Solar panels in Orem, UT
Roofs in Orem get about 1,683 hours of usable sunlight a year — more than 66% of the cities we've measured. Here's what that means in cost, savings and payback, using real rooftop data rather than a national average.
Check your specific roof in Orem → City averages are a starting point; your own roof's size, pitch and shading change the answer a lot.
What a typical Orem solar system costs
A 19-panel system (7.6 kW) is about right for an average Orem home using 10,800 kWh a year. It would produce roughly 10,872 kWh annually and offset 100% of that usage.
| System | Size | kWh/yr | Net cost | Saves/yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 panels | 3.2 kW | 4,578 | $6,384 | $513 | 12.5 yrs |
| 12 panels | 4.8 kW | 6,867 | $9,576 | $769 | 12.5 yrs |
| 16 panels | 6.4 kW | 9,156 | $12,768 | $1,025 | 12.5 yrs |
| 20 panels | 8 kW | 11,444 | $15,960 | $1,228 | 13 yrs |
| 26 panels | 10.4 kW | 14,878 | $20,748 | $1,324 | 15.7 yrs |
Notice that payback barely improves as systems get bigger, and eventually gets worse. That's because you can only save money on electricity you were going to buy anyway. Once a system covers your usage, extra panels mostly generate exports at a much lower rate.
Why Orem gets 1,683 sun hours
That figure comes from Google's analysis of real rooftops across Orem — it already accounts for shading from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings, which is why it's lower than the raw "hours of daylight" figures you'll see elsewhere. An unusually open, unshaded roof in Orem reaches about 1,842 hours, roughly 9% better than typical.
The numbers behind this page
| Typical usable sunlight | 1,683 hrs/yr |
|---|---|
| Unshaded roof | 1,842 hrs/yr |
| Electricity rate (Utah avg) | 11.2¢/kWh |
| Installed cost assumed | $2.85/W |
| Panel size assumed | 400 W |
| Federal tax credit | 30% |
| Typical household usage | 10,800 kWh/yr |
| Power used as generated | 35% |
| Paid for exported power | full retail (net metering) |
| Rooftops sampled here | 8 |
| Google imagery from | 2023 |
Nearby cities
See all of Utah → statewide sunlight, rates, incentives and every city we've measured.
Orem solar questions
How many solar panels do I need in Orem?
About 19 panels for an average home. Orem roofs get 1,683 usable sun hours a year, so each 400W panel produces roughly 572 kWh annually.
Is solar worth it in Orem?
At 11.2¢/kWh and 1,683 sun hours, a typical system pays for itself in about 12.5 years and returns roughly $15,129 over 25 years. That is slower than the national average, so compare quotes carefully.
How much do solar panels cost in Orem?
A 7.6 kW system costs about $21,660 before incentives and $15,162 after the 30% federal tax credit. Prices vary by installer, roof complexity and equipment.
Worth reading before you buy
Estimates only, generated 2026-08-22 from Google Solar API rooftop samples and average Utah electricity rates. Not a quote and not financial advice. Your roof, usage, utility plan and local incentives will change these numbers — get real quotes before buying.