In short: Wyoming pairs good sun and strong wind with cheap power, 14.36 cents per kWh in July 2026, and a reliable grid that averaged about 138 minutes of outages in 2024. Net metering still credits solar at retail, Rocky Mountain Power pays toward home batteries, and wildfire shutoffs are the main backup risk.
Wyoming has the fewest people of any state, long distances between towns and a lot of open, windy land. That makes it one of the few places where a small wind turbine is a serious option for a ranch or rural home, and where EV drivers rely on fast chargers along the interstates. Here is what the state’s own numbers mean for each choice.
Wyoming at a glance
- Residential electricity price: 14.36 cents per kWh in July 2026, about 22% below the U.S. average of 18.31 cents and a little under July 2025’s 14.64 cents (EIA, preliminary). The 2026 average through July was 13.95 cents.
- Outages, 2024: about 138 minutes per customer with major events and 109 without; about one interruption per customer (EIA-861).
- Solar resource: 4.57 kWh per square meter per day at Cheyenne and 4.65 near the state’s center (NASA POWER), roughly 1,340 kWh a year per kW of panels by our estimate.
- Net metering: full retail for systems up to 25 kW under state law (W.S. 37-16-101 to 104), with monthly carryover and any yearly surplus paid at avoided cost. A 2025 bill to change it failed; we found no change for 2026.
- Plug-in (balcony) solar law: none found as of October 2026.
- Electric vehicles: about 1,900 battery-electric and 1,200 plug-in hybrid vehicles through 2025; 345 public charging ports at 122 locations, 183 of them DC fast (AFDC, October 2026).
- Largest utilities (2024): PacifiCorp, as Rocky Mountain Power (47% of customers), Cheyenne Light Fuel & Power (15%), Lower Valley Energy (10%) and Powder River Energy (9%).
- Weather hazards: winter weather and cold waves are the highest rated, at relatively moderate; overall expected annual loss is very low (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Public safety power shutoffs: yes. Rocky Mountain Power runs them in Wyoming, and Black Hills Energy has a program too.
Backup power in Wyoming
By the numbers, Wyoming’s grid is dependable: about 109 minutes of outage on ordinary days in 2024 and only about 29 more from major events. FEMA rates the state’s overall hazard losses very low. So for most homes in Cheyenne, Casper or Laramie, backup is about comfort and peace of mind rather than a regular need.
Two groups should plan more carefully. First, homes in areas where Rocky Mountain Power or Black Hills Energy may switch off lines during dangerous fire weather; those shutoffs are planned, announced ahead and can last until lines are inspected. Second, ranches and rural homes at the end of long lines, where a winter storm can mean a long wait for repairs and a well pump and stock-tank heaters depend on power.
- Home battery: silent and automatic, a natural match for announced shutoffs, and partly paid for by Rocky Mountain Power’s program (below). Check runtime in our battery backup calculator.
- Propane or dual-fuel generator: common on ranches where propane is already on site. Outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors and windows, never in a garage or barn (CPSC); during fire season, set it on gravel away from dry grass. Connect it through a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. Use the generator sizing tool.
- Portable power station: for phones, lights and a CPAP; it can recharge from a portable panel. See portable power.
Compare them in our generators and home batteries guides.
Solar in Wyoming
Wyoming’s sun is better than its reputation, not far below Salt Lake City’s, and net metering still works the simple way. By our rough estimate a 6 kW array would make around 8,040 kWh a year. Because state law credits exports at retail with monthly carryover, most of that output is worth close to the retail price, about $1,150 a year at 14.36 cents, as long as the system is sized to your yearly use. Any surplus left at the end of the year is paid only at avoided cost, so oversizing doesn’t pay. These are estimates, not promises.
The law caps net metering at 25 kW, which is larger than almost any home system. Lawmakers tried to change compensation in 2025 and the bill failed, but the topic could return, so a system’s long-term value depends partly on future sessions. We found no confirmed state solar incentive in Wyoming, and the federal credit ended for home systems finished after December 31, 2025. There is no plug-in solar law; ask your utility before using a balcony kit. Read our net metering guide, compare prices in solar panel cost, check your roof with the solar potential tool and start from the solar guide.
