City of Tacoma and solar
City of Tacoma is a municipal utility serving about 177,554 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.)
- 12.3¢13% below Washington average
- Typical bill
- $113919 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 20 yrs5.1 kW, cash
Export rules for City of Tacoma 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 Tacoma home
| System | 5.1 kW (50% of 919 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $15,485 |
| First-year savings | $680 |
| Payback | 20.0 years |
| 25-year net | $5,820 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 2,960
- Share of customers
- 1.7%
- Residential solar capacity
- 20 MW
- Residential customers
- 177,554
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about City of Tacoma and solar
Does City of Tacoma have net metering?
City of Tacoma 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 Tacoma?
Residential customers paid an average of 11.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 12.3¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 919 kWh a month, a bill of about $113.
Is solar worth it with City of Tacoma?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5.1 kW system costing about $15,485 pays back in about 20 years, with $5,820 net over 25 years.
How many City of Tacoma customers have solar?
About 2,960 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.7% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: City of Tacoma - (WA) (EIA ID 18429). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.