Montana solar potential
Solar Savings Calculator
Estimate solar payback period and long-term savings in Montana using real solar production data.
Solar savings estimate
System inputs
A typical residential rooftop system ranges from about 5 to 10 kW.
Switch the unit to enter either a total project cost or a cost per watt.
Defaulted to the average rate in Montana. Edit it if your utility bill shows a different rate.
Results
Savings & payback
Annual savings
$921
Payback period
19.6 yrs
25-year net savings
$5,013
Production breakdown
Annual production
8,278 kWh
Total install cost
$18,000
Production per kW
1,380 kWh
Rate used
11.1¢/kWh
How it works
The calculator multiplies your system size by the estimated annual production per kilowatt for your location to get total annual output in kWh, then values that output at your electricity rate to estimate annual savings.
Payback period is your total install cost divided by annual savings. 25-year net savings projects that same annual savings forward and subtracts the upfront cost — it does not account for panel degradation, rate changes, or maintenance.
The production estimate above reflects solar resource data for Montana. Actual output depends on roof angle, shading, panel efficiency, and local weather patterns.
Solar potential in Montana
As of June 2026, a solar system in Montana can be expected to produce roughly 1,380 kWh per kilowatt of installed capacity each year, based on solar resource data from NREL. Use the calculator above to estimate payback period and long-term savings for a specific system size and cost.
Check another state
Solar production varies by climate and latitude. Compare your state's potential against any other.