In short: Twin Falls has about 55,600 people and sits in Twin Falls County. Idaho Power Co serves the county, averaging 11.76¢ per kWh for homes in 2024 (EIA). FEMA rates Twin Falls County winter weather “relatively high”. Rooftop solar here makes roughly 1,350 kWh a year per kW of panels by our estimate, which is good for solar.
This page covers what is local to Twin Falls: its utility, outage records, sunshine, weather risks and charging. Statewide rules such as net metering, incentives and electrician licensing are in our Idaho energy guide.
Twin Falls at a glance
- Place: Twin Falls, Twin Falls County, Idaho; about 55,589 residents (Census Bureau estimate, July 2024).
- Utility: Idaho Power Co (investor-owned). Homes paid an average 11.76¢ per kWh in 2024 (EIA-861); the average customer lost 164 minutes of power on normal days and 206 counting major storms, with 1.2 interruptions a year (utility-wide, not just Twin Falls).
- Sun: 4.63 kWh per square meter per day on average, from 1.52 in December to 7.61 in June (NASA POWER). Our rough estimate: about 1,350 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Climate: about 980 cooling degree-days and 6,260 heating degree-days a year (base 65°F, NASA POWER), so heating is the big load.
- Top hazards in Twin Falls County: winter weather “relatively high”, wildfires “relatively moderate” and landslides “relatively moderate” (FEMA National Risk Index; overall county risk rated “relatively low”).
- Public charging: 30 ports at 9 locations in Twin Falls, 20 of them DC fast (AFDC, October 20, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
Idaho Power Co is an investor-owned utility and served about 525,751 home customers in 2024; its 11.76¢ average was below the 13.73¢ statewide average for July 2026. Those are utility-wide averages, not a quote for your address; your own bill is the real number.
For reliability, Idaho Power Co reported 164 minutes per customer without major storms in 2024, less than the statewide figure of 174 (EIA-861). Utility-wide numbers hide a lot: a home at the end of a long rural line usually has more outages than the average.
Net metering, export rates and incentives are set at state level and by each utility. Start with the Idaho guide and then ask your utility for its current interconnection steps before you sign anything.
Backup power in Twin Falls
- Winter weather (relatively high): Winter storms and cold snaps combine outages with heating demand. Plan for the furnace blower or heat pump, not just lights, and keep a fuel supply you can reach in snow.
- Wildfires (relatively moderate): Wildfire risk can mean planned shutoffs and smoke. A battery charged by solar gives quiet backup, and fueled generators need extra care on dry days and clear space around them.
- Heating load: a winter outage can stop a furnace blower, boiler pump or heat pump. List what your heat needs to run before choosing a generator or battery.
- Short outages: a portable power station covers phones, Wi-Fi, a CPAP and lights; a home battery switches over automatically.
Size your setup with the generator sizing tool and the battery backup calculator, and compare options in backup power. Generator safety (CPSC): outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors and windows, never in a garage, and battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms inside. A licensed electrician should install any transfer switch, with a permit; see generator installation.
Solar in Twin Falls
By our rough estimate each kW of panels makes about 1,350 kWh a year in Twin Falls (NASA sunshine data times 365 days times 0.80 for system losses). Valued at Idaho Power Co’s 2024 average of 11.76¢, that is about $159 a year per kW if all of it offsets your own use (an estimate, not a promise). Production swings with the seasons: June is the sunniest month at 7.61 and December the dimmest at 1.52, a 5.0-to-1 gap, so a battery or a bigger system helps in winter.
Check your own roof with the solar potential tool, see solar costs and net metering vs net billing, and read the steps in solar installation.
Batteries and EV charging
A home battery earns its place when outages are frequent, when your utility pays little for exported solar, or when evening prices are high; compare in home batteries and battery costs. Twin Falls has 30 public charging ports in the federal station list including 20 DC fast, but home charging is cheaper and easier: see the EV charging cost calculator and EV charger installation.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Twin Falls: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
Solar, generator transfer switches and EV chargers normally need an electrical permit from the Twin Falls building or permitting department, or from Twin Falls County if you live outside city limits, and often a utility interconnection approval. We have not verified a local permit page for Twin Falls, so check the city and county websites or ask your electrician, who will know the process. Hire only a licensed electrician or installer; the Idaho guide lists the state licensing rules.
Nearby guides
More local guides: see all of Idaho, or the whole Idaho energy guide.
Get help
Are you a licensed installer in Twin Falls? Join SolutionEnergy and get requests from homeowners and businesses →
Tell us about your project and we will connect you with a licensed, independent installer who serves the Twin Falls area. It is free, there is no obligation, and only the installer you choose gets your details. Read how it works.
Twin Falls energy FAQ
Who is my electric company in Twin Falls?
Federal data lists Idaho Power Co as the main utility serving Twin Falls County. Small areas can be served by a different company or a co-op, so confirm on your bill.
How much power will solar make in Twin Falls?
About 1,350 kWh a year per kW of panels by our estimate, so a 6 kW system would make roughly 8,100 kWh. Shade, roof direction and tilt change this; run your address through the solar potential tool for a better number.
Is a generator or a battery better for winter weather in Twin Falls County?
It depends how long the outage lasts. A battery is quiet, automatic and good for short outages and for pairing with solar; a standby generator keeps going as long as it has fuel, which suits multi-day events. Many homes use a battery for everyday outages and add a generator for the rare long one.
Will a home battery keep my heat on in an outage?
It can keep a furnace blower, boiler pump or a heat pump running for a while, but long cold outages drain a battery fast without solar to recharge it. Pair it with a generator or wood or propane heat if outages here run for days.
Do I need a permit for solar or a generator in Twin Falls?
Almost always an electrical permit for a transfer switch, solar or an EV charger, issued by the city or county where you live. Your licensed electrician or installer normally pulls it. Never connect a generator to your house wiring without a transfer switch.
Sources: EIA Form 861 (2024) for utility prices and outages; NASA POWER climatology (2001 to 2025) for sun and degree-days; FEMA National Risk Index for county hazards; AFDC station locator for public charging; Census Bureau for population. Estimates are ours and are not promises; see our editorial policy. Prices and programs change, so check each program page.