Solar Panel Installation Provo: the honest math for Provo Power homes
Provo runs its own electric utility, with some of the lowest rates in Utah and its own solar rules. Extra solar earns a 6.742¢ credit, unused credit lapses every February, and the $18 monthly base charge never goes away. We design around those facts, and we'll tell you if solar doesn't pay for your home.
Your Provo bill, block by block
Your solar averages 8.7¢ per kWh in value.
Uses Provo Power's 2027 residential blocks, $18 base charge and the 6.742¢ generation credit. Illustrative only; taxes and fees not included.
Solar panel installation Provo homeowners get in 2026 averages $2.39 per watt, about $24,671 for a typical 10.31 kW system, per EnergySage. Provo City Power credits extra solar sent to the grid at 6.742¢ per kWh, lets credits offset energy charges only, and wipes unused credit every February 28. For the bigger picture, see our Utah County solar installer page.
That makes Provo a "use it yourself" solar city. Solar you use at home replaces power at 7¢, 11¢ or 13¢ per kWh, depending on how much you use. Exported solar earns less.
Springville · Utah CountySend 12 Months of Provo Power Bills
Your usage pattern decides the Provo payoff. Send your bills and address, and we'll run them through Provo's actual rates: a design, a written flat-rate price and the payback, or a plain "solar won't pay" if that's the answer. Before you sign anything, read our solar contract checklist and the steps for switching to solar in Utah.
- Modeled on Provo Power's 2027 rates
- Sized for the February 28 reset
- Licensed electricians, no subcontractors
Provo solar check
What Provo's Net Metering Agreement Says
Provo's solar rules come from city code, a license agreement every solar owner signs, and the city's rate schedule. These six decide your payback.
6.742¢ for extra solar
New residential net metering accounts are credited $0.06742 per kWh of generation under Schedule 1.1.
Credits can't pay fees
Credits offset energy charges only. The $18 monthly base charge and other fees stay on every bill.
Unused credit ends Feb 28
Any credit left on February 28 goes to Provo City Power with no payment. Provo says "no exceptions."
No third-party PPAs
No third party can benefit from the system. That rules out power purchase agreements and landlords selling power to tenants.
Some rate plans end
Net metering accounts can't enroll in time-of-use, EV time-of-use, budget billing, SharedSolar or wind programs.
Written approval first
The system can't run until Provo inspects it and approves it in writing. Later changes also need written approval.
Sources: Provo Net Metering License Agreement, Provo City Code 12.03.080, Provo Power 2027 Rate Summary. Older accounts on the closed rate are credited in tiers instead.
Three Provo Solar Sales Claims, Checked
Most solar pitches are written for Rocky Mountain Power homes. Three common claims don't hold up in Provo.
"Provo credits your extra solar at full retail."
That was true under Provo's older net metering rate, which is now closed to new accounts. New accounts get 6.742¢ per kWh for generation, while Provo's retail blocks run 7¢ to 13¢.
"Power rates rise 5–7% every year, so solar pays off fast."
Provo Power says that isn't the case for its customers, and its fiscal 2027 budget shows residential base and energy charges unchanged from 2026.
"With solar and a battery you can leave the grid."
Provo says you can't disconnect from its grid. Every net metering home stays connected and pays the base charge.
Provo Power also says it never works with or sponsors any solar company, so be wary of anyone claiming to be "Provo-approved." Check any installer's license, including ours, through Utah's DOPL license lookup.
Where Solar Panel Installation Provo Homes Get Pays Off
After solar panel installation Provo homes send every kWh to one of two places, and in Provo they're worth very different amounts.
| Where the solar kWh goes | What it's worth in Provo | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Used in your home, high-use month | 13¢ | Replaces power you'd buy above 1,000 kWh |
| Used in your home, typical month | 11¢ | Replaces power between 500 and 1,000 kWh |
| Used in your home, low-use month | 7¢ | Only the first block is left to replace |
| Sent to Provo's grid | 6.742¢ credit | Offsets energy charges only, lapses Feb 28 |
Solar trims your most expensive kWh first, so the payoff depends on how far up Provo's rate staircase you climb.
