Typical customer: Not worth it

Caney Fork Electric Cooperative and solar

Caney Fork Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 29,863 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.)
14.0¢3% above Tennessee average
Typical bill
$1671,194 kWh a month
Exports credited
~19%No statewide net metering
Typical payback
23.4 yrs5.2 kW, cash

Export rules for Caney Fork 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.

Tennessee net metering details

Solar for a typical Caney Fork Electric Cooperative home

System5.2 kW (50% of 1,194 kWh/month)
Cost$19,620
First-year savings$791
Payback23.4 years
25-year net$1,778

Uses the utility's average price.

Solar adoption

Homes with solar (2025)
—
Share of customers
—
Residential solar capacity
—
Residential customers
29,863

EIA-861, 2025.

Questions about Caney Fork Electric Cooperative and solar

Does Caney Fork Electric Cooperative have net metering?

Caney Fork 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 Caney Fork Electric Cooperative?

Residential customers paid an average of 13.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.0¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,194 kWh a month, a bill of about $167.

Is solar worth it with Caney Fork Electric Cooperative?

For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.2 kW system costing about $19,620 pays back in about 23.4 years, with $1,778 net over 25 years.

How many Caney Fork Electric Cooperative customers have solar?

Caney Fork Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.

Legal name: Caney Fork Electric Coop, Inc (EIA ID 2960). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.