Typical customer: Not worth it

Duck River Electric Member and solar

Duck River Electric Member is an electric cooperative serving about 71,969 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.)
13.9¢3% above Tennessee average
Typical bill
$1931,381 kWh a month
Exports credited
~19%No statewide net metering
Typical payback
23.2 yrs6.1 kW, cash

Export rules for Duck River Electric Member 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.

Tennessee net metering details

Solar for a typical Duck River Electric Member home

System6.1 kW (50% of 1,381 kWh/month)
Cost$22,410
First-year savings$914
Payback23.2 years
25-year net$2,255

Uses the utility's average price.

Solar adoption

Homes with solar (2025)
—
Share of customers
—
Residential solar capacity
—
Residential customers
71,969

EIA-861, 2025.

Cities served

Questions about Duck River Electric Member and solar

Does Duck River Electric Member have net metering?

Duck River Electric Member 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 Duck River Electric Member?

Residential customers paid an average of 13.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,381 kWh a month, a bill of about $193.

Is solar worth it with Duck River Electric Member?

For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 6.1 kW system costing about $22,410 pays back in about 23.2 years, with $2,255 net over 25 years.

How many Duck River Electric Member customers have solar?

Duck River Electric Member did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.

Legal name: Duck River Elec Member Corp (EIA ID 5399). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.