City of Bristol and solar
City of Bristol is a municipal utility serving about 30,081 homes in Tennessee. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 11.8¢13% below Tennessee average
- Typical bill
- $1531,296 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~23%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- Never5.8 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Bristol customers
No statewide net metering (Tennessee rule).
Tennessee has no net metering law; almost all homes are served by TVA-supplied local power companies. Solar offsets your own usage, but exported power is typically bought at TVA's low wholesale avoided-cost rate (about 2.7 c/kWh in late 2026) or a local utility's own rate.
Solar for a typical City of Bristol home
| System | 5.8 kW (50% of 1,296 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $21,480 |
| First-year savings | $742 |
| Payback | never within 25 years |
| 25-year net | −$2,294 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Questions about City of Bristol and solar
Does City of Bristol have net metering?
City of Bristol follows Tennessee's rules: Tennessee has no net metering law; almost all homes are served by TVA-supplied local power companies. Solar offsets your own usage, but exported power is typically bought at TVA's low wholesale avoided-cost rate (about 2.7 c/kWh in late 2026) or a local utility's own rate.
How much does electricity cost with City of Bristol?
Residential customers paid an average of 11.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 11.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,296 kWh a month, a bill of about $153.
Is solar worth it with City of Bristol?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.8 kW system costing about $21,480 does not pay back within 25 years, with −$2,294 net over 25 years.
How many City of Bristol customers have solar?
City of Bristol did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: City of Bristol - (TN) (EIA ID 2247). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.