City of Independence and solar
City of Independence is a municipal utility serving about 54,199 homes in Missouri. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 17.3¢24% above Missouri average
- Typical bill
- $141811 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~26%Avoided-cost export credit
- Typical payback
- 12.8 yrs6.2 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Independence customers
Avoided-cost export credit (Missouri rule).
Missouri's net metering law nets usage and production within each monthly bill at full retail, but any net excess for the month is credited only at the utility's avoided fuel cost (a few cents/kWh), and unused credits expire after 12 months. Systems are capped at 100 kW.
Solar for a typical City of Independence home
| System | 6.2 kW (90% of 811 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $18,070 |
| First-year savings | $1,467 |
| Payback | 12.8 years |
| 25-year net | $19,643 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 779
- Share of customers
- 1.4%
- Residential solar capacity
- 6 MW
- Residential customers
- 54,199
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Independence and solar
Does City of Independence have net metering?
City of Independence follows Missouri's rules: Missouri's net metering law nets usage and production within each monthly bill at full retail, but any net excess for the month is credited only at the utility's avoided fuel cost (a few cents/kWh), and unused credits expire after 12 months. Systems are capped at 100 kW.
How much does electricity cost with City of Independence?
Residential customers paid an average of 16.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 17.3¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 811 kWh a month, a bill of about $141.
Is solar worth it with City of Independence?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 6.2 kW system costing about $18,070 pays back in about 12.8 years, with $19,643 net over 25 years.
How many City of Independence customers have solar?
About 779 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.4% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Independence - (MO) (EIA ID 9231). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.