that credit.

Before deciding on installing solar panels or choosing a solar company, review the following questions.

Our methodology

The companies we listed above as "the best" are curated from CNET's best solar companies list. Companies making the best list are scored on the equipment, warranties and customer service they offer. Then, we make sure these recommendations are available in your state. You can read a full breakdown of how we review solar companies here.

Companies listed under the local installers were chosen in a less rigorous way. We chose them because they offered something unique or notable to customers in the state, they seemed well-regarded by internet reviewers or because they were one of the few installers we could find information on in the state.

Whether we've completed a full review on a company or not, it's always a good idea to get multiple quotes from different installers before choosing a company.

How much do solar panels cost in Idaho?

The total cost for your home will depend on the system size, roof repair and additional equipment (like solar batteries). The national average cost is $2.99 per watt for an 8-kilowatt system, according to consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.

What is net metering?

Net metering is an agreement with the utility to receive credits for excess generated electricity. This means the energy generated from the solar system you don't use can save you money on your utility bill. In Idaho, net metering is not mandated by the state government. Check with your utility for its net metering policy.

Can solar panels save money?

Yes. Solar panels can save money on your utility bill and even make you money after the system's payback period, or how long it takes to see a return on investment. The payback period in Idaho for an 8-kilowatt system is estimated to take 25 years before factoring in tax credits and incentives.

Article updated on November 8, 2024 at 10:09 AM PST

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