Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative and solar
Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 17,670 homes in Minnesota, Iowa. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.7¢3% below Minnesota average
- Typical bill
- $140893 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 18.5 yrs4 kW, cash
Export rules for Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative 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 Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative home
| System | 4 kW (50% of 893 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $16,500 |
| First-year savings | $835 |
| Payback | 18.5 years |
| 25-year net | $7,517 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 170
- Share of customers
- 1.0%
- Residential solar capacity
- 4 MW
- Residential customers
- 17,670
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative 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 Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.3¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 893 kWh a month, a bill of about $140.
Is solar worth it with Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4 kW system costing about $16,500 pays back in about 18.5 years, with $7,517 net over 25 years.
How many Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 170 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.0% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative (EIA ID 6782). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.