City of Centralia and solar
City of Centralia is a municipal utility serving about 9,118 homes in Washington. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 10.6¢25% below Washington average
- Typical bill
- $1191,118 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 21.7 yrs6.1 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Centralia customers
Full retail net metering (Washington rule).
Washington utilities must offer 1:1 net metering until June 30, 2029 or until they hit a 4% capacity threshold. Credits roll over monthly but are forfeited at the annual reset (usually April 30). Pacific Power has proposed switching new customers to net billing from Feb 2027.
Solar for a typical City of Centralia home
| System | 6.1 kW (50% of 1,118 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $17,835 |
| First-year savings | $717 |
| Payback | 21.7 years |
| 25-year net | $4,030 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 126
- Share of customers
- 1.4%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 9,118
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Centralia and solar
Does City of Centralia have net metering?
City of Centralia follows Washington's rules: Washington utilities must offer 1:1 net metering until June 30, 2029 or until they hit a 4% capacity threshold. Credits roll over monthly but are forfeited at the annual reset (usually April 30). Pacific Power has proposed switching new customers to net billing from Feb 2027.
How much does electricity cost with City of Centralia?
Residential customers paid an average of 9.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 10.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,118 kWh a month, a bill of about $119.
Is solar worth it with City of Centralia?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 6.1 kW system costing about $17,835 pays back in about 21.7 years, with $4,030 net over 25 years.
How many City of Centralia customers have solar?
About 126 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.4% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Centralia - (WA) (EIA ID 3295). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.