Benton County and solar
Benton County is a municipal utility serving about 8,750 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.)
- 15.5¢14% above Tennessee average
- Typical bill
- $1731,114 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~17%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 21.5 yrs4.9 kW, cash
Export rules for Benton County 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 Benton County home
| System | 4.9 kW (50% of 1,114 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $18,690 |
| First-year savings | $819 |
| Payback | 21.5 years |
| 25-year net | $3,936 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 8,750
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Benton County and solar
Does Benton County have net metering?
Benton County 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 Benton County?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.1¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.5¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,114 kWh a month, a bill of about $173.
Is solar worth it with Benton County?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.9 kW system costing about $18,690 pays back in about 21.5 years, with $3,936 net over 25 years.
How many Benton County customers have solar?
Benton County did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Benton County (EIA ID 1578). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.