The federal energy tax credits have expired

Costs and payback figures on this page may still assume a federal credit that no longer exists. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D) and the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) both ended for property placed in service after 31 December 2025, and the home EV charger credit (30C) ended after 30 June 2026. Assume no federal credit on work done today.

What expired, and what still exists →

Is Electrification Worth It in Utah?

Salt Lake City: 6,000 heating degree days, terrible winter air quality, and Rocky Mountain Power.

Natural gas costs $0.95/therm. Electricity runs $0.11/kWh. You need real heating, and the Wasatch Front has some of the worst winter air inversions in America. Gas furnaces contribute to particulate pollution that makes Salt Lake's winter air quality worse than Los Angeles.

The economic case for heat pumps in Utah is marginal—payback around 10-12 years if you have gas. But the air quality case is strong. If you care about not making winter inversions worse, switch to a heat pump. If you're heating with propane, it's an easy financial decision too ($1,100+ annual savings).

Updated 31 July 2026Data from EIA, DSIRE, NREL
Heat Pump Payback
Not Recommended
With incentives
Annual Savings
$2,082
Full electrification
Available Incentives
$1,300
State + utility (federal credits expired)
CO₂ Reduction
14.3 tons
Per year

What Do Energy Costs Look Like in Utah?

Here's the real data from EIA (Energy Information Administration). These are the rates that determine whether electrification makes financial sense.

Electricity Rate
$0.115/kWh
Natural Gas Rate
$1.08/therm
Average Electric Bill
$118/month
Average Gas Bill
$62/month
Climate Zone
cold
Heating Degree Days
5,900
Cooling Degree Days
1,100

Visual ROI Analysis

Payback Period Comparison

Lower is better • Shortest payback = fastest return on investment

Annual Savings Comparison

Higher is better • More annual savings = greater long-term benefit

Cumulative Net Savings Over Time

Point where line crosses $0 = payback achieved • Steeper line = faster savings growth

Which Upgrades Pay Off the Fastest?

The economics are broken down for each major upgrade. Pay attention to the payback period—that's how long until savings equal your net cost.

🌡️

Heat Pump HVAC

Upfront Cost$12,000 - $22,000
Total Incentives-$600
Net Cost$11,400 - $21,400
Annual Savings$-35/yr
Payback PeriodNot Recommended
Lifetime ROI2%
CO₂ Reduction4.7 tons/yr
☀️

Solar Panels

Upfront Cost$15,000 - $30,000
Total Incentives-$0
Net Cost$15,000 - $30,000
Annual Savings$745/yr
Payback Period31.7 years
Lifetime ROI97%
CO₂ Reduction3.1 tons/yr
💧

Heat Pump Water Heater

Upfront Cost$2,500 - $4,500
Total Incentives-$400
Net Cost$2,100 - $4,100
Annual Savings$152/yr
Payback Period25.4 years
Lifetime ROI52%
CO₂ Reduction1.8 tons/yr

EV Charger + Electric Vehicle

Upfront Cost$800 - $2,500
Total Incentives-$300
Net Cost$500 - $2,200
Annual Savings$1,220/yr
Payback Period1.2 years
Lifetime ROI1574%
CO₂ Reduction4.8 tons/yr

Should You Go All-In?

Here's what it costs to electrify everything at once—heat pump HVAC, solar panels, heat pump water heater, and EV charger. The upfront cost is high, but so are the savings.

Total Upfront Cost
$30,300 - $59,000
Total Incentives
-$1,300
Net Cost After Incentives
$29,000 - $57,700
Annual Energy Savings
$2,082/year
Lifetime Savings (18 years)
$37,479
Simple Payback
23.3 years
💡

Best ROI for Utah

Based on your state's energy costs and climate, EV Charger offers the best return on investment with an average payback of 1.2 years and an ROI of 1574%.

0.0 years slower than average compared to the national average.

Ready to electrify your Utah home?

Get free quotes from local contractors who specialize in heat pumps, solar, and electrification.

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