Central Texas Electric Cooperative and solar
Central Texas Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 40,305 homes in Texas. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 12.6¢21% below Texas average
- Typical bill
- $1351,074 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~48%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 17.3 yrs4.2 kW, cash
Export rules for Central Texas Electric Cooperative customers
No statewide net metering (Texas rule).
Texas has no statewide net metering. In the deregulated ERCOT market you pick a retail electricity provider, and a few offer 'solar buyback' plans (typically 3-9 c/kWh, some match retail). Municipal utilities and co-ops set their own rules, e.g., Austin Energy's Value of Solar credit.
Solar for a typical Central Texas Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4.2 kW (50% of 1,074 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $12,320 |
| First-year savings | $699 |
| Payback | 17.3 years |
| 25-year net | $7,176 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 565
- Share of customers
- 1.4%
- Residential solar capacity
- 6 MW
- Residential customers
- 40,305
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Central Texas Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Central Texas Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Central Texas Electric Cooperative follows Texas's rules: Texas has no statewide net metering. In the deregulated ERCOT market you pick a retail electricity provider, and a few offer 'solar buyback' plans (typically 3-9 c/kWh, some match retail). Municipal utilities and co-ops set their own rules, e.g., Austin Energy's Value of Solar credit.
How much does electricity cost with Central Texas Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 12.2¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 12.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,074 kWh a month, a bill of about $135.
Is solar worth it with Central Texas Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.2 kW system costing about $12,320 pays back in about 17.3 years, with $7,176 net over 25 years.
How many Central Texas Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 565 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.4% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Central Texas Elec Coop, Inc (EIA ID 3282). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.