BENCO Electric Cooperative and solar
BENCO Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 18,500 homes in Minnesota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 16.5¢2% above Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $162978 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 16 yrs7.9 kW, cash
Export rules for BENCO Electric Cooperative customers
Full retail net metering (Minnesota rule).
Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
Solar for a typical BENCO Electric Cooperative home
| System | 7.9 kW (90% of 978 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $29,175 |
| First-year savings | $1,742 |
| Payback | 16.0 years |
| 25-year net | $21,303 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 181
- Share of customers
- 1.0%
- Residential solar capacity
- 3 MW
- Residential customers
- 18,500
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about BENCO Electric Cooperative and solar
Does BENCO Electric Cooperative have net metering?
BENCO Electric Cooperative follows Minnesota's rules: Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
How much does electricity cost with BENCO Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 16.1¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.5¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 978 kWh a month, a bill of about $162.
Is solar worth it with BENCO Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 7.9 kW system costing about $29,175 pays back in about 16 years, with $21,303 net over 25 years.
How many BENCO Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 181 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.0% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: BENCO Electric Cooperative (EIA ID 1884). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.