Typical customer: Worth it

Highline Electric Association and solar

Highline Electric Association is an electric cooperative serving about 5,762 homes in Colorado, Nebraska. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.

Average price (2026 est.)
16.0¢3% below Colorado average
Typical bill
$145901 kWh a month
Exports credited
RetailFull retail net metering
Typical payback
12.2 yrs6.8 kW, cash

Export rules for Highline Electric Association customers

Full retail net metering (Colorado rule).

Colorado requires investor-owned utilities like Xcel Energy to credit solar exports at the full retail rate, with credits rolling over month to month indefinitely. Co-ops and large municipal utilities must also offer net metering, though their rules and size limits differ.

Colorado net metering details

Solar for a typical Highline Electric Association home

System6.8 kW (99% of 901 kWh/month)
Cost$20,840
First-year savings$1,659
Payback12.2 years
25-year net$28,879

Uses the utility's average price.

Solar adoption

Homes with solar (2025)
68
Share of customers
1.2%
Residential solar capacity
1 MW
Residential customers
5,762

EIA-861, 2025.

Questions about Highline Electric Association and solar

Does Highline Electric Association have net metering?

Highline Electric Association follows Colorado's rules: Colorado requires investor-owned utilities like Xcel Energy to credit solar exports at the full retail rate, with credits rolling over month to month indefinitely. Co-ops and large municipal utilities must also offer net metering, though their rules and size limits differ.

How much does electricity cost with Highline Electric Association?

Residential customers paid an average of 15.2¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.0¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 901 kWh a month, a bill of about $145.

Is solar worth it with Highline Electric Association?

For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 6.8 kW system costing about $20,840 pays back in about 12.2 years, with $28,879 net over 25 years.

How many Highline Electric Association customers have solar?

About 68 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.2% of residential customers (EIA-861).

Legal name: Highline Electric Assn (EIA ID 8570). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.