Plug-in solar in Utah: is it worth it for you?

Payback, savings and what is allowed in Utah. With your own power price, no email and no sign-up.

What applies in Utah

Allowed with limits

Buy a device certified by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory that meets the current National Electrical Code and shuts off during a grid outage. ↗
Plug into a standard 120 V outlet. No utility approval, interconnection agreement, net-metering enrolment or fee is required. ↗

First US plug-in solar law (HB 340, 2025). Device max output 1,200 W AC per device.
Not eligible for net metering; no export credit.
Must include a feature that prevents energizing the building during an outage (anti-islanding).

Rules checked November 5, 2026. Sources

1. Where is the kit going?

2. How many people live in your home?

1 2 3–4 5+

Typical for this household in Utah: 9,000 kWh a year.

Or your yearly use, if you know it

kWh

3. Is someone home during the day?

Mostly home office, retired Partly some days Rarely out all day

4. How will it be mounted?

A balcony railing is near-vertical; a flat roof or garden can be tilted.

5. Your power price (optional)

$ / kWh

From your bill. Leave blank to use the Utah average of $0.13 per kWh.

How much power?

Suggested for your home 1,150 W (2 panels)

Kits cost more here, so payback is slower. This size pays for itself fastest, in about 7 years. Based on a typical 9,000 kWh a year.

Suggested

Used at homeSent to the grid

1,150 W · from $899

Cheapest kit we found with at least 1,150 W: US Solar Supplier 1180 W Plug-In Solar Kit, 2 panels, 1,180 W. Mount and delivery are extra.

Add a battery No complete kit with a battery is on sale here yet.

Saves about $135 a year and pays for itself in 6–7 years.

Nothing you enter is stored. Results are estimates, shown as a range.

Standard kit (2 panels), about $2,160 at the average Utah power price of $0.13 per kWh, with someone home part of the day.

Mounting spot	Generated per year	Saved per year	Payback
Balcony railing, facing south	951 kWh	$111	16–22 years
Balcony railing, facing east	788 kWh	$94	19+ years
Balcony railing, facing west	788 kWh	$94	19+ years
Tilted, facing south	1,359 kWh	$149	12–17 years
Tilted, facing east	1,155 kWh	$130	14–19 years
Tilted, facing west	1,155 kWh	$130	14–19 years
Flat (roof or garden)	1,223 kWh	$137	13–18 years