City of Huntsville and solar
City of Huntsville is a municipal utility serving about 201,803 homes in Alabama. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 12.8¢22% below Alabama average
- Typical bill
- $1471,148 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~23%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 23.4 yrs5 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Huntsville customers
No statewide net metering (Alabama rule).
Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
Solar for a typical City of Huntsville home
| System | 5 kW (50% of 1,148 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $19,000 |
| First-year savings | $710 |
| Payback | 23.4 years |
| 25-year net | $1,810 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 201,803
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about City of Huntsville and solar
Does City of Huntsville have net metering?
City of Huntsville follows Alabama's rules: Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
How much does electricity cost with City of Huntsville?
Residential customers paid an average of 12.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 12.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,148 kWh a month, a bill of about $147.
Is solar worth it with City of Huntsville?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5 kW system costing about $19,000 pays back in about 23.4 years, with $1,810 net over 25 years.
How many City of Huntsville customers have solar?
City of Huntsville did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: City of Huntsville - (AL) (EIA ID 9094). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.