City of Oak Ridge and solar
City of Oak Ridge is a municipal utility serving about 15,586 homes in Tennessee. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 13.7¢1% above Tennessee average
- Typical bill
- $129942 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~20%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- Never4.3 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Oak Ridge customers
No statewide net metering (Tennessee rule).
Tennessee has no net metering law; almost all homes are served by TVA-supplied local power companies. Solar offsets your own usage, but exported power is typically bought at TVA's low wholesale avoided-cost rate (about 2.7 c/kWh in late 2026) or a local utility's own rate.
Solar for a typical City of Oak Ridge home
| System | 4.3 kW (50% of 942 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $16,830 |
| First-year savings | $618 |
| Payback | never within 25 years |
| 25-year net | −$335 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 15,586
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about City of Oak Ridge and solar
Does City of Oak Ridge have net metering?
City of Oak Ridge follows Tennessee's rules: Tennessee has no net metering law; almost all homes are served by TVA-supplied local power companies. Solar offsets your own usage, but exported power is typically bought at TVA's low wholesale avoided-cost rate (about 2.7 c/kWh in late 2026) or a local utility's own rate.
How much does electricity cost with City of Oak Ridge?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 942 kWh a month, a bill of about $129.
Is solar worth it with City of Oak Ridge?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.3 kW system costing about $16,830 does not pay back within 25 years, with −$335 net over 25 years.
How many City of Oak Ridge customers have solar?
City of Oak Ridge did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: City of Oak Ridge (EIA ID 13933). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.