City of Bessemer Utilities and solar
City of Bessemer Utilities is a municipal utility serving about 9,302 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.)
- 13.6¢17% below Alabama average
- Typical bill
- $1401,035 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~22%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 22.4 yrs4.4 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Bessemer Utilities 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 City of Bessemer Utilities home
| System | 4.4 kW (50% of 1,035 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $17,140 |
| First-year savings | $671 |
| Payback | 22.4 years |
| 25-year net | $2,801 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 9,302
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Bessemer Utilities and solar
Does City of Bessemer Utilities have net metering?
City of Bessemer Utilities 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 City of Bessemer Utilities?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.3¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,035 kWh a month, a bill of about $140.
Is solar worth it with City of Bessemer Utilities?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.4 kW system costing about $17,140 pays back in about 22.4 years, with $2,801 net over 25 years.
How many City of Bessemer Utilities customers have solar?
City of Bessemer Utilities did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: City of Bessemer Utilities (EIA ID 1640). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.