For a limited time, (through December 31st, 2019) EmpowerSLC Solar is offering amazing discounts on residential solar PV projects to all eligible Salt Lake County homeowners. After the historically low up-front investment, your residential solar PV system will, over the 25+ year lifetime of the system, help stabilize your electricity bills, provide a hedge against rising and volatile energy costs, and secure sizable energy savings. Solar is a low-maintenance, fuel-free energy resource; once it is installed, you can sit back, let the sun shine, and reap the savings for decades to come!
How Does the EmpowerSLC Solar Discount Work?
The EmpowerSLC Solar installer, Auric Energy, is offering an up-front discount on their products and services for the EmpowerSLC Solar Program.
With this discount, the average homeowner is expected to save up to 20% on their solar installation. The installer is also offering add-ons including battery backup, electric vehicle charging, and whole-home energy monitoring.
| Description | 50% of Average Utah Home’s Energy Use | 100% of Average Utah Home’s Energy Use |
| System Size | 3 kW | 6 kW |
| Approx. Average Utah Price Before Incentives* | $9,500 | $18,600 |
| Approx. EmpowerSLC Solar Price Before Incentives* | $7,650 – $8,700 | $15,300 – $17,400 |
| Approx. EmpowerSLC Solar Price After Incentives* | $3,755- $4,490 | $9,110 – $10,580 |
*Cost varies between equipment options. Prices include permitting fees, net meter filing, engineering, site visit, 25-year product and craftsmanship warranty, production guarantee, and lifetime monitoring. Some homes may require add-ons.
Average Utah prices derived from Energy Sage. The average Utah home uses 698 kWh/month or 8,376 kWh/year. Your solar energy offset will depend on your home’s annual energy use.
Customized Solar Bids
You will have the opportunity to customize your solar installation to meet your individual needs and personal energy goals. The selected contractor offers a few choices for panels, optional monitoring systems, and add-ons including electric vehicle chargers, battery back-up, NEST thermostats, and more for interested participants. Your customized solar bid and final discount will depend on the size of your solar PV system, selected components, and your ability to take advantage of available federal and state tax incentives.
Energy Efficiency
Auric Energy, EmpowerSLC, and Utah Clean Energy are all committed to ensuring that EmpowerSLC Solar participants get the most out of their solar panels. By being more efficient and reducing your energy waste you can:
- Reduce your carbon footprint and household emissions
- Save money on your monthly utility bills
- Limit the up-front cost of going solar by reducing your home’s energy load
To maximize the impact of your solar, Auric Energy will help you understand your current energy use, identify simple areas of improvement (switching to LEDs, installing smart thermostats, improving your attic insulation, etc.), and use your energy goals to appropriately size your system.
Solar Incentives
Right now really is the best time to go solar in Utah. In addition to the savings offered through EmpowerSLC Solar, the state and federal government both offer incentives to help reduce your final out-of-pocket costs.
Utah State Solar Tax Credit
The Utah State Solar Tax Credit is 25% capped at $1,600 until 12/31/2020. After that, it will be capped at $1,200 until 12/31/2021.
Federal Solar Tax Credit
The Federal Solar Tax Credit is 30% (with no cap) until 12/31/2019, then 26% until 12/31/2020, and then 22% until 12/31/2021. If you are interested in taking advantage of the full 30% tax credit that steps down at the end of this year, fill out your Solar Survey today! Only installations that are complete by the end of this year will qualify. Otherwise, you will be eligible for the 26% tax credit next year.
Solar Export Credit
When your home generates energy and you’re not home to use it, the excess energy is sent to the grid and you receive a credit for every kilowatt-hour exported. Homeowners are given a 9.2 cent credit for every kWh of excess generation (typically in the summer), which can then be applied to utility bills in months where you solar installation doesn’t cover all of your energy needs (typically in the winter). The export credit rolls over month-to-month until the end of the service year (March 31st). Customers who install solar right now are part of the solar “Transition Program,” and will receive 9.2 cents per kilowatt-hour through December 31st, 2032. The Transition Program will close to new customers sometime in late 2020, and we simply don’t know what that rate will look like for new solar customers after that date. Installing solar now will lock you into the current rate until 2032.
With the federal tax credit set to decrease in 2020, now is the time to take advantage of the lowest price for solar Utah will likely see in the near future.
Learn more about the Solar Export Credit that compensates Rocky Mountain Power customers for their excess generation here: https://rooftopsolar.utah.gov.
