Black Hills Electric Cooperative and solar
Black Hills Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 9,415 homes in South Dakota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.8¢11% above South Dakota average
- Typical bill
- $1771,122 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~19%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 18.9 yrs4.7 kW, cash
Export rules for Black Hills Electric Cooperative customers
No statewide net metering (South Dakota rule).
South Dakota has no net metering law. Utilities generally let you use your own solar and buy the excess at their avoided cost (a few cents per kWh).
Solar for a typical Black Hills Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4.7 kW (49% of 1,122 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $15,250 |
| First-year savings | $830 |
| Payback | 18.9 years |
| 25-year net | $5,750 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 86
- Share of customers
- 0.9%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 9,415
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Black Hills Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Black Hills Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Black Hills Electric Cooperative follows South Dakota's rules: South Dakota has no net metering law. Utilities generally let you use your own solar and buy the excess at their avoided cost (a few cents per kWh).
How much does electricity cost with Black Hills Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.8¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,122 kWh a month, a bill of about $177.
Is solar worth it with Black Hills Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.7 kW system costing about $15,250 pays back in about 18.9 years, with $5,750 net over 25 years.
How many Black Hills Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 86 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.9% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Black Hills Electric Coop, Inc (EIA ID 1769). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.