Typical customer: Not worth it

City of Dayton and solar

City of Dayton is a municipal utility serving about 9,149 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.)
12.9¢5% below Tennessee average
Typical bill
$1401,085 kWh a month
Exports credited
~21%No statewide net metering
Typical payback
Never4.8 kW, cash

Export rules for City of Dayton 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.

Tennessee net metering details

Solar for a typical City of Dayton home

System4.8 kW (50% of 1,085 kWh/month)
Cost$18,380
First-year savings$672
Paybacknever within 25 years
25-year net−$574

Uses the utility's average price.

Solar adoption

Homes with solar (2025)
—
Share of customers
—
Residential solar capacity
—
Residential customers
9,149

EIA-861, 2025.

Questions about City of Dayton and solar

Does City of Dayton have net metering?

City of Dayton 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 Dayton?

Residential customers paid an average of 12.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 12.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,085 kWh a month, a bill of about $140.

Is solar worth it with City of Dayton?

For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.8 kW system costing about $18,380 does not pay back within 25 years, with −$574 net over 25 years.

How many City of Dayton customers have solar?

City of Dayton did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.

Legal name: City of Dayton - (TN) (EIA ID 4920). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.