Home batteries in Wyoming
Rocky Mountain Power’s Wattsmart Battery program reached Wyoming with terms effective July 1, 2026: a one-time enrollment incentive of $1,000 for a single battery system under 10 kW or $2,000 for 10 kW or more, then yearly bill credits of $15 per kW (capped at $100) in years 2 to 4 and $50 per kW (capped at $250) from year 5. You can join with or without solar, but a battery without solar requires a time-of-day or time-of-use rate, and the utility can use the battery during grid events. Check the program page before buying; amounts change. Customers of other utilities should ask theirs.
Because retail net metering already credits solar exports well, a battery’s main value here is backup, plus the program payments. See home battery cost and the batteries hub.
EV charging in Wyoming
Wyoming is unusual: it has more public DC fast ports (183) than Level 2 ports (161), suited to long drives on I-80, I-25 and I-90, and only about 5.5 battery-electric cars per public port, the lowest ratio of any state in our data. Still, with only about 1,900 battery-electric cars statewide, most charging happens at home. At 30 kWh per 100 miles (a typical figure on fueleconomy.gov labels) and 14.36 cents, that costs about $4.30 per 100 miles, or roughly $520 for 12,000 miles a year (our estimate). Wyoming’s long distances and cold winters raise use, so plan a Level 2 circuit with a licensed electrician. The federal charger credit ended for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026. See home EV charging and the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Wyoming: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Off-grid, small wind and micro-hydro
Wind is Wyoming’s standout. NASA’s long-term average is about 6.9 meters per second at 50 meters near the state’s center and 7.1 near Cheyenne, and about 4.9 at 10 meters, above the Department of Energy’s 4.5 m/s guideline for grid-tied small wind. Open rural sites look good by our estimate, and net metering applies to small wind as well as solar under the 25 kW law. Strong gusts also mean the turbine and tower must be rated for them, so choose certified equipment and an experienced installer, and measure first. Remote cabins often combine solar, wind and batteries. We have no state micro-hydro data. See off-grid power, wind energy and hydroelectric power.
Licensing and permits
The Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety (State Fire Marshal) licenses electricians and electrical contractors statewide. Check a license on its public licensing portal; some cities also license locally. Permits come from your city or county, and grid-tied solar, wind or batteries need your utility’s interconnection approval.
Local guides in Wyoming
Utilities, rates, outage records, permit offices and local programs for each area:
Where we cover in Wyoming
- Cheyenne: Cheyenne
- Casper: Casper
- Laramie: Laramie
- Northeast Wyoming: Gillette, Sheridan
- Jackson: Jackson
- Other cities: Rock Springs, Cody
Local pages will follow as we verify local information and installers.
Get quotes in Wyoming
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Frequently asked questions
Does Wyoming have net metering?
Yes. State law (W.S. 37-16-101 to 104) provides net metering for solar, wind and other small systems up to 25 kW, with monthly carryover of credits and any yearly surplus paid at the utility’s avoided cost. A 2025 bill to change compensation failed, and we found no change for 2026. Confirm details with your utility.
Is a small wind turbine worth it in Wyoming?
At open rural sites it can be. NASA’s long-term averages, about 6.9 meters per second at 50 meters and 4.9 at 10 meters, beat the Department of Energy’s 4.5 m/s guideline for grid-tied small wind, and net metering covers wind up to 25 kW. Measure at your site, and choose a turbine certified for high gusts.
Does Rocky Mountain Power pay for batteries in Wyoming?
Yes, from July 1, 2026. The Wattsmart Battery program offers $1,000 for a single battery system under 10 kW or $2,000 for 10 kW or more, plus yearly bill credits. Batteries without solar require a time-of-day or time-of-use rate, and the utility can use the battery during grid events. Check the program page first.
Are there power shutoffs for wildfire in Wyoming?
Yes. Rocky Mountain Power runs public safety power shutoffs in Wyoming, and Black Hills Energy also has a program. Lines in high-risk areas may be switched off during dangerous fire weather and restored after inspection. Sign up for your utility’s alerts and keep a battery or power station charged during fire season.
Sources
Prices: EIA Electric Power Monthly, July 2026 (preliminary). Outages and utilities: EIA-861, 2024. Solar and wind resource: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020 averages; kWh and dollar figures are our estimates. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. EVs and charging: AFDC, read October 3, 2026. Net metering: Wyoming Statutes 37-16-101 to 104. Shutoffs and battery program: Rocky Mountain Power. Licensing: Wyoming Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety. All checked October 2026.