City of Richland and solar
City of Richland is a municipal utility serving about 26,340 homes in Washington. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 10.7¢24% below Washington average
- Typical bill
- $1291,200 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 21.3 yrs6.5 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Richland customers
Full retail net metering (Washington rule).
Washington utilities must offer 1:1 net metering until June 30, 2029 or until they hit a 4% capacity threshold. Credits roll over monthly but are forfeited at the annual reset (usually April 30). Pacific Power has proposed switching new customers to net billing from Feb 2027.
Solar for a typical City of Richland home
| System | 6.5 kW (50% of 1,200 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $18,775 |
| First-year savings | $772 |
| Payback | 21.3 years |
| 25-year net | $4,795 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 775
- Share of customers
- 2.9%
- Residential solar capacity
- 6 MW
- Residential customers
- 26,340
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Richland and solar
Does City of Richland have net metering?
City of Richland follows Washington's rules: Washington utilities must offer 1:1 net metering until June 30, 2029 or until they hit a 4% capacity threshold. Credits roll over monthly but are forfeited at the annual reset (usually April 30). Pacific Power has proposed switching new customers to net billing from Feb 2027.
How much does electricity cost with City of Richland?
Residential customers paid an average of 10.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 10.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,200 kWh a month, a bill of about $129.
Is solar worth it with City of Richland?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 6.5 kW system costing about $18,775 pays back in about 21.3 years, with $4,795 net over 25 years.
How many City of Richland customers have solar?
About 775 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 2.9% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Richland - (WA) (EIA ID 15979). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.