Appalachian Electric Cooperative and solar
Appalachian Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 44,280 homes in Tennessee. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 13.9¢3% above Tennessee average
- Typical bill
- $1761,263 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~19%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 23.2 yrs5.5 kW, cash
Export rules for Appalachian Electric Cooperative customers
No statewide net metering (Tennessee rule).
Tennessee has no net metering law; almost all homes are served by TVA-supplied local power companies. Solar offsets your own usage, but exported power is typically bought at TVA's low wholesale avoided-cost rate (about 2.7 c/kWh in late 2026) or a local utility's own rate.
Solar for a typical Appalachian Electric Cooperative home
| System | 5.5 kW (50% of 1,263 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $20,550 |
| First-year savings | $835 |
| Payback | 23.2 years |
| 25-year net | $2,046 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 44,280
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Appalachian Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Appalachian Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Appalachian Electric Cooperative follows Tennessee's rules: Tennessee has no net metering law; almost all homes are served by TVA-supplied local power companies. Solar offsets your own usage, but exported power is typically bought at TVA's low wholesale avoided-cost rate (about 2.7 c/kWh in late 2026) or a local utility's own rate.
How much does electricity cost with Appalachian Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,263 kWh a month, a bill of about $176.
Is solar worth it with Appalachian Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.5 kW system costing about $20,550 pays back in about 23.2 years, with $2,046 net over 25 years.
How many Appalachian Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
Appalachian Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Appalachian Electric Coop (EIA ID 727). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.