Home solar in Montana: prices, net metering, what is left in 2026
What Montana homeowners pay for solar in 2026, how the state's export rules work, and which incentives survived - verified against state sources, town by town.
Installed home solar in Montana compares against the U.S. marketplace average of about $2.58 a watt - roughly $30,960 for 12 kW.
The 30% federal solar credit ended December 31, 2025 - Montana installations completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
A home battery in Montana runs about $12,000-$16,000 installed, before any state storage incentive.
Beware of any 2026 payback estimate that looks as good as the 2025 ones: with the federal credit gone, a third of the old subsidy math vanished. If a sales projection has not gotten noticeably worse since 2025, it is hiding something - usually an inflated utility-rate escalation assumption.
Montana rules that decide your payback
| Rule | Montana status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | Montana statute requires utilities to offer net metering to customer-generators whose solar, wind or hydropower facility has a generating capacity of not more than 50 kilowatts (MCA 69-8-103), measuring net electricity each billing period and crediting excess kilowatt-hours on the following month's bill (MCA 69-8-603). |
| State incentive | Nonfossil Energy Generation property tax exemption (MCA 15-6-224) - up to $20,000 of capital investment value on a single-family residential dwelling, exempt for 10 years following installation; Montana's former residential alternative energy income tax credit (MCA 15-32-201) was repealed in 2021. |
| Sales tax on the system | Exempt |
| Property tax on added home value | Excluded |
Montana wipes the slate clean once a year: on January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1, any remaining unused kilowatt-hour credit accumulated during the previous 12 months 'must be granted to the electricity supplier, without any compensation to the customer-generator' - unlike Wyoming, which at least pays avoided cost, Montana pays nothing, so an oversized system donates its surplus to the utility.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
What installed solar costs in 2026
| System size | Installed price (marketplace avg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,480 | Small roof / low usage |
| 8 kW | $20,640 | Typical starter system |
| 10 kW | $25,800 | Family home with AC |
| 12 kW | $30,960 | Large home / EV charging |
| Home battery (optional) | $12,000-$16,000 | Backup power + self-consumption |
Compare solar quotes for Montana
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Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
The 30% federal tax credit is gone for 2026 installations
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (30%) was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025. Per the IRS, the credit is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025 - and the IRS counts the installation completion date, not the contract date.
Common questions
Do I need a battery with my solar?
Not necessarily. Under full retail net metering, the grid effectively stores your surplus for free. Batteries earn their $12,000-16,000 price where export rates are low, outages are common, or time-of-use rates make evening self-consumption valuable.
How long do solar panels actually last?
Panels are typically warrantied for 25 years of production and commonly outlive it, losing about 0.5% output per year. Inverters are the component that usually needs replacement - typically once, around year 12-15, at a few thousand dollars.
Should I lease, get a PPA, or buy?
Buying keeps all savings and any incentives with you. Leases and PPAs put a company's equipment on your roof for 20-25 years, complicate a home sale, and in 2026 any tax benefits they advertise belong to the company under commercial rules - not to you. Read escalator clauses carefully.
How much does home solar cost in 2026?
The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed - roughly $15,500 for a 6 kW system and $31,000 for 12 kW, before any state incentives. Quotes meaningfully above that level deserve a written explanation of what justifies the premium.
Does solar raise my property taxes?
It depends on the state - many exempt solar's added home value from property tax, others do not, and some exemptions have expiration dates. This guide's state page lists the verified rule and source for your state.
Is my roof even suitable for solar?
Three things decide it: orientation (south-facing is best in the U.S., east-west workable), shade (trees or taller buildings across midday hours can sink the math), and roof age (if the shingles have under 10 years left, reroof first - removing and reinstalling panels later costs thousands). Any honest installer assesses all three before quoting a number.
Compare solar quotes for Montana
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
Prices by city
Alberton · Anaconda-Deer Lodge County · Bainville · Baker · Bearcreek · Belgrade · Belt · Big Sandy · Big Timber · Billings · Boulder · Bozeman · Bridger · Broadus · Broadview · Butte · Cascade · Chester · Chinook · Choteau · Circle · Clyde Park · Colstrip · Columbia Falls · Columbus · Conrad · Culbertson · Cut Bank · Darby · Deer Lodge · Denton · Dillon · Dodson · Drummond · Dutton · East Helena · Ekalaka · Ennis · Eureka · Fairfield · Fairview · Flaxville · Forsyth · Fort Benton · Fort Peck · Froid · Fromberg · Geraldine · Glasgow · Glendive · Grass Range · Great Falls · Hamilton · Hardin · Harlem · Harlowton · Havre · Helena · Hingham · Hobson · Hot Springs · Hysham · Ismay · Joliet · Jordan · Judith Gap · Kalispell · Kevin · Laurel · Lavina · Lewistown · Libby · Lima · Livingston · Lodge Grass · Malta · Manhattan · Medicine Lake · Melstone · Miles City · Missoula · Moore · Nashua · Neihart · Opheim · Outlook · Philipsburg · Pinesdale · Plains · Plentywood · Plevna · Polson · Poplar · Red Lodge · Rexford · Richey · Ronan · Roundup · Ryegate · Saco · Scobey · Shelby · Sheridan · Sidney · St. Ignatius · Stanford · Stevensville · Sunburst · Superior · Terry · Thompson Falls · Three Forks · Townsend · Troy · Twin Bridges · Valier · Virginia City · Walkerville · West Yellowstone · Westby · White Sulphur Springs · Whitefish · Whitehall · Wibaux · Winifred · Winnett · Wolf Point