City of Austin and solar
City of Austin is a municipal utility serving about 10,820 homes in Minnesota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.7¢3% below Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $98625 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 19.5 yrs3 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Austin customers
Full retail net metering (Minnesota rule).
Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
Solar for a typical City of Austin home
| System | 3 kW (53% of 625 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $13,250 |
| First-year savings | $629 |
| Payback | 19.5 years |
| 25-year net | $4,855 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 34
- Share of customers
- 0.3%
- Residential solar capacity
- 0 MW
- Residential customers
- 10,820
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Austin and solar
Does City of Austin have net metering?
City of Austin follows Minnesota's rules: Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
How much does electricity cost with City of Austin?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.3¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 625 kWh a month, a bill of about $98.
Is solar worth it with City of Austin?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 3 kW system costing about $13,250 pays back in about 19.5 years, with $4,855 net over 25 years.
How many City of Austin customers have solar?
About 34 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.3% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Austin - (MN) (EIA ID 1009). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.