City of Columbus and solar
City of Columbus is a municipal utility serving about 8,852 homes in Mississippi. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 13.5¢8% below Mississippi average
- Typical bill
- $1521,121 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~44%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 18.1 yrs4.7 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Columbus customers
Net billing (reduced export credit) (Mississippi rule).
Mississippi's Net Renewable Generation rules pay for exports at the utility's avoided cost plus a 2.5 cent/kWh adder (plus 2 cents more for low/moderate-income households). That works out to well below retail. Netting is effectively instantaneous via dual-channel metering.
Solar for a typical City of Columbus home
| System | 4.7 kW (50% of 1,121 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $13,605 |
| First-year savings | $782 |
| Payback | 18.1 years |
| 25-year net | $6,218 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 8,852
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Columbus and solar
Does City of Columbus have net metering?
City of Columbus follows Mississippi's rules: Mississippi's Net Renewable Generation rules pay for exports at the utility's avoided cost plus a 2.5 cent/kWh adder (plus 2 cents more for low/moderate-income households). That works out to well below retail. Netting is effectively instantaneous via dual-channel metering.
How much does electricity cost with City of Columbus?
Residential customers paid an average of 12.8¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.5¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,121 kWh a month, a bill of about $152.
Is solar worth it with City of Columbus?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.7 kW system costing about $13,605 pays back in about 18.1 years, with $6,218 net over 25 years.
How many City of Columbus customers have solar?
City of Columbus did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: City of Columbus - (MS) (EIA ID 4068). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.