Typical customer: Close call

Holy Cross Electric Association and solar

Holy Cross Electric Association is an electric cooperative serving about 50,431 homes in Colorado. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.

Average price (2026 est.)
13.2¢21% below Colorado average
Typical bill
$1481,124 kWh a month
Exports credited
RetailFull retail net metering
Typical payback
14.3 yrs8.5 kW, cash

Export rules for Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross Electric Association home

System8.5 kW (100% of 1,124 kWh/month)
Cost$25,175
First-year savings$1,702
Payback14.3 years
25-year net$24,504

Uses the utility's average price.

Solar adoption

Homes with solar (2025)
2,757
Share of customers
5.5%
Residential solar capacity
27 MW
Residential customers
50,431

EIA-861, 2025.

Questions about Holy Cross Electric Association and solar

Does Holy Cross Electric Association have net metering?

Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross Electric Association?

Residential customers paid an average of 12.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.2¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,124 kWh a month, a bill of about $148.

Is solar worth it with Holy Cross Electric Association?

For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 8.5 kW system costing about $25,175 pays back in about 14.3 years, with $24,504 net over 25 years.

How many Holy Cross Electric Association customers have solar?

About 2,757 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 5.5% of residential customers (EIA-861).

Legal name: Holy Cross Electric Assn, Inc (EIA ID 8773). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.