Benton Rural Electric Association and solar
Benton Rural Electric Association is an electric cooperative serving about 13,864 homes in Washington. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 10.4¢27% below Washington average
- Typical bill
- $1431,383 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 21.6 yrs7.5 kW, cash
Export rules for Benton Rural Electric Association customers
Full retail net metering (Washington rule).
Washington utilities must offer 1:1 net metering until June 30, 2029 or until they hit a 4% capacity threshold. Credits roll over monthly but are forfeited at the annual reset (usually April 30). Pacific Power has proposed switching new customers to net billing from Feb 2027.
Solar for a typical Benton Rural Electric Association home
| System | 7.5 kW (50% of 1,383 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $21,125 |
| First-year savings | $861 |
| Payback | 21.6 years |
| 25-year net | $4,974 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 527
- Share of customers
- 3.8%
- Residential solar capacity
- 5 MW
- Residential customers
- 13,864
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Benton Rural Electric Association and solar
Does Benton Rural Electric Association have net metering?
Benton Rural Electric Association follows Washington's rules: Washington utilities must offer 1:1 net metering until June 30, 2029 or until they hit a 4% capacity threshold. Credits roll over monthly but are forfeited at the annual reset (usually April 30). Pacific Power has proposed switching new customers to net billing from Feb 2027.
How much does electricity cost with Benton Rural Electric Association?
Residential customers paid an average of 9.7¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 10.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,383 kWh a month, a bill of about $143.
Is solar worth it with Benton Rural Electric Association?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 7.5 kW system costing about $21,125 pays back in about 21.6 years, with $4,974 net over 25 years.
How many Benton Rural Electric Association customers have solar?
About 527 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 3.8% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Benton Rural Electric Assn (EIA ID 1625). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.