The best Provo candidates often pass 1,000 kWh a month: central air, an electric vehicle, a heat pump or a large family. If your bills rarely pass 500 kWh, the honest answer may be to wait, or to look at SharedSolar below.
What Solar Panel Installation in Provo Costs
Slide to a system size for a typical price at EnergySage's Provo average. Your written quote replaces the estimate.
Estimated at $2.39 per watt before any incentives.
Sources: EnergySage local solar cost data, Provo (October 2026: average $24,671 for 10.31 kW, range $20,970–$28,372), Utah (October 2026) and Draper (September 2026). More cities are on solar panel cost Utah 2026.
A worked Provo payback example
Take a home using 1,000 kWh a month with a 6 kW system at $2.39 per watt, about $14,340. Assume it averages 800 kWh a month and 45% is used as it's made. Provo's rates put the bill near $39 instead of $108, saving about $69 a month, or roughly $830 a year. That's a simple payback of about 17 years before panel wear, maintenance or any rate change.
EnergySage's generic estimate is more optimistic, which is exactly why Provo-specific math matters. Panels typically last 25 to 30 years, so a 17-year payback can still work, but it's a long-term decision.
The 30% federal credit for systems you buy ended December 31, 2025. Provo's net metering fee is $375 (100–200 amp service) or $825 (200–400 amps), plus an electrical permit. See Utah solar incentives for current programs.
Sizing Solar Panel Installation Provo Homes Need
Provo's own guidance is blunt: oversizing is "a common occurrence" and credits are zeroed out every February. An oversized system loses twice: extra kWh earn only 6.742¢, then unused credit disappears on February 28.
So we size from your last 12 months of Provo Power usage, aiming to match what you use rather than beat it. Planning an EV or heat pump? Size for it now, because adding panels later needs Provo's written approval. If your electrical panel needs room, see electrical panel upgrades.
The Provo Solar Process, Step by Step
Solar panel installation Provo projects follow the city's license process, and Provo asks that all communication about your application come from you, the customer, not the solar company. We prepare every document and walk you through each step.
Design
Sized from 12 months of Provo bills.
Your application
Application form, license agreement, standards and checklist through Provo's portal.
Fee and permit
$375 or $825 net metering fee plus an electrical permit.
Install
Our crew installs, including the required visible-break safety disconnect.
Inspection
Electrical inspection and Certificate of Completion; Provo gets two working days' notice of testing.
Written approval
Provo approves the interconnection in writing, then you turn it on.
Provo says the whole process "can take a few months" because of processing times and inspector availability, and that doesn't count the installer's own schedule. Provo also invites you to review any contractor's proposal with them at (801) 852-6852 before you sign. We welcome that. Every Elite design is reviewed by Jason Grimes, our DOPL licensed Master Electrician. Curious who'll be at your house? Meet our licensed electricians.
Buying a Provo Home That Already Has Solar
If you buy a Provo home with existing solar, you must sign Provo's move-in Net Metering License Agreement and complete its checklist; the previous owner's paperwork doesn't carry over.
Before closing, ask Provo Power which rate the system is on (we found no document saying whether the closed rate transfers), and confirm any loan on the equipment is settled. If the system isn't producing, we service systems we didn't install; see solar maintenance and repair.
Do Batteries Make Sense With Provo Solar?
In Provo, a battery mostly buys peace of mind, not savings. Storing midday solar for the evening turns a 6.742¢ export into power worth 7¢ to 13¢. That gain is too small to pay for a battery alone, and there's no time-of-use rate to beat.
The real reason is backup during outages. Rocky Mountain Power's Wattsmart rebate doesn't apply in Provo, and adding a battery needs Provo's written approval. Compare options on home energy storage Utah, see Tesla Powerwall installation (we're a Tesla Certified Installer), or add a battery to existing solar.
Three Questions for Any Provo Solar Quote
Comparing solar panel installation Provo quotes is easier when every installer answers the same three questions in writing.
Which Provo rate did you use?
A quote that assumes full retail credit for exports overstates savings for new Provo accounts.
