Columbia Power System and solar
Columbia Power System is a municipal utility serving about 32,032 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.)
- 13.1¢4% below Tennessee average
- Typical bill
- $1451,110 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~21%No statewide net metering
- Typical payback
- Never4.9 kW, cash
Export rules for Columbia Power System 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 Columbia Power System home
| System | 4.9 kW (50% of 1,110 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $18,690 |
| First-year savings | $697 |
| Payback | never within 25 years |
| 25-year net | −$139 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 32,032
EIA-861, 2025.
Cities served
Questions about Columbia Power System and solar
Does Columbia Power System have net metering?
Columbia Power System 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 Columbia Power System?
Residential customers paid an average of 12.7¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.1¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,110 kWh a month, a bill of about $145.
Is solar worth it with Columbia Power System?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.9 kW system costing about $18,690 does not pay back within 25 years, with −$139 net over 25 years.
How many Columbia Power System customers have solar?
Columbia Power System did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Columbia Power System - (TN) (EIA ID 3855). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.