City of Seattle and solar
City of Seattle is a municipal utility serving about 472,309 homes in Washington. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.8¢12% above Washington average
- Typical bill
- $94594 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 15.9 yrs5.2 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Seattle customers
Full retail net metering, annual netting.
Retail NEM.
Solar for a typical City of Seattle home
| System | 5.2 kW (79% of 594 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $15,720 |
| First-year savings | $893 |
| Payback | 15.9 years |
| 25-year net | $13,534 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Questions about City of Seattle and solar
Does City of Seattle have net metering?
Retail NEM.
How much does electricity cost with City of Seattle?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.7¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 594 kWh a month, a bill of about $94.
Is solar worth it with City of Seattle?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 5.2 kW system costing about $15,720 pays back in about 15.9 years, with $13,534 net over 25 years.
How many City of Seattle customers have solar?
About 8,695 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.8% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Seattle - (WA) (EIA ID 16868). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.