City of Moorhead and solar
City of Moorhead is a municipal utility serving about 18,556 homes in Minnesota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 11.8¢27% below Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $100844 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 24.7 yrs3.9 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Moorhead customers
Full retail net metering (Minnesota rule).
Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
Solar for a typical City of Moorhead home
| System | 3.9 kW (50% of 844 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $16,175 |
| First-year savings | $601 |
| Payback | 24.7 years |
| 25-year net | $244 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 32
- Share of customers
- 0.2%
- Residential solar capacity
- 0 MW
- Residential customers
- 18,556
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about City of Moorhead and solar
Does City of Moorhead have net metering?
City of Moorhead follows Minnesota's rules: Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.
How much does electricity cost with City of Moorhead?
Residential customers paid an average of 11.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 11.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 844 kWh a month, a bill of about $100.
Is solar worth it with City of Moorhead?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 3.9 kW system costing about $16,175 pays back in about 24.7 years, with $244 net over 25 years.
How many City of Moorhead customers have solar?
About 32 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.2% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Moorhead - (MN) (EIA ID 12894). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.