Imperial Irrigation District and solar
Imperial Irrigation District is a public power district serving about 142,916 homes in California. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 19.7¢40% below California average
- Typical bill
- $2131,083 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~20%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 11.1 yrs3.7 kW, cash
Export rules for Imperial Irrigation District customers
Net billing (reduced export credit) (California rule).
New customers of PG&E, SCE and SDG&E are on the Net Billing Tariff (often called NEM 3.0): solar you use at home saves the full retail rate, but power you send to the grid is credited at hourly 'avoided cost' values that average only about 4-5 cents/kWh (higher on summer evenings). Batteries greatly improve the economics. Municipal utilities like LADWP and SMUD set their own rules.
Solar for a typical Imperial Irrigation District home
| System | 3.7 kW (51% of 1,083 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $12,380 |
| First-year savings | $1,020 |
| Payback | 11.1 years |
| 25-year net | $24,582 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Questions about Imperial Irrigation District and solar
Does Imperial Irrigation District have net metering?
Imperial Irrigation District follows California's rules: New customers of PG&E, SCE and SDG&E are on the Net Billing Tariff (often called NEM 3.0): solar you use at home saves the full retail rate, but power you send to the grid is credited at hourly 'avoided cost' values that average only about 4-5 cents/kWh (higher on summer evenings). Batteries greatly improve the economics. Municipal utilities like LADWP and SMUD set their own rules.
How much does electricity cost with Imperial Irrigation District?
Residential customers paid an average of 18.7¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 19.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,083 kWh a month, a bill of about $213.
Is solar worth it with Imperial Irrigation District?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 3.7 kW system costing about $12,380 pays back in about 11.1 years, with $24,582 net over 25 years.
How many Imperial Irrigation District customers have solar?
About 11,728 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 8.2% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Imperial Irrigation District (EIA ID 9216). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.