Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative and solar
Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 17,824 homes in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 11.9¢6% below Idaho average
- Typical bill
- $1401,179 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~38%Varies by utility
- Typical payback
- 18.6 yrs5 kW, cash
Export rules for Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative customers
Varies by utility (Idaho rule).
Idaho has no statewide net metering law; each utility's rules are set by the PUC. Idaho Power moved new customers to real-time net billing, paying time-varying export rates (for June 2025-May 2026 roughly 15.7 cents on summer peak but about 3 cents most of the year). Avista still offers net metering; Rocky Mountain Power's Idaho terms have been under review.
Solar for a typical Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative home
| System | 5 kW (50% of 1,179 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $18,250, $10,950 after incentives |
| First-year savings | $670 |
| Payback | 18.6 years |
| 25-year net | $4,186 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 240
- Share of customers
- 1.4%
- Residential solar capacity
- 2 MW
- Residential customers
- 17,824
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative follows Idaho's rules: Idaho has no statewide net metering law; each utility's rules are set by the PUC. Idaho Power moved new customers to real-time net billing, paying time-varying export rates (for June 2025-May 2026 roughly 15.7 cents on summer peak but about 3 cents most of the year). Avista still offers net metering; Rocky Mountain Power's Idaho terms have been under review.
How much does electricity cost with Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 11.1¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 11.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,179 kWh a month, a bill of about $140.
Is solar worth it with Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 5 kW system costing about $10,950 pays back in about 18.6 years, with $4,186 net over 25 years.
How many Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 240 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.4% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Fall River Rural Elec Coop Inc (EIA ID 6169). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.