What happens on February 28?
Ask for the month-by-month credit estimate. If a large balance builds by winter, the system is oversized.
What rate increase is assumed?
A 5–7% yearly increase doesn't match Provo's own history. Ask for the payback at flat rates too.
Get each answer in writing, along with the system size, equipment, Provo fee and permit on separate lines. Quotes built that way are easy to compare side by side, and they make it obvious when an offer leans on Rocky Mountain Power assumptions that don't apply here.
Businesses: see commercial solar installation Utah. Rocky Mountain Power city instead? See net metering in Utah. Lehi's city utility differs again; see solar in Lehi.
Solar Our Crew Has Installed Across Utah
See more brands and installs on solar panel installation Utah and Enphase solar installation.
“In Provo, the best solar kWh is the one you use yourself. We size for that, not for the sales pitch.”— How we plan solar for Provo City Power homes
Get Your Solar Panel Installation Provo Check
Send 12 months of Provo Power bills, or your usage history, plus your address. Rebecca confirms within one business day, then Christian and Jason Grimes send a written, flat-rate design with Provo-rate payback math, fee and permit included.
Provo solar request
What Our Customers Say
“Cole was great to work with and spec'd out a system to meet our needs. Install went smoothly.”
“Awesome service, super professional & honest! Will use again in the future”
“I've know these guys for a few years, they do awesome work. They helped me on my solar project and have done the solar for a few of my friend's. Always great work, easy to work with.”
“Definitely recommend!! They answered all my questions and customer service was so helpful!! Excited to move forward with them!”
- Provo: Solar (Net Metering)
- Provo: 2027 Rate Summary
- EnergySage: Provo solar cost
- Read our Google reviews
More customer stories are on our reviews page.
Solar Panel Installation Provo FAQ
Does Provo City Power still offer net metering?
Yes, under a license agreement every solar owner signs. New residential accounts are credited $0.06742 per kWh for generation under Schedule 1.1. Older accounts on Provo's closed rate keep tiered credits. Credits offset energy charges only and any unused credit lapses on February 28.
Is solar worth it in Provo?
It depends on your usage. Solar you use yourself replaces power at 7, 11 or 13 cents per kWh, while exports earn 6.742 cents. Homes that often pass 1,000 kWh a month get the best value. Our worked example for a 1,000 kWh home shows about a 17-year simple payback at flat rates.
How much does solar panel installation cost in Provo?
EnergySage's October 2026 data puts Provo at $2.39 per watt, about $24,671 for a typical 10.31 kW system, with most quotes between $20,970 and $28,372. Add Provo's $375 or $825 net metering fee and the electrical permit. Our written price is flat and lists both.
What happens to unused solar credits in Provo?
Any credit remaining on February 28 each year goes to Provo City Power without payment, and Provo says there are no exceptions. That's why we size Provo systems to match your yearly usage rather than exceed it.
Can I lease solar or sign a PPA in Provo?
Provo's agreement says no third party can benefit from a customer-owned system, which rules out power purchase agreements. Its published documents don't address leases directly, so ask Provo Power before signing one. Cash and loan purchases are straightforward.
Can I keep my EV time-of-use rate if I add solar in Provo?
No. Provo's net metering agreement says net metering accounts can't enroll in time-of-use, EV time-of-use, budget billing, SharedSolar or wind programs. If you rely on an EV rate today, we'll compare your bill both ways before you decide.
I bought a Provo home with solar. What do I need to do?
Provo requires move-in customers to sign its Net Metering License Agreement for move-in customers and follow the move-in checklist. Ask Provo Power which rate the system is on, and confirm any loan or contract on the equipment is settled.
How do I get a solar price for my Provo home?
Call +1 (801) 928-7219 or use the form on this page with 12 months of Provo Power bills and your address. Rebecca confirms within one business day, and you get a written, flat-rate design with Provo-rate payback math.
Get Provo solar math you can trust
Send your Provo Power bills and address. Rebecca replies within one business day, and you'll get a written design, flat-rate price and honest payback.
+1 (801) 928-7219