City of Niles and solar
City of Niles is a municipal utility serving about 11,889 homes in Ohio. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 13.4¢27% below Ohio average
- Typical bill
- $85637 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~60%Reduced export credit
- Typical payback
- 18.7 yrs3.9 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Niles customers
Reduced export credit (Ohio rule).
Ohio's investor-owned utilities must offer net metering. Within a month, solar offsets your usage at full retail; any extra energy beyond your monthly use is credited only at the generation (energy supply) price, roughly half of the retail rate.
Solar for a typical City of Niles home
| System | 3.9 kW (65% of 637 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $13,250 |
| First-year savings | $668 |
| Payback | 18.7 years |
| 25-year net | $5,832 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 11,889
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Niles and solar
Does City of Niles have net metering?
City of Niles follows Ohio's rules: Ohio's investor-owned utilities must offer net metering. Within a month, solar offsets your usage at full retail; any extra energy beyond your monthly use is credited only at the generation (energy supply) price, roughly half of the retail rate.
How much does electricity cost with City of Niles?
Residential customers paid an average of 12.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 637 kWh a month, a bill of about $85.
Is solar worth it with City of Niles?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 3.9 kW system costing about $13,250 pays back in about 18.7 years, with $5,832 net over 25 years.
How many City of Niles customers have solar?
City of Niles did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: City of Niles - (OH) (EIA ID 13602). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.