City of Ellensburg and solar
City of Ellensburg is a municipal utility serving about 8,846 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.)
- 11.9¢16% below Washington average
- Typical bill
- $104876 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 20.5 yrs4.7 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Ellensburg 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 Ellensburg home
| System | 4.7 kW (50% of 876 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $14,545 |
| First-year savings | $618 |
| Payback | 20.5 years |
| 25-year net | $4,757 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 189
- Share of customers
- 2.1%
- Residential solar capacity
- 2 MW
- Residential customers
- 8,846
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Ellensburg and solar
Does City of Ellensburg have net metering?
City of Ellensburg 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 Ellensburg?
Residential customers paid an average of 11.1¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 11.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 876 kWh a month, a bill of about $104.
Is solar worth it with City of Ellensburg?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.7 kW system costing about $14,545 pays back in about 20.5 years, with $4,757 net over 25 years.
How many City of Ellensburg customers have solar?
About 189 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 2.1% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Ellensburg - (WA) (EIA ID 6149). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.