Typical customer: Not worth it

Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp and solar

Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp is an electric cooperative serving about 45,155 homes in Minnesota. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.

Average price (2026 est.)
14.6¢10% below Minnesota average
Typical bill
$126862 kWh a month
Exports credited
RetailFull retail net metering
Typical payback
19.8 yrs3.9 kW, cash

Export rules for Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp customers

Full retail net metering (Minnesota rule).

Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.

Minnesota net metering details

Solar for a typical Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp home

System3.9 kW (50% of 862 kWh/month)
Cost$16,175
First-year savings$762
Payback19.8 years
25-year net$5,516

Uses the utility's average price.

Solar adoption

Homes with solar (2025)
177
Share of customers
0.4%
Residential solar capacity
2 MW
Residential customers
45,155

EIA-861, 2025.

Questions about Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp and solar

Does Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp have net metering?

Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp follows Minnesota's rules: Minnesota requires utilities to net meter systems under 40 kW; monthly excess is paid or credited at the 'average retail utility energy rate', which is close to retail (excludes fixed charges). This applies to IOUs, co-ops and munis, although co-ops/munis may add a monthly DG fee.

How much does electricity cost with Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp?

Residential customers paid an average of 14.3¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 862 kWh a month, a bill of about $126.

Is solar worth it with Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp?

For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 3.9 kW system costing about $16,175 pays back in about 19.8 years, with $5,516 net over 25 years.

How many Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp customers have solar?

About 177 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.4% of residential customers (EIA-861).

Legal name: Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Comp (EIA ID 4577). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.