City of Hope and solar
City of Hope is a municipal utility serving about 5,792 homes in Arkansas. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 12.9¢4% below Arkansas average
- Typical bill
- $121935 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~30%Avoided-cost export credit
- Typical payback
- 15.3 yrs7.2 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Hope customers
Avoided-cost export credit (Arkansas rule).
Under Act 278 of 2023, new solar customers (applications after Sept 30, 2024) still offset their own usage at retail, but any excess electricity sent to the grid is credited only at the utility's avoided cost, often under half of retail. Customers who connected earlier keep 1:1 retail credit through 2039-2040.
Solar for a typical City of Hope home
| System | 7.2 kW (90% of 935 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $19,700 |
| First-year savings | $1,269 |
| Payback | 15.3 years |
| 25-year net | $16,343 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 24
- Share of customers
- 0.4%
- Residential solar capacity
- 0 MW
- Residential customers
- 5,792
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Hope and solar
Does City of Hope have net metering?
City of Hope follows Arkansas's rules: Under Act 278 of 2023, new solar customers (applications after Sept 30, 2024) still offset their own usage at retail, but any excess electricity sent to the grid is credited only at the utility's avoided cost, often under half of retail. Customers who connected earlier keep 1:1 retail credit through 2039-2040.
How much does electricity cost with City of Hope?
Residential customers paid an average of 12.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 12.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 935 kWh a month, a bill of about $121.
Is solar worth it with City of Hope?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 7.2 kW system costing about $19,700 pays back in about 15.3 years, with $16,343 net over 25 years.
How many City of Hope customers have solar?
About 24 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.4% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Hope - (AR) (EIA ID 8840). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.