City of Carthage and solar
City of Carthage is a municipal utility serving about 7,234 homes in Missouri. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.0¢7% above Missouri average
- Typical bill
- $139931 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~30%Avoided-cost export credit
- Typical payback
- 14.6 yrs7.1 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Carthage customers
Avoided-cost export credit (Missouri rule).
Missouri's net metering law nets usage and production within each monthly bill at full retail, but any net excess for the month is credited only at the utility's avoided fuel cost (a few cents/kWh), and unused credits expire after 12 months. Systems are capped at 100 kW.
Solar for a typical City of Carthage home
| System | 7.1 kW (90% of 931 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $20,185 |
| First-year savings | $1,455 |
| Payback | 14.6 years |
| 25-year net | $16,335 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 65
- Share of customers
- 0.9%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 7,234
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Carthage and solar
Does City of Carthage have net metering?
City of Carthage follows Missouri's rules: Missouri's net metering law nets usage and production within each monthly bill at full retail, but any net excess for the month is credited only at the utility's avoided fuel cost (a few cents/kWh), and unused credits expire after 12 months. Systems are capped at 100 kW.
How much does electricity cost with City of Carthage?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.3¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.0¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 931 kWh a month, a bill of about $139.
Is solar worth it with City of Carthage?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 7.1 kW system costing about $20,185 pays back in about 14.6 years, with $16,335 net over 25 years.
How many City of Carthage customers have solar?
About 65 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.9% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Carthage - (MO) (EIA ID 3113). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.