Clarke-Washington E M C and solar
Clarke-Washington E M C is an electric cooperative serving about 18,723 homes in Alabama. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 16.2¢1% below Alabama average
- Typical bill
- $161992 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~18%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- 19.3 yrs4.2 kW, cash
Export rules for Clarke-Washington E M C customers
No statewide net metering (Alabama rule).
Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
Solar for a typical Clarke-Washington E M C home
| System | 4.2 kW (50% of 992 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $16,520 |
| First-year savings | $758 |
| Payback | 19.3 years |
| 25-year net | $6,817 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 18,723
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Clarke-Washington E M C and solar
Does Clarke-Washington E M C have net metering?
Clarke-Washington E M C follows Alabama's rules: Alabama has no net metering law. Alabama Power buys any electricity you send to the grid at a low wholesale (avoided-cost) price. It also charges solar customers a monthly 'capacity reservation' fee of about $5.41 per kW of system size, which a federal judge let stand in March 2026.
How much does electricity cost with Clarke-Washington E M C?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.2¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 992 kWh a month, a bill of about $161.
Is solar worth it with Clarke-Washington E M C?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.2 kW system costing about $16,520 pays back in about 19.3 years, with $6,817 net over 25 years.
How many Clarke-Washington E M C customers have solar?
Clarke-Washington E M C did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Clarke-Washington E M C (EIA ID 40127). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.