Residential Solar PV in Northern Utah

Net metering in Utah — what changed

Rocky Mountain Power’s net-metering credits for new residential solar customers are no longer 1:1 — exported solar is credited at the “export credit rate” rather than full retail. That math changes system design: it usually means sizing closer to your own consumption (not over-producing for credits) and considering battery storage to capture self-consumption.

Sizing your system

A typical northern Utah home uses 9,000 to 14,000 kWh a year. With our solar irradiance, that translates to roughly a 7 to 11 kW PV array. Bigger is not always better — if you over-produce, you are exporting at the lower credit rate. We size based on your last 12 months of bills, planned EV charging, and any electrification you have on the horizon (heat pump, induction range, etc.).

Battery storage — when it makes sense

A battery (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ, FranklinWH, etc.) lets you store solar production for evening use, ride out grid outages, and arbitrage time-of-use rates. With Utah’s reduced export credit, batteries have gone from “nice-to-have” to “core to the economics” for many homes.

Payback and warranty

Honest payback in northern Utah ranges from 8 to 13 years depending on system size, financing, and whether you add storage. Panels and inverters carry 25-year warranties; batteries are typically 10 years. We will give you a real cash-flow projection at quote time, not a brochure.