A real cost breakdown for a typical 6kW system in Boise, using local rate and sun-hour data rather than a state-wide average.
Boise has one of the lower electricity rates in the country at approximately $0.10/kWh, and a solid, average solar resource at 5.2 peak sun hours a day — notably different from a simple Idaho state-wide average in some cases, since metro-level microclimates and local utility rates can diverge from state figures. Combined with a metro-level installed-cost estimate of $2.60/watt, a standard 6kW residential system runs approximately $13,660 before any incentives.
| Line item | Estimated cost | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment (panels, inverter, racking) | $8,580 | 63% |
| Labor / installation | $4,680 | 34% |
| Permitting & inspection | $400 | 3% |
| Total (before incentives) | $13,660 | 100% |
A 6kW system in Boise costs 21% less than the 50-state average of $17,372, and the electricity rate it offsets is 38% lower than the $0.16/kWh average across those states. At $911 in estimated annual value from 9,110 kWh of yearly production, this system pays back in roughly 15 years — a longer payback period than the national average.
A typical 6kW residential solar system in Boise costs approximately $13,660 installed in 2026, based on a metro-level estimate of $2.28/watt.
At Boise's average rate of $0.10/kWh, a 6kW system pays back in roughly 15 years — a longer payback period than the national average.