City of Sweetwater and solar
City of Sweetwater is a municipal utility serving about 7,584 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.)
- 12.6¢7% below Tennessee average
- Typical bill
- $1651,308 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~21%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- Never5.7 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater home
| System | 5.7 kW (50% of 1,308 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $21,170 |
| First-year savings | $787 |
| Payback | never within 25 years |
| 25-year net | −$376 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 7,584
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of Sweetwater and solar
Does City of Sweetwater have net metering?
City of Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater?
Residential customers paid an average of 12.3¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 12.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,308 kWh a month, a bill of about $165.
Is solar worth it with City of Sweetwater?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.7 kW system costing about $21,170 does not pay back within 25 years, with −$376 net over 25 years.
How many City of Sweetwater customers have solar?
City of Sweetwater did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: City of Sweetwater (EIA ID 18384). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.