Central Alabama Electric Cooperative and solar
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 45,580 homes in Alabama. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 17.6¢7% above Alabama average
- Typical bill
- $2031,157 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~17%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 17.6 yrs4.9 kW, cash
Export rules for Central Alabama Electric Cooperative customers
No statewide net metering (Alabama rule).
Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
Solar for a typical Central Alabama Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4.9 kW (50% of 1,157 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $18,690 |
| First-year savings | $953 |
| Payback | 17.6 years |
| 25-year net | $11,030 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 36
- Share of customers
- 0.1%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 45,580
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Central Alabama Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Central Alabama Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative follows Alabama's rules: Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
How much does electricity cost with Central Alabama Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 17.2¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 17.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,157 kWh a month, a bill of about $203.
Is solar worth it with Central Alabama Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.9 kW system costing about $18,690 pays back in about 17.6 years, with $11,030 net over 25 years.
How many Central Alabama Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 36 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.1% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Central Alabama Electric Coop (EIA ID 3222). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.