Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative and solar
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 21,703 homes in Florida. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.1¢2% below Florida average
- Typical bill
- $1801,195 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 10.5 yrs10.2 kW, cash
Export rules for Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative customers
Full retail net metering (Florida rule).
Florida's investor-owned utilities (FPL, Duke Energy Florida, TECO) must offer full retail net metering: exports earn kWh credits that roll over for up to 12 months, then any leftover is paid at a low avoided-cost rate. Municipal and co-op utilities set their own terms, and some pay less.
Solar for a typical Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative home
| System | 10.2 kW (110% of 1,195 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $23,390 |
| First-year savings | $2,203 |
| Payback | 10.5 years |
| 25-year net | $44,017 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 254
- Share of customers
- 1.2%
- Residential solar capacity
- 2 MW
- Residential customers
- 21,703
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative follows Florida's rules: Florida's investor-owned utilities (FPL, Duke Energy Florida, TECO) must offer full retail net metering: exports earn kWh credits that roll over for up to 12 months, then any leftover is paid at a low avoided-cost rate. Municipal and co-op utilities set their own terms, and some pay less.
How much does electricity cost with Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.1¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,195 kWh a month, a bill of about $180.
Is solar worth it with Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 10.2 kW system costing about $23,390 pays back in about 10.5 years, with $44,017 net over 25 years.
How many Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
About 254 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.2% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Gulf Coast Electric Coop, Inc (EIA ID 7785). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.