Dakota Electric Association and solar
Dakota Electric Association is an electric cooperative serving about 109,148 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.)
- 16.0¢1% below Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $119745 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 17 yrs6 kW, cash
Export rules for Dakota Electric Association 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.
Solar for a typical Dakota Electric Association home
| System | 6 kW (89% of 745 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $23,000 |
| First-year savings | $1,282 |
| Payback | 17.0 years |
| 25-year net | $13,971 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 1,742
- Share of customers
- 1.6%
- Residential solar capacity
- 17 MW
- Residential customers
- 109,148
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Dakota Electric Association and solar
Does Dakota Electric Association have net metering?
Dakota Electric Association 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 Dakota Electric Association?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.0¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 745 kWh a month, a bill of about $119.
Is solar worth it with Dakota Electric Association?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 6 kW system costing about $23,000 pays back in about 17 years, with $13,971 net over 25 years.
How many Dakota Electric Association customers have solar?
About 1,742 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.6% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Dakota Electric Association (EIA ID 25177). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.