City of Benton and solar
City of Benton is a municipal utility serving about 13,371 homes in Arkansas. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 10.8¢19% below Arkansas average
- Typical bill
- $108996 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~30%Avoided-cost export credit
- Typical payback
- 19.6 yrs4.3 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Benton customers
Avoided-cost export credit (Arkansas rule).
Under Act 278 of 2023, new solar customers (applications after Sept 30, 2024) still offset their own usage at retail, but any excess electricity sent to the grid is credited only at the utility's avoided cost, often under half of retail. Customers who connected earlier keep 1:1 retail credit through 2039-2040.
Solar for a typical City of Benton home
| System | 4.3 kW (50% of 996 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $13,175 |
| First-year savings | $654 |
| Payback | 19.6 years |
| 25-year net | $4,702 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 13,371
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Benton and solar
Does City of Benton have net metering?
City of Benton follows Arkansas's rules: Under Act 278 of 2023, new solar customers (applications after Sept 30, 2024) still offset their own usage at retail, but any excess electricity sent to the grid is credited only at the utility's avoided cost, often under half of retail. Customers who connected earlier keep 1:1 retail credit through 2039-2040.
How much does electricity cost with City of Benton?
Residential customers paid an average of 10.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 10.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 996 kWh a month, a bill of about $108.
Is solar worth it with City of Benton?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.3 kW system costing about $13,175 pays back in about 19.6 years, with $4,702 net over 25 years.
How many City of Benton customers have solar?
City of Benton did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: City of Benton - (AR) (EIA ID 1581). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.