City of Owatonna and solar
City of Owatonna is a municipal utility serving about 11,597 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.)
- 15.4¢5% below Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $100650 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 19.9 yrs3 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Owatonna 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 Owatonna home
| System | 3 kW (51% of 650 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $13,250 |
| First-year savings | $616 |
| Payback | 19.9 years |
| 25-year net | $4,421 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 76
- Share of customers
- 0.7%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 11,597
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Owatonna and solar
Does City of Owatonna have net metering?
City of Owatonna 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 Owatonna?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 650 kWh a month, a bill of about $100.
Is solar worth it with City of Owatonna?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 3 kW system costing about $13,250 pays back in about 19.9 years, with $4,421 net over 25 years.
How many City of Owatonna customers have solar?
About 76 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.7% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Owatonna - (MN) (EIA ID 14246). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.