City of Ruston and solar
City of Ruston is a municipal utility serving about 10,021 homes in Louisiana. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 5.8¢55% below Louisiana average
- Typical bill
- $55936 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~66%Avoided-cost export credit
- Typical payback
- Never3.8 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Ruston customers
Avoided-cost export credit (Louisiana rule).
Outside New Orleans, new solar customers since 2020 are credited for exported power at the utility's avoided cost, about 3.6-4 cents/kWh, versus retail rates of ~11-13 cents. Customers who interconnected before 2020 were grandfathered at retail for 15 years. New Orleans (City Council-regulated) still offers retail net metering.
Solar for a typical City of Ruston home
| System | 3.8 kW (50% of 936 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $11,670 |
| First-year savings | $297 |
| Payback | never within 25 years |
| 25-year net | −$5,260 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 17
- Share of customers
- 0.2%
- Residential solar capacity
- 0 MW
- Residential customers
- 10,021
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Ruston and solar
Does City of Ruston have net metering?
City of Ruston follows Louisiana's rules: Outside New Orleans, new solar customers since 2020 are credited for exported power at the utility's avoided cost, about 3.6-4 cents/kWh, versus retail rates of ~11-13 cents. Customers who interconnected before 2020 were grandfathered at retail for 15 years. New Orleans (City Council-regulated) still offers retail net metering.
How much does electricity cost with City of Ruston?
Residential customers paid an average of 5.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 5.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 936 kWh a month, a bill of about $55.
Is solar worth it with City of Ruston?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 3.8 kW system costing about $11,670 does not pay back within 25 years, with −$5,260 net over 25 years.
How many City of Ruston customers have solar?
About 17 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.2% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Ruston - (LA) (EIA ID 16463